Almaden Country Day School

What Almaden Country Day School does

Almaden Country Day School (ACDS) is an independent, non-profit, non-sectarian private school founded in 1982 in the Almaden Valley neighborhood of San Jose, California. Operating on a nine-acre campus under a 70-year lease signed with San Jose Unified School District in 2018, the school serves approximately 420-425 students across Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade, supported by 61 teachers, aides, and teaching administrators. ACDS is governed by a 16-member Board of Trustees composed of current and alumni parent volunteers, and is accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) — most recently awarded the longest possible seven-year accreditation term in 2023 — and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).

The school's core academic offering comprises four divisions: a Reggio Emilia-inspired Pre-K program, Elementary (K-5), Middle School (6-8) with approximately 50 elective offerings and no-cut athletics, and The Learning Center (TLC), which operates as the first and only Orton-Gillingham-based integrated learning program in the South Bay Area for students in grades 1-8 with language-based learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. Auxiliary services include The Orchard extended-day care (7:15 AM to 5:30 PM), summer camps, performing arts, competitive speech and debate, and an after-school athletics program affiliated with the Silicon Valley Athletic League. Underlying technology is limited to a school management and student information system providing online grading access for middle school students and parents; no proprietary AI/ML or technology product surfaces are described.

ACDS operates a subscription-based tuition revenue model with annual fees ranging from $26,240 (half-day Pre-K) to $58,460 (Learning Center Grades 6-8) for 2026-27, supplemented by extended-day care fees, optional hot lunch ($8.25-$10.50/day), activity fees, and charitable Annual Giving contributions. Tuition support of approximately $1 million annually is extended to roughly 20% of families, assessed via a partnership with Clarity. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-family through on-campus admissions (tours, shadow visits, open houses, family conversations) across Silicon Valley, with no intermediaries, satellite campuses, or geographic expansion beyond the South San Jose catchment area. Key outcomes include a 98% ten-year private high school acceptance rate for graduating 8th graders, 95% annual family re-enrollment, and 90%+ annual teacher retention.

Name

Almaden Country Day School

Legal name

Almaden Country Day School

Website

https://almadencountrydayschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Almaden Country Day School is an independent, non-profit private school in San Jose, California, serving approximately 425 students in Pre-K through 8th grade, including a specialized Orton-Gillingham-based Learning Center for students with language-based learning differences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-8 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Full-Day Nursery Programs (EDACACAD), Extended Day Programs at Preschools & Childcare Centers (EDACAHAB)

Keywords

• Private K-8 education
• Independent day school
• Elementary education
• Middle school education
• Learning support services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Jose

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Primary revenue stream from tuition payments across multiple programs: Pre-Kindergarten (various schedules), Kindergarten through Grade 5, Middle School (Grades 6-8), and The Learning Center specialized program. Tuition varies by grade level and program configuration, with annual tuition ranging from $26,240 for half-day Pre-K to $58,460 for The Learning Center Grades 6-8 (2026-27 rates).
2. Extended Day Care (The Orchard): Before and after-school care program offered from 7:15 AM to 5:30 PM. Annual fees range from $1,595 (1-day) to $7,190 (5-day) for 2026-27. Drop-in rates available at $50 per session or $20 per hour.
3. Hot Lunch Program: Optional daily hot lunch provided through partner The Pasta Market, priced at $8.25-$10.50/day (2026-27 rates).
4. Activity Fees: Additional fees for overnight field trips (est. $550-$3,850), after-school sports (est. $275-$305), and other optional programs.
5. Annual Giving and Fundraising: Charitable contributions from families supporting the school. 33% faculty donation rate to Annual Giving Campaign.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Almaden Country Day School is an independent, non-profit private day school located in San Jose, California, serving students from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade. The school delivers a college-preparatory academic program supplemented by athletics, visual and performing arts, an extended-day program (The Orchard), summer camps, and a dedicated Learning Center for students with language-based learning differences.

