What Briarcrest Christian School does

Briarcrest Christian School is a co-educational, non-denominational, college preparatory K2-12 school operating on a single 115-acre campus in Eads, Tennessee, founded in 1973 and governed as Briarcrest Christian School System, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation overseen by a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. The school enrolls more than 1,700 students across Early Childhood (Little Saints, Pre-K, Jr-K), Lower Elementary (K-1), Upper Elementary (2-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12), with approximately 221 faculty and staff supporting a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of 17. It is one of only 19 schools globally designated as an ACSI Exemplary School and holds SAIS accreditation (since 1975) and Cognia membership. Brian Swatley serves as President following a leadership succession that included Joseph Clayton (1989), Tim Hillen (1996-2004), Bill McGee (2004-2007), Mark Merrill (2009-), and Stephen Simpson as the system's first headmaster (2009).

The school's core academic product is a faith-integrated college preparatory curriculum anchored by a one-to-one computing program (iPads for SK-3, MacBooks for grades 4-12) and the onCampus parent/student portal (MySchoolApp). High school offerings include Advanced Placement courses with a 95%+ AP pass rate (vs. a 60-70% national average) and a Dual Enrollment partnership with the University of Memphis that saved families more than $600,000 in the most recent reported year. Supplementary academic services include Educational Support Services for students with diagnosed learning disabilities/ADD-ADHD, on-campus tutoring, and a College Counseling program that achieves a 100% college acceptance rate. Beyond academics, Briarcrest operates 25+ sports (with 65-67 combined team and individual state championships), a Fine Arts Conservatory covering Vocal Music, Instrumental Music, Theatre, Visual Arts, and a rare Commercial Music program, plus a Spiritual Life program built around weekly chapel, RUSH Week, and Discipleship Groups.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition (annual recurring fees by grade level), supplemented by an Annual Giving / development program (processed via Blackbaud and Double the Donation), named endowment scholarships (e.g., Carrie Yerty Courage & Discipleship Fund, Michael Ellis Heart of a Champion Scholarship), Briarcamp summer camps for ages 5-15, and corporate Fine Arts sponsorships. Financial aid is need-based and administered through School and Student Services (SSS); the school participates in the TN Education Freedom Scholarship program but does not accept the TN Education Savings Account. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: word-of-mouth referrals from an 8,000+ alumni network, open houses, preview days, campus tours, shadow days, and a selective committee-reviewed admissions process. Application fees are $50 and registration fees are $150; broader tuition pricing is not publicly tiered on the website.

Name

Briarcrest Christian School

Legal name

Briarcrest Christian School System, Inc.

Website

https://briarcrest.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Briarcrest Christian School is a co-educational, non-denominational K2-12 college preparatory school on a 115-acre campus in Eads, Tennessee, serving 1,700+ students with faith-integrated academics, 25+ sports, fine arts, and AP/Dual Enrollment programs, funded by tuition and annual giving.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Early Learning Academies (EDACADAH)

Keywords

• Private Christian education
• K-12 college preparatory
• Faith-based schooling
• Fine arts education
• Summer camp programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Eads

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: Annual tuition fees charged to families for K2-12 Christian education. Tuition varies by grade level and includes various payment plan options.
2. The Briarcrest Fund (Annual Giving): Annual charitable giving program where donors contribute to support academics, athletics, fine arts, or area of greatest need. Multiple giving options including one-time gifts, monthly giving, and matching gifts.
3. Summer Programs (Briarcamp): Academic and enrichment programs, as well as sports camps for boys and girls ages 5-15 through Briarcamp summer camps program.
4. Fine Arts Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from local businesses supporting the Briarcrest Arts program. Multiple sponsorship tiers with presenting sponsor and various supporting sponsors.
5. Scholarship Funds (Endowments): Named scholarship funds established by donors including The Carrie Yerty Courage & Discipleship Fund, The Michael Ellis Heart of a Champion Scholarship, The Rachel Lynch Award, and The Zach Kothe Memorial Scholarship.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Briarcrest Christian School is a private, non-profit, co-educational Christian school that serves students from K2 through 12th grade on a 115-acre campus in Eads, Tennessee. It sells a college-preparatory, faith-based K-12 education, complemented by fine arts, athletics, AP coursework, and summer camp programs. Founded in 1973, the school enrolls more than 1,700 students with a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, average class size of 17, 100% college acceptance rate, and 95%+ AP pass rate.

Product overview

Briarcrest Christian School is a co-educational, Christian K2-12 private school offering a comprehensive educational experience on one campus in Eads, Tennessee. The school operates as a single unified educational institution with distinct divisions (Elementary School, Middle School, High School) rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core academic programs span Early Childhood Education (ages 2-4), Lower Elementary (K-1), Upper Elementary (2-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12), with Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Enrollment courses available for high school students. Beyond academics, Briarcrest offers integrated Fine Arts programs including Vocal Music, Instrumental Music, Theatre, Visual Arts, and a Conservatory of Fine Arts; a comprehensive Athletics program with 25+ sports; and Spiritual Life programming including weekly chapel services, Discipleship Groups, and RUSH Week spiritual emphasis. The school also provides supplementary services including Educational Support Services (ESS) for students with learning disabilities, Tutoring, College Counseling, and Career Conference programs. Recent additions include the Petree Athletic Center (opened April 2024), Dr. Willard R. Sparks Chapel and Performing Arts Center (opened 2014), and summer camp program Briarcamp. The school maintains technology integration through MySchoolApp (onCampus) for parent/student access and partners with University of Memphis for Dual Enrollment courses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-12 Christian Education Program Co-educational, college-preparatory Christian school program enrolling students from K2 through 12th grade on a 115-acre campus in Eads, Tennessee. The program delivers individualized instruction with a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, average class size of 17, and is supported by 221 faculty and staff of which 67+ hold master's degrees.
• Advanced Placement (AP) Courses College-level AP coursework offered as part of the high school academic program, with the school reporting a 95%+ AP pass rate. Intended for students seeking rigorous, college-credit-eligible academic challenge.
• Fine Arts Program
• Summer Camp Programs

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of MemphiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Dual Enrollment (DE) courses allowing 11th and 12th grade students to earn both high school and college credit simultaneously. