The Norfolk Academy

What The Norfolk Academy does

Norfolk Academy is a private, co-educational, independent day school serving approximately 1,205 students in grades 1-12 on a 70-acre campus at the Norfolk/Virginia Beach border in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Founded in 1728, it is the nation's eighth-oldest school and Virginia's oldest independent school, organized into three sequential divisions — Lower School (Grades 1-6), Middle School (Grades 7-9), and Upper School (Grades 10-12) — and governed by a Board of Trustees as a nonprofit institution. The product offering centers on a college-preparatory academic core (111 Upper School courses with a 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio, 74% of faculty holding advanced degrees, and 18-year average faculty tenure), augmented by signature programs such as the Batten Leadership Program with five fellowship tracks (Chesapeake Bay, EDI, Global Health, Global Affairs, Literacy), 27 sports across 72 teams, fine arts anchored by the John H. Tucker Jr. Arts Center and Samuel C. Johnson Theater, global learning and Maymester travel, college counseling, a Medical Scholars Program, and a Speech Program culminating in a senior speech tradition.

The business model is tuition-funded, with annual tuition tiered from $24,500 (Grades 1-3) to $30,600 (Grades 10-12), inclusive of lunch and field trips, and supplemented by optional transportation ($1,475-$1,875 per rider across 15 bus routes) and before/after care ($3/day to $420/month). Approximately 20% of students receive need-based financial aid totaling over $3 million annually, funded in part by a $2 million Malone Family Foundation endowment (2012) and supplemented by the Academy Fund, capital and endowment gifts, leadership giving, planned giving, and Bulldog Strong annual campaigns. Ancillary revenue includes Summer at the Academy enrichment programming and the Breakthrough at Norfolk Academy outreach program. Customer acquisition runs through a structured admissions funnel — application via mySchoolApp, SSAT testing for grades 4-12, December 15 deadline, parent meetings, classroom visits, and admissions events — drawing families from Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, the Eastern Shore, and northeastern North Carolina.

Technology stack is composed of third-party platforms rather than proprietary systems: Finalsite powers the public website and communications, Blackbaud underpins the parent/alumni portals and the GiveCampus giving portal, mySchoolApp handles student information, and NA-TV broadcasts athletics and performing arts. The Engineering, Design, and Innovation Center and the Batten Library's Sora e-book collection support in-curriculum technology use, but no proprietary AI, ML, or data product is disclosed. Norfolk Academy is accredited by SAIS and VAIS and recognized by the Virginia State Board of Education via VCPE, with current Head of School Travis J. Larrabee (appointed July 1, 2023) leading the institution as the fourth head since 1950.

Name

The Norfolk Academy

Legal name

Norfolk Academy

Website

https://norfolkacademy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1728

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Norfolk Academy is a private co-educational independent day school in Hampton Roads, Virginia, serving approximately 1,205 students in grades 1-12 through tuition-funded college-preparatory academics and signature programs such as the Batten Leadership Program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Boarding Schools (EDAJABAB)

Keywords

• Private K-12 education
• College preparatory school
• Independent day school
• Leadership fellowship programs
• Fine arts athletics

Headquarters

HQ city

Norfolk

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Primary revenue source from tuition payments for grades 1-12. Tuition varies by grade level, ranging from $24,500 for Grades 1-3 to $30,600 for Grades 10-12.
2. Transportation Services: Optional bus service with 15 routes serving Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach. Fees are $1,875 per rider with discounts for additional family riders.
3. Before and After School Care: Before school care at $3/day and after school care at $14/hour, with maximum monthly charges of $35-420 depending on care type.
4. Financial Aid from Endowment: School provides over $3 million annually in need-based financial aid to approximately 20% of students, funded through endowment and annual giving.
5. Donations and Annual Giving: The Academy Fund and other giving programs support school operations and programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Norfolk Academy is a private co-educational, independent day school serving approximately 1,205 students in grades 1-12 across three academic divisions (Lower School, Middle School, Upper School). The school delivers a college preparatory education with a 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio, complemented by the Batten Leadership Program's five fellowship tracks, an athletics program with 27 sports, fine arts programs, and a Speech Program built around daily chapel and senior speeches.

Product overview

Norfolk Academy is a private co-educational day school offering a unified college preparatory education from grades 1-12, structured into three academic divisions: Lower School (Grades 1-6), Middle School (Grades 7-9), and Upper School (Grades 10-12). The school provides a comprehensive educational experience combining rigorous academics with experiential programs including the Batten Leadership Program with five Fellows tracks (Chesapeake Bay, Engineering Design & Innovation, Global Health, Global Affairs, and Literacy), Fine Arts (theater, dance, music, visual arts), Athletics (27 sports across 72 teams), College Counseling, Global Learning/International Programs, Career Connections, Medical Scholars, and the Speech Program. The Honor System underpins the school culture, with distinctive traditions including open lockers symbolizing trust and daily chapel with student speeches. The school serves students from Norfolk, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Eastern Shore, and northeastern North Carolina.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Malone Scholars Program: A prestigious scholarship program funded by a $2 million endowment from The Malone Family Foundation, providing scholarships for academically promising students in grades 7-10 who qualify for need-based financial aid.
• Batten Leadership Program
• Breakthrough at Norfolk Academy

