Holy Spirit Preparatory School

What Holy Spirit Preparatory School does

Holy Spirit Preparatory School is a private, independent Catholic college preparatory school that educates students from preschool (ages 6 months) through 12th grade at two Atlanta-area campuses — the Donnellan Lower School on Long Island Drive and the Donoghue Upper School on Northside Drive. Founded in 1996 as The Donnellan School, HSP delivers a classical liberal arts curriculum grounded in Catholic theology, with 17 AP courses, four Upper School elective tracks (Liberal Arts, Computer Science, Fine Arts, Classical Languages), a 14:1 student-teacher ratio, a 100% college acceptance rate, and an 84% AP exam pass rate. Faith formation is delivered through three full-time chaplains (including a Head Chaplain supplied by the Legionaries of Christ), weekly Mass at affiliated Holy Spirit Catholic Church, and integrated sacramental preparation.

The school's core product is a multi-year education service priced via annual tuition on a subscription basis; tuition figures are not publicly disclosed but tuition assistance programs are available. Supplementary revenue and engagement come from before/after care, summer camps, fine arts (music, visual arts, theater), and a competitive athletics program covering 10+ sports. Distribution is direct-to-family via a personalized admissions funnel centered on private campus tours and shadow days, supplemented by website, social media, and community events. The institution is governed by a Board of Trustees that includes the parish Pastor, alumni parents, current parents, and founding patrons Frank and David Hanna, and operates as a Georgia 501(c)(3) nonprofit approved by the Archbishop of Atlanta.

HSP monetizes primarily through recurring tuition rather than technology platforms; there is no proprietary software, mobile app, or API offering. The technology footprint is limited to standard school administration tools such as the FACTS Family Portal and SCOIR for college counseling. Strategic differentiation rests on classical curriculum, Catholic identity, multi-year enrollment continuity, and third-party-validated outcomes (Niche A+, 2021 Best Private School in Buckhead).

Name

Holy Spirit Preparatory School

Legal name

Holy Spirit Preparatory School

Website

https://holyspiritprep.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Holy Spirit Preparatory School is a nonprofit Catholic classical college preparatory school in Atlanta, Georgia, serving students from preschool (ages 6 months) through 12th grade across two campuses, with a 14:1 student-teacher ratio and a 100% college acceptance rate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Private Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Preschools (EDACABAF), Faith-Based Before/After Care Programs (Early Years) (EDACAHAE)

Keywords

• Private K-12 education
• Catholic classical education
• College preparatory school
• Independent school tuition
• Faith-based education

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

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 and Fees: The school generates revenue primarily through tuition payments from families. The institution offers tuition assistance programs to support families and operates a before/after school care program as an additional revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Holy Spirit Preparatory School delivers continuous Catholic classical education for students from preschool (six months old) through 12th grade across two Atlanta campuses. Its academic core is a rigorous college preparatory liberal arts curriculum with 17 AP courses, specialized tracks in Liberal Arts, Computer Science, Fine Arts, and Classical Languages, complemented by comprehensive Faith Formation, Fine Arts, Athletics, and College Counseling programs.

