What Harding Academy does

Harding Academy is a private, co-educational Christian day school in Memphis, Tennessee, founded in 1952 as Memphis Christian School. The institution serves children from 6 weeks through Grade 12 across two campuses: a 28-acre main campus at 1100 Cherry Road housing K-12 operations, and a Little Harding preschool at 1106 Colonial Road within White Station Church of Christ. The school reports a 7:1 student-to-teacher ratio across ~117 faculty, 100% college acceptance for graduating seniors, and dual accreditation from Cognia/SACS (since 1960) and the National Christian School Association (since 2011).

The core product portfolio spans four divisions — Little Harding (preschool), Lower School (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and Upper School (9-12) — augmented by the Thrive academic differentiation program (K-12), College Planning Services using the Scoir platform, LionCare before/after care, LEAP enrichment, Summer @ Harding Day Camp, and The Den uniform store. Technology infrastructure includes Canvas LMS for grades 6-12, a 1:1 iPad program for grades 6-12 (1:3 for K-5), FACTS SIS for enrollment/billing/grades, Raptor Technologies for visitor security, and Clever SSO. The Teaching for Transformation (TfT) pedagogical framework and a House System for middle schoolers differentiate the academic experience.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring tuition ($13,595 for Kindergarten up to $19,995 for Grades 9-12 in 2026-2027), with multi-child discounts, Tennessee ESA/EFS state funding acceptance, and financial aid via FACTS Grant and Aid Assessment. Supplementary streams include preschool tuition, before/after care fees, Annual Fund donations (Visionaries Circle $10,000+ to Donor $1-$249 tiers), the Happy in Memphis 5K race sponsorship, uniform sales, and periodic capital campaigns (Multiply the Mission, $2.5M matching, 2020-2022). GTM relies on admissions-driven campus tours, preview days, shadow days, and word-of-mouth referrals from current families and alumni, with marketing support via website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and the Lion Network Podcast.

Name

Harding Academy

Legal name

Harding Academy

Website

https://hardingacademymemphis.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Harding Academy is a private, co-educational Christian K-12 day school in Memphis, TN, founded 1952, serving ages 6 weeks through Grade 12 with a 7:1 student-teacher ratio and 100% college acceptance rate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Christian Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Alternative, Continuation & Credit-Recovery Schools (EDAJAAAG)

Keywords

• Private K-12 education
• Christian school programs
• College preparatory academics
• Early childhood preschool
• Tuition-based schooling

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. K-12 Tuition: Annual tuition charged per student for grades K-12, with tiered pricing by grade level. Payment options include annual, semester, or monthly payment plans.
2. Little Harding Preschool Tuition: Monthly tuition for preschool program (6 weeks-Jr. K) with multiple program options (School Year Learn & Play, School Year Learn & Play PLUS, Year-Round Learn & Play, Year-Round Learn & Play PLUS) and flexible day frequency (2, 3, or 5 days per week)
3. Before and After Care (LionCare): Fee-based before-school and after-school care programs for Little Harding and lower school students, with daily drop-in rates and annual fee options
4. Ride Waiting: After-school supervision program for middle and upper school students with daily drop-in and annual fee options
5. Annual Fund and Donations: Voluntary donations through annual fund campaigns at various giving levels (Visionaries Circle $10,000+, Benefactors Circle $5,000-$9,999, Founders Circle $2,500-$4,999, etc.)
6. Happy in Memphis 5K Event: Annual fundraising race event with sponsorship packages (Underwriter $7,500, Bluff City $5,000, River City $2,500, Blues City $1,000) and race entry fees
7. Uniform Sales (The Den): On-campus uniform store selling school uniforms and spirit wear, with proceeds supporting the school

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

Harding Academy is a co-educational, college-preparatory Christian day school offering a continuous educational pathway from preschool (6 weeks through junior kindergarten) through grade 12, operating across two Memphis campuses. The school delivers Christ-centered academics, fine arts, athletics, and college counseling, charging tiered annual and monthly tuition and supported by Annual Fund donations and capital campaigns.

Product overview

Harding Academy is a coeducational, college-prep Christian school offering a unified K-12 educational program plus Little Harding preschool (6 weeks through Jr. K). The institution operates two campuses in Memphis, TN - the main K-12 campus at 1100 Cherry Road and Little Harding at 1106 Colonial Road. Core programs include Little Harding (preschool), Lower School (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and Upper School (9-12) featuring Honors, AP, and Dual Enrollment pathways. Supporting programs include Thrive academic differentiation (K-12), Summer @ Harding day camp, LEAP enrichment, college counseling services, iPad technology program (grades 6-12), LionCare before/after school care, and Little Harding school store (The Den). The school integrates Canvas LMS, FACTS SIS, Raptor security, and Scoir college planning platforms. A 7:1 student-to-teacher ratio and 100% college acceptance rate support its college-preparatory mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Little Harding: Preschool program for children ages 6 weeks through junior kindergarten, housed at the White Station Church of Christ campus.