Products and services

• Lower School (Grades 1-6) Foundational educational program for grades 1-6 featuring small class sizes, daily P.E. with swimming instruction, Singapore-style math, Latin starting in third grade, Engineering Design & Innovation curriculum, and resource classes in art, music, library, and guidance.
• Middle School (Grades 7-9) Transition program for grades 7-9 emphasizing strong student-teacher relationships, daily chapel with ninth grade speech program, rotating eight-bell schedule, community service partnerships, and 45-minute activities periods alongside academics and athletics.
• Upper School (Grades 10-12) College preparatory program for grades 10-12 offering 111 courses, block scheduling with 90-minute periods, 21 student-led clubs, senior speech capstone tradition, advisory system, and preparation for college-level academics at selective institutions.
• Batten Leadership Program Nationally acclaimed fellowship program providing selected ninth grade students a four-year multidisciplinary and experiential course of study grounded in developing actionable solutions to real-world issues, including five Fellows Programs.
• College Counseling Program Comprehensive college preparation program with dedicated counselors supporting students through the application process, with 100% of graduates admitted to four-year colleges.
• Fine Arts Program Resource-rich arts program spanning theater and dance, music (band, orchestra, chorus), and visual arts, featuring the John H. Tucker Jr. Arts Center with Samuel C. Johnson Theater and Perrel Art Gallery.
• Athletics Program Competitive athletics offering 27 sports and 72 different teams with more than 85% of Middle and Upper School students participating, including facilities at Wynne-Darden Stadium and Vaughan Aquatic Center.
• Global Learning / International Programs International travel and global education programs offering language learning, service opportunities with community partners, and understanding of international leadership.
• Career Connections Program connecting students and young alumni with summer internships and professional experiences to prepare for college and careers.
• Speech Program Confident Speakers program featuring ninth grade persuasive speeches delivered at daily chapel and senior speeches as capstone tradition, preparing students for public speaking with poise and confidence.
• Summer at the Academy Summer enrichment programs and camps offered during summer months for student participation.
• Breakthrough at Norfolk Academy Community outreach summer academic enrichment program extending educational opportunities to the broader community, run in partnership with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities.
• Bus Transportation Service Optional bus service with 15 routes serving Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach for daily student transportation.
• Before and After School Care Before school care at $3/day and after school care at $14/hour for enrolled students needing supervised care outside regular school hours.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of graduates admitted to four-year colleges
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Virginia Center for Inclusive CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with Norfolk Academy in diversity initiatives and programming, supporting the school's Diversity, Equity, and Justice commitment.
• Meriwether GodseycoreOthersFood service provider for school lunches. Provides family-style lunch service included in tuition for all students. Staff works with families on allergen concerns.
• ClaritycoreTechnology or IntegrationFinancial aid application platform used by Norfolk Academy to determine family financial need. Families use Clarity to submit financial information for need-based aid determination.
• SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test)coreTechnology or IntegrationStandardized test used for admissions for grades 4-12. School registers students and uses results as part of holistic admissions review.
• College BoardcoreTechnology or IntegrationNorfolk Academy is a member of the College Board, utilizing SAT and AP exam programs for college preparation.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• William Penn Charter School: Philadelphia's oldest independent school (PK-12), serving as a reference point given Head of School Travis Larrabee's prior leadership role there.
• The Madeira School: An independent girls' school (grades 9-12) in McLean, VA, operating in the broader Virginia private-school market with similar AP/college-prep rigor and leadership programming.
• Collegiate School: An independent JK-12 day school in Richmond, VA, operating a similar college-preparatory model with Honor Code traditions and a comparable tuition profile.
• Flint Hill School: An independent JK-12 day school in Northern Virginia offering comparable college-prep academics, athletics, and tuition structure; competing for Virginia private-school families.
• Woodberry Forest School: An all-boys boarding school in Virginia serving grades 9-12, comparable in college-prep mission and AP/deep program offerings, but with boarding rather than day-school delivery.

Broad incumbents

• The Hotchkiss School: A leading national college-prep boarding school with a similar AP, leadership, and college-counseling model, setting the upper bound of brand and outcomes Norfolk Academy benchmarks against.
• Sidwell Friends School: A prestigious PK-12 day school in Washington, DC, with comparable tuition, faculty credentials, and 100% college matriculation outcomes, representing a benchmark for elite day-school positioning.

Direct peers

• Norfolk Collegiate School: A co-ed independent PK-12 day school in Norfolk, VA, directly competing for the same Hampton Roads families seeking private college-preparatory education at similar tuition points.
• Cape Henry Collegiate School: A co-ed independent PK-12 day school in Virginia Beach, Norfolk Academy's closest geographic peer serving the same regional market with comparable college-prep curriculum and athletics.
• Hampton Roads Academy: An independent PK-12 day school in Newport News, VA, serving Hampton Roads with a comparable college-preparatory mission and tuition structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NACommunications
• Facebookfacebook.com/NorfolkAcademyBulldogs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/norfolkacademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/norfolk_academy
• Xx.com/NorfolkAcademy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Norfolk Academy