Product overview

Holy Spirit Preparatory School is a Catholic, classical, independent, college preparatory school serving students from ages six months through 12th grade. The school operates two campuses and offers a unified educational program consisting of: Preschool, Lower School (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and Upper School (9-12). Academic programs include specialized elective tracks in Liberal Arts, Computer Science, Fine Arts, and Classical Languages, with 17 AP courses. The school integrates Catholic faith formation throughout its curriculum, supported by 3 full-time chaplains and weekly Mass. Additional programs include comprehensive Fine Arts (visual arts, music, band, choir, drama, theater, orchestra), Athletics (10+ sports), College Counseling, resource centers for academic support, before/after school care, and summer camps. The school maintains a 14:1 student-teacher ratio, 100% college acceptance rate, and A+ grade on Niche.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Preschool Program Early childhood education program serving students from six months through Pre-K, integrated with Catholic faith formation and foundational academic preparation. For families seeking faith-based early education.
• Lower School (K-5) Elementary education program for grades K-5 offering rigorous academics grounded in classical Catholic education, including specialized programs such as the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Gifted Center and John Carroll Resource Center. For families seeking K-5 Catholic classical education.
• Middle School (6-8) Middle school program for grades 6-8 providing academic excellence, faith formation, and preparation for the college preparatory upper school curriculum.
• Upper School (9-12) College preparatory high school program with 17 AP courses, 100% college acceptance rate, and specialized academic elective tracks in Liberal Arts, Computer Science, Fine Arts, and Classical Languages. For families seeking rigorous college-prep high school education.
• Fine Arts Program Comprehensive arts curriculum including general music, visual arts, band, choir, drama, musical theater, and orchestra, with emphasis on classical and Catholic approaches to beauty and artistic expression. Open to enrolled students.
• Athletics Program Competitive athletic program offering 10+ sports with a competitive Student House System designed to develop excellence, fortitude, and magnanimity alongside academic formation.
• College Counseling Comprehensive college counseling program beginning in 7th grade using the SCOIR platform for college visits, supporting 100% college acceptance rate and connections to hundreds of colleges and universities.
• Faith Formation Catholic faith integration across all programs with 3 full-time chaplains, weekly Mass, sacramental preparation including First Communion and Confirmation, and campus ministry programs.
• Before and After School Care Childcare program for Lower School students including Cougar Hour tutorials, clubs (Robotics, Gymnastics, Boys' Club, Girls' Challenge Club), and Extended School Program until 6:00pm.
• Summer Camps Summer enrichment programs allowing students to make the most of summer break through various educational and recreational activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% college acceptance rate
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Prepory College CounselingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoly Spirit Prep partners with Prepory College Counseling to offer a week-long summer program for rising 10-12 graders. The program complements existing college counseling services with focused instruction on academic, extracurricular, and application strategies.
• SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership allowing HSP students to visit SCAD Atlanta for immersive experiences including SCADstory and hands-on studio activities in printmaking and wood shop.
• Ascension Music AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSP partners with Ascension Music Academy (AMA) to offer private music lessons on campus. AMA also provides chamber ensemble coaching for students developing musicianship in small group settings.
• Legionaries of ChristcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Legionaries of Christ provide the school with a Head Chaplain who oversees spiritual and sacramental instruction for students and faculty.
• Holy Spirit Catholic ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school is affiliated with Holy Spirit Catholic Church. The Pastor serves on the Board of Trustees, and students attend weekly Mass at the church.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Marist School: Catholic, college-preparatory school in Atlanta serving grades 7–12 with strong athletics and college placement. Closest faith-based peer competing for Catholic families in the same Atlanta metro.
• The Westminster Schools: Elite independent K–12 school in Atlanta serving Buckhead families with strong college outcomes. Directly competes with Holy Spirit Prep for the same tuition-paying Atlanta families seeking rigorous college-prep academics.
• Blessed Trinity Catholic High School: Catholic college-preparatory high school in Roswell (Atlanta metro) with similar faith-based identity and college placement record. Competitor for north-metro Catholic families seeking upper-school options.
• Pace Academy: Independent K–12 school in Atlanta's Buckhead with comparable college-prep rigor, AP offerings, and family demographics. Direct competitor for academically ambitious Atlanta families regardless of faith preference.
• Holy Innocents' Episcopal School: Faith-based (Episcopal) independent K–12 school in Atlanta with similar tuition profile, college outcomes, and family demographics. Competes for faith-oriented college-bound families in the Atlanta metro.
• Trinity School: Independent K–12 school in Atlanta with strong college-prep outcomes and similar Buckhead family base. Comparable academic positioning and direct enrollment competitor.
• Woodward Academy: Large independent K–12 school in College Park/Atlanta metro with extensive AP offerings and college counseling. Competes for the same college-bound Atlanta families across a broader socioeconomic range.
• St. Pius X Catholic High School: Catholic college-prep high school in Atlanta serving grades 9–12 with comparable faith integration and AP/college outcomes. Directly competes for Catholic upper-school families in metro Atlanta.

Broad incumbents

• Atlanta International School: Independent K–12 school in Atlanta with an international baccalaureate focus. Competes for globally-minded, college-bound families in the same Buckhead catchment but with a distinct IB rather than classical Catholic positioning.

Regional players

• St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School: Catholic K–8 school in the Atlanta metro serving younger grades with classical and faith-based formation. Comparable early-pipeline competitor for families considering Catholic PreK–8 before high school selection.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/holyspiritprep
• Facebookfacebook.com/HolySpiritPrep
• Instagraminstagram.com/holyspiritprep

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 Holy Spirit Preparatory School