Products and services

• Little Harding Preschool
• Lower School (Grades K-5)
• Middle School (Grades 6-8)
• Upper School (Grades 9-12)
• Summer @ Harding Day Camp
• LionCare (Before/After School Care)
• LEAP Enrichment
• College Planning Services
• Little Harding School Store (The Den)

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% college acceptance rate for graduating seniors
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• White Station Church of ChristcoreOthersChurch provides facilities for Little Harding preschool campus at 1106 Colonial Road. Harding Academy partners with the church for use of the gym, chapel, multi-purpose rooms, and cafeteria.
• LunchLinkminorOthersThird-party lunch provider for students. Lunches are pre-ordered and pre-paid through LunchLink's online account system.
• Canvas (by Instructure)coreTechnology or IntegrationLearning management system used by all teachers in grades 6-12 for assignments, weekly agendas, and student progress tracking. Parents can set up observer accounts.
• FACTS (RenWeb)coreTechnology or IntegrationStudent information system and billing platform used for enrollment, grades, attendance, tuition payments, and parent communications for grades K-12.
• Raptor TechnologiescoreTechnology or IntegrationVisitor management and security screening system. Raptor Safe app allows parents to pre-verify identity before visiting school, streamlining security process.
• ScoircoreTechnology or IntegrationCollege search and application management platform. Students are introduced to Scoir in freshman year and use it throughout high school for college research and application tracking.
• Tennessee ESA ProgramminorOthersState Education Savings Account program allowing eligible students to use state and local funds toward tuition at Harding Academy.
• Tennessee EFS ProgramminorOthersState Educational Freedom Scholarship program allowing K-12 students to use state funds toward tuition, with first-come first-served allocation.
• Independent School Management (ISM)minorOthersProvider of health insurance options for international students. ISM's ISP program recommended as resource for international student health insurance.
• Black Alumni BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard and mentorship program designed to assist students of color at Harding Academy, providing additional support for career preparation, academic guidance, and alumni connections.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Briarcrest Christian School: A Memphis-area private Christian K-12 school operating in Eads, TN, serving students from preschool through Grade 12 with a faith-based college-preparatory mission. Direct peer due to overlapping Memphis market, Christian identity, and full K-12 grade span.
• Evangelical Christian School: A Memphis-area private Christian K-12 school providing college-preparatory education with a faith-based framework. Direct peer due to overlapping Memphis market, religious affiliation, and similar full K-12 grade span with integrated preschool.
• Lausanne Collegiate School: A Memphis-area independent PK-12 college-preparatory day school. Direct peer due to serving the same Memphis private school market with a college-preparatory mission and full PK-12 grade span.
• Memphis University School: A Memphis-area private all-boys college-preparatory school serving grades 7-12 with a non-sectarian tradition. Direct peer for upper school grades due to overlapping Memphis market, college-prep mission, and strong regional brand recognition.
• Hutchison School: A Memphis-area independent all-girls college-preparatory school serving PK-12 with a non-sectarian tradition. Direct peer due to overlapping Memphis market, full PK-12 grade span, and college-preparatory positioning.
• St. Mary's Episcopal School: A Memphis-area private all-girls Episcopal K-12 day school with a college-preparatory mission. Direct peer due to overlapping Memphis market, faith-based identity, and college-preparatory focus with similar tuition pricing.
• Christian Brothers High School: A Memphis-area private Catholic all-boys college-preparatory high school serving grades 9-12. Direct peer for upper school grades due to overlapping Memphis market, faith-based identity, and college-preparatory mission with similar student demographics.

Regional players

• Westminster Academy: A private Christian PK-12 college-preparatory school in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Regional peer due to similar faith-based college-prep model and PK-12 grade span, but operating in a different geography than Harding's Memphis market.

Broad incumbents

• Stride (formerly K12 Inc): A national online K-12 education provider offering tuition-free public school options and private-pay online learning. Broad incumbent with overlapping K-12 education offerings, though operating through a fundamentally different online delivery model.
• Connections Academy: A national online K-12 education provider offering tuition-free public school options across multiple states. Broad incumbent providing an alternative K-12 education format that competes for some of the same families considering private school alternatives.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@HardingLions
• Facebookfacebook.com/HardingAcademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/hardingacademy
• Xx.com/HardingLions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harding-academy-of-memphis

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Harding Academy