What Providence Day School does

Providence Day School is an independent, college preparatory institution serving students from Transitional Kindergarten through 12th grade on a single 5800 Sardis Road campus in Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in 1975 and operating for more than 50 years, the school is organized into three academic divisions (Lower School TK-5, Middle School 6-8, Upper School 9-12) and is differentiated by a Global Education Program anchored by the Global Studies Diploma (first in the nation, established 2007) and the school's status as the only North Carolina member of Round Square's 250+ school, 50-country network. The school also operates the IDEAS@PD program in the IDEAS Xchange innovation space, integrating design thinking, engineering, AI, robotics, and VR into the curriculum.

The institution generates revenue primarily through tuition, with 2026-2027 rates ranging from $25,510 for Transitional Kindergarten to $36,325 for grades 6-12, payable annually or in installments. Approximately 21% of families receive need-based financial assistance. Auxiliary revenue streams include optional bus transportation to 8+ Charlotte neighborhoods, the Extended Day after-school program, summer camp and enrichment programs, and dining services. Philanthropy (annual fund, endowment, capital campaigns, planned giving) is a meaningful secondary revenue layer.

The customer base consists of Charlotte-area families seeking college preparatory education, with supplemental international student admissions channeled through TBI-New Oasis (primarily from China) and a 20-year cultural exchange partnership with the Charlotte Chinese Academy. Out of 251-500 total employees, 236 are faculty (60%+ holding advanced degrees) yielding an 8:1 student-faculty ratio. The school is led by Head of School Dr. Glyn Cowlishaw, with Dr. Michael Magno named as incoming Head of School effective June 2027. Notably, the school became the first independent school in the country to host a CDF Freedom School (2012) and opened Auerbach Hall in Fall 2025, indicating continued capital investment.

Name

Providence Day School

Legal name

Providence Day School, Inc.

Website

https://providenceday.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Providence Day School is an independent, 50+ year-old TK-12 college preparatory school in Charlotte, NC, serving roughly 1,800 students with an 8:1 student-faculty ratio, 60%+ faculty holding advanced degrees, and a nationally recognized Global Studies Diploma program. Revenue is tuition-driven ($25,510-$36,325), supplemented by transportation, extended day, summer programs, and philanthropy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Primary revenue stream from tuition payments for TK-12 education. Tuition rates for 2026-2027 range from $25,510 for TK to $36,325 for grades 6-12. Families can pay in full or divide into three, 10, or 12 installments.
2. Transportation Services: Optional bus transportation services to various Charlotte neighborhoods including Myers Park, Dilworth, Ballantyne, Carmel, Blakeney, Stonecrest, South Park, and FoxCroft areas with annual fees ranging from $1,830 to $1,965 per student
3. Extended Day Program: After-school care program operating 1-6 p.m. with enrichment activities including sports, STEM, and art classes, charged on a monthly basis
4. Financial Assistance: Approximately 21% of families receive some form of financial assistance based on demonstrated need, administered through Clarity platform

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Providence Day School is an independent, college preparatory day school serving students from Transitional Kindergarten through 12th grade on a single Charlotte, NC campus. It delivers a rigorous TK-12 academic curriculum supplemented by global education (including the first-in-nation Global Studies Diploma), an IDEAS innovation/entrepreneurship program, extensive arts and athletics offerings, and ancillary services such as bus transportation, Extended Day after-school care, Clubhouse, Freedom School summer literacy, and Summer Programs.

Product overview

Providence Day School is an independent, college preparatory TK-12 institution offering a unified educational program focused on academic excellence, global citizenship, and character development. The school operates through three academic divisions (Lower School TK-5, Middle School 6-8, Upper School 9-12) supplemented by specialized programs including IDEAS@PD for innovation and design thinking, the Global Education Program with its Round Square membership and Global Studies Diploma, the Freedom School literacy enrichment program, and extensive arts and athletics offerings. Extended Day and Clubhouse programs provide before/after-school care, while Summer Programs offer camp activities. The institution emphasizes technology integration through dedicated innovation spaces like IDEAS Xchange, and maintains a commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging through its EIB office and Teaching Fellows Program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IDEAS@PD: Innovation, Design, Entrepreneurship, Analytics, and Sustainability program at Providence Day School
• PD Passport
• Charger Commons
• IDEASXchange
• Freedom School

