The Potomac School Inc

What The Potomac School Inc does

The Potomac School is a non-profit, K-12 independent day school founded in 1904 and currently operating on a single 90-acre wooded campus in McLean, Virginia, three miles from Washington, DC. It serves more than 1,000 students across four divisions (Lower School K-3, Middle School 4-6, Intermediate School 7-8, and Upper School 9-12) drawn from 90 zip codes across DC, Maryland, and Virginia via a 37-bus biodiesel fleet running 23 fee-based routes plus 11 free shuttle stops. The institution is governed by a 17-26 member Board of Trustees, holds VAIS accreditation recognized internationally through ICAISA, and is led by John J. Kowalik (Head of School since 2013).

Core programming is a college-preparatory curriculum organized around seven academic departments (English, History, Mathematics, Science, Visual/Performing Arts, World Languages, Computer Science) and reinforced by differentiated character, service, and life-skills layers: a K-12 Service Learning curriculum targeting four pillars (elderly, environment, literacy, hunger/homelessness/poverty), a weekly Life Skills sequence (public speaking, financial literacy, information literacy, cultural competence), and a 120+ teacher faculty of whom approximately 75% hold advanced degrees. Campus facilities include the Spangler Center for Athletics and Community (76,000 sq ft, completed 2019), the Engelhard Performing Arts Center with a 576-seat auditorium, three libraries, and dedicated sustainability/outdoor education infrastructure. Technology surface is limited and non-differentiated: a password-protected CampusNET parent portal providing GPS bus tracking and a Global Online Academy affiliation that supplies supplementary Upper School course access.

The revenue model is tuition-funded at the core, with annual tuition billed by grade level offset by need-based financial aid. Supplemental recurring revenue streams include the $4.4 million annual Potomac Fund (annual giving), fee-based transportation (23 routes), an Extended Day program, and the Summer @ Potomac camp operation. Capital expansion is funded through discrete capital campaigns (the current Growing Ever Greater Campaign follows prior initiatives such as the $8 million performing arts campaign). The school is a private non-profit with no venture capital, private equity, or parent-company ownership and no disclosed financials in the source data.

Name

The Potomac School Inc

Legal name

The Potomac School

Website

https://potomacschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1904

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Potomac School is a non-profit K-12 independent day school founded in 1904, serving 1,000+ students on a 90-acre McLean, Virginia campus. It delivers a college-preparatory curriculum integrated with service learning and life-skills programming, funded primarily through tuition and the Potomac Fund.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)

Keywords

• K-12 private education
• College preparatory schooling
• Independent day school
• Private secondary education
• Primary education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Mclean

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Private K-12 tuition fees for educational services
2. Annual Giving (Potomac Fund): $4.4M raised each year through annual fund to support current operations
3. Transportation Fees: Fee-based neighborhood bus service
4. Extended Day Program: Part-time extended day program fees
5. Summer Programs: Summer@Potomac camp programs
6. Capital Campaigns: Major capital campaigns for facility improvements such as the Growing Ever Greater Campaign

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Potomac School is a K-12 independent day school delivering a college-preparatory education to roughly 1,000 students on a 90-acre campus in McLean, Virginia. Core offerings span Lower School (K-3), Middle School (4-6), Intermediate School (7-8), and Upper School (9-12), enriched by service learning, life skills, athletics, arts, college counseling, Summer @ Potomac camps, and a regional bus service. Revenue is generated primarily from annual tuition plus the Potomac Fund, with auxiliary fees for transportation, extended day, and summer programming.

Product overview

The Potomac School is a K-12 independent day school offering a comprehensive educational program across four divisions: Lower School (K-3), Middle School (4-6), Intermediate School (7-8), and Upper School (9-12). The school provides a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum integrated with character development programs, service learning, life skills education (public speaking, financial literacy, cultural competence, information literacy), and diverse arts and athletics offerings. The institution operates on a 90-acre wooded campus with extensive facilities including the Spangler Center for Athletics, Engelhard Performing Arts Center, three libraries, and multiple outdoor learning spaces. Additional programs include Summer @ Potomac, college counseling, DEI initiatives, environmental stewardship, and transportation services with an extensive bus fleet. The school is accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) and maintains an average enrollment of just over 1,000 students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Summer @ Potomac: Summer programs offered by the school for students
• Panther
• CampusNET