Product overview

Almaden Country Day School is an independent, non-profit private school offering a unified Pre-K through 8th grade educational program founded on balance: academic rigor, character development, and joyful learning. The school comprises four core academic divisions (Pre-Kindergarten, Elementary School K-5, Middle School 6-8, and The Learning Center for students with language-based learning differences) supported by enrichment programs in performing arts, world languages (Spanish, French, Mandarin), technology, and physical education. Auxiliary services include The Orchard Extended Day Program, Summer Camps, Athletics, Clubs, and Speech & Debate. The Learning Center uses the Orton-Gillingham methodology and operates as a specialized program within the school. The school operates on a nine-acre campus in San Jose, California, with approximately 425 students and 61 faculty members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pre-K through Grade 8 Academic Program
• The Learning Center
• Summer Camps
• The Orchard (Extended Day Program)
• Athletics Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of 8th graders applying to private high schools are admitted (10-year average)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• The Pasta MarketsupportingOthersACDS partners with The Pasta Market for optional hot lunch program. The vendor offers freshly made food delivered to campus with multiple vegetarian and non-vegetarian options daily. Prices range from $8.25-$10.50/day.
• ClaritysupportingOthersACDS partners with Clarity to establish family eligibility for tuition support (financial aid). Clarity provides the financial aid assessment platform used to determine demonstrated need for families applying for tuition assistance.
• San Jose Unified School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2018, ACDS signed a 70-year lease with San Jose Unified School District and embarked on a long-term Campus Master Plan. This partnership enabled the school to secure long-term campus access and supports 21st-century ACDS learning experiences.
• Silicon Valley Athletic League (SVAL)supportingOthersACDS Cougars participate as a member school in the Silicon Valley Athletic League for after-school team sports program (grades 5-8). The league provides competitive athletic opportunities and scheduling for various sports including flag football, volleyball, and cross country.
• A.W.G. Dewar, Inc.supportingOthersACDS offers Tuition Refund Plan administered by A.W.G. Dewar, Inc. This insurance program protects families' annual tuition investment in the event of separation according to policy terms.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton: Independent Catholic K-12 day school in Atherton, California. Comparable as a Silicon Valley private independent day school emphasizing academic rigor, character development, and holistic formation at similar premium tuition levels for overlapping Bay Area families.
• Castilleja School: Independent all-girls school in Palo Alto, California serving grades 6-12. Comparable as a Bay Area independent day school competing for the same high-income Silicon Valley families with similar academically rigorous, whole-child approach and outcomes focus, despite the single-gender profile.
• Challenger School: Independent K-8 school with multiple campuses across the San Francisco Bay Area. Comparable as a tuition-based, academically rigorous nonsectarian day school chain serving similar Silicon Valley demographics with structured curriculum and enrichment programs.
• Synapse School: Independent, nonsectarian Pre-K through 8th grade school in Los Altos, California. Comparable as a small South Bay private day school with similar emphasis on whole-child education, small class sizes, social-emotional learning, and progressive pedagogy serving overlapping Silicon Valley families.
• Stratford School: Bay Area-based private K-8 school with multiple campuses serving Silicon Valley families. Comparable as an independent nonsectarian day school with enrichment focus (performing arts, languages, athletics) and outcomes-oriented college preparation positioned against ACDS for similar tuition-paying households.
• The Harker School: Independent, nonsectarian Pre-K through Grade 12 school in San Jose serving Silicon Valley families. Directly comparable as the closest Bay Area K-12 independent with similar emphasis on academic rigor, character, and outcomes — a primary competitor for the same tuition-paying families.
• Canyon Heights Academy: Independent, nonsectarian K-8 school in Hillsborough, California. Comparable as a small Bay Area nonsectarian independent day school with similar enriched curriculum and whole-child philosophy, positioned at premium tuition for high-income Peninsula families.
• Pinewood School: Independent, nonsectarian K-12 school in Los Altos Hills, California. Comparable as a longstanding South Bay private school with similar whole-child philosophy, broad enrichment curriculum, and outcomes-driven placement model competing for overlapping families.
• BASIS Independent Silicon Valley: Independent, nonsectarian K-12 school in Fremont, California serving Bay Area families. Comparable as an academically accelerated tuition-charging school with strong outcomes emphasis and STEM-focused enrichment that competes with ACDS for families seeking rigorous college-preparatory private education.

Regional players

• Stevenson School: Independent K-12 day and boarding school in Pebble Beach, California. Comparable as a California nonsectarian independent school with similar breadth of academics, arts, and athletics, though it operates in a different region and adds a boarding component not offered by ACDS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AlmadenCountrySchool
• Facebookfacebook.com/AlmadenCountryDaySchool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/almaden-country-day-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/almadencountrydayschool
• Xx.com/Almaden_School

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Almaden Country Day School