Products and services

• TK-12 College Preparatory Education Comprehensive college preparatory educational program spanning Transitional Kindergarten through 12th grade, focused on academic excellence, global citizenship, and character development for enrolled students.
• Lower School (TK-Grade 5)

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of graduates attend four-year colleges and universities
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Round SquarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016International network of 250+ schools in 50 countries on six continents. PD is the only Round Square member in North Carolina. Membership enables student exchanges, international conferences, volunteer projects, and access to IDEALS (International Understanding, Democracy, Environmental Stewardship, Adventure, Leadership, Service). Inspired by Kurt Hahn's educational concepts including Outward Bound.
• Freedom School PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Providence Day is the first independent school in the nation to host a CDF Freedom School. The program, established in 2012, serves 55 scholars from across Charlotte through a summer literacy program focused on inspiring scholars to love reading and learning, believe in themselves, and create extraordinary futures. The program includes DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) time, cultural enrichment, and character development.
• Charlotte Chinese AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Long-standing partnership celebrating 20 years in 2026. The partnership provides cultural exchange opportunities and Chinese language/cultural programming for PD students.
• Global Online AcademycoreTechnology or IntegrationMembership provides focused online courses for PD students, expanding curriculum offerings through global education technology platform.
• Institute for Global LearningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in professional organization focused on global learning and international education best practices.
• Global ConnectionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in organization supporting international education and global learning initiatives.
• TBI-New OasisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational student admissions partner for students from China requiring I-20 visa documentation. Students apply through TBI-New Oasis partners for PD admissions process.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Charlotte Country Day School: The primary direct competitor in the Charlotte private K-12 market, offering a college preparatory TK-12 program. Operates from two campuses in the Charlotte metro and competes head-to-head for the same affluent family demographic that Providence Day targets.
• Cannon School: Independent college preparatory school serving JK-12 in Concord, NC (greater Charlotte metro). Directly comparable in mission, tuition band, and program mix, and competes for the same Charlotte-area feeder families.
• Covenant Day School: Independent college preparatory K-12 school in Matthews, NC (Charlotte metro), offering similar academic, arts, and athletic programs. Competes for the same Charlotte-area private school market.

Regional players

• Durham Academy: Highly regarded independent PK-12 college preparatory school in Durham, NC. Comparable in mission, tuition tier, and program breadth; serves the Research Triangle rather than Charlotte, but is one of NC's leading academic peers.
• Cary Academy: Independent college preparatory school in Cary, NC (Raleigh metro), grades 6-12. Comparable in college-prep mission, academic outcomes, and innovation focus; does not directly compete in Charlotte but is a leading NC peer.
• Ravenscroft School: Independent PK-12 college preparatory school in Raleigh, NC, with similar tuition and program profile. Serves the Raleigh market but is a natural NC independent-school benchmark.

Broad incumbents

• The Westminster Schools: Elite independent K-12 school in Atlanta, GA, with national recognition for college prep, global education, and innovation. Operates as a larger, more established peer with a comparable college-preparatory, faith-rooted mission and outcomes profile.
• Sidwell Friends School: Elite independent PK-12 school in Washington, D.C., with a national reputation for college placement and global programming. A high-end benchmark for what premium independent K-12 can achieve, although faith-affiliated and serving a different metro.
• The Harker School: Top-ranked independent K-12 school in Silicon Valley with a strong innovation/STEAM focus and outstanding college placement. Comparable in scale, program breadth, and outcomes; serves as a benchmark for technology-integrated premium private education.
• Polytechnic School: Independent K-12 college preparatory school in Pasadena, CA, with a strong innovation and global education profile. Comparable in mission, tuition band, and outcomes — useful as a West Coast benchmark for premium day-school economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ProvidenceDay
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@providencedayschoolchargers
• Facebookfacebook.com/ProvidenceDaySchool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/providence-day-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/providencedayschool

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Providence Day School