Products and services

• Lower School (Kindergarten - Grade 3) K-3 educational program for young learners focused on building foundational skills for social, emotional, and academic success through dynamic lessons, discussion, and hands-on activities.
• Middle School (Grades 4-6) Middle-grades program for students in grades 4-6 focused on developing critical thinking, academic independence, and character formation.
• Intermediate School (Grades 7-8) A program for grades 7-8 that bridges middle and upper school, emphasizing academic rigor and personal development during early adolescence.
• Upper School (Grades 9-12) High school program (grades 9-12) offering a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum with academic departments in English, History, Mathematics, Science, Visual/Performing Arts, World Languages, and Computer Science.
• Service Learning Program K-12 integrated service learning curriculum addressing community needs across four areas: elderly, environment, literacy, and hunger/homelessness/poverty.
• Life Skills Program Weekly classes teaching core competencies including public speaking, financial literacy, information literacy, and cultural competence for K-12 students.
• College Counseling Comprehensive college counseling program supporting Upper School students through the application process with resources, transcripts, matriculation guidance, and visit calendars.
• Athletics Program K-12 athletic program offering multiple sports teams, athletic facilities including the Spangler Center for Athletics and Community, and competitive athletics with championship achievements.
• The Arts Program Visual arts, music, theater, and performing arts programs including the Engelhard Performing Arts Center with a 576-seat auditorium.
• Summer @ Potomac Summer programs offering academic and enrichment activities for students during summer break, operated as a separate branded offering.
• Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Program Program fostering an inclusive community through guiding principles, Cultural Competence Curriculum Team, Parent Association Cultural Competence Committee, and affinity/alliance spaces.
• Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability Program Office of Stewardship, Sustainability, and Outdoor Education focused on environmental consciousness, gardening programs, and sustainable transportation using the biodiesel bus fleet.
• Neighborhood Bus Transportation Service Fee-based neighborhood bus service with 23 routes and 11 free shuttle stops transporting students from 90 zip codes across DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
• Extended Day Program Part-time after-school extended day program available on campus for Potomac students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 110+ National Merit Scholars and Finalists over 15 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Share of McLeancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for food drive donations. Potomac students conduct annual food drives and Middle School Service Learning Club delivers donations to Share of McLean.
• Food for OtherscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Power Pack Program supporting weekend meal kits for food-insecure children in Fairfax County. Potomac community packs 500+ Power Packs annually.
• Vinson HallcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for service learning with elderly. Upper School students bring games and music to residents; Grade 10 students conduct testimony projects with Holocaust survivors.
• Chesterbrook ResidencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssisted living partner for intergenerational service learning. Second graders visit and learn about needs of older adults; students create flower donations and valentines.
• Falls Church McLean Children's CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiteracy partner receiving book donations from Potomac's Celebration of Reading Book Swap program.
• Higher HorizonsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly childhood education partner receiving book donations from Potomac students.
• Virginia Save Our StreamsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrade 9 biology classes participate in stream monitoring activities supporting research published by Virginia Save Our Streams program.
• National Geographic SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience teacher Mary Cahill serves as consultant for National Geographic curricula including JASON Project, Crittercam, and Giant Traveling Maps.
• Montgomery County Recycling CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntermediate School students tour the recycling center as part of Community Action Day.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Bullis School: Independent K-12 day school in Potomac, MD, serving the broader DC-metro market with comparable college-prep curriculum and athletic/arts programs.
• Madeira School: Independent day/boarding school for girls in McLean, VA, serving the same Northern Virginia demographic. Comparable tuition band and selective college outcomes, differentiated by single-sex model.
• St. Albans School: All-boys independent day school in Washington DC affiliated with National Cathedral. Competes for the same DC-metro families and shares elite college-prep positioning.
• Holton-Arms School: Independent girls' school in Bethesda, MD, serving the same DC-metro affluent market across the Potomac. Comparable scale, tuition, and selective college matriculation.
• National Cathedral School: All-girls independent day school in Washington DC, sharing Potomac's elite positioning, college-prep outcomes, and DC-metro catchment.

Direct peers

• Georgetown Day School: Independent Pre-K–12 day school in Washington DC with progressive pedagogy and college-prep curriculum. Comparable scale, tuition band, and target demographic.
• Maret School: Independent K-12 day school in Washington DC with progressive college-prep mission and similar tuition band. Direct competitor for DC-resident families.
• Sidwell Friends School: Premier Washington DC independent day school (Pre-K–12) with similar college-prep mission and nationally prominent profile. Direct competitor for the same DC-metro affluent family demographic and selective college outcomes.
• The Langley School: Independent K-8 day school in McLean, VA, sharing Potomac's immediate submarket and feeding pipeline of families who later choose Potomac or a peer for Upper School.
• Flint Hill School: Independent Pre-K–12 day school in Northern Virginia (Oakton), serving the same DC-metro affluent market with similar curriculum, athletics, and arts programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PotomacSchool
• Facebookfacebook.com/ThePotomacSchool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/the-potomac-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/potomacschool

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 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 Potomac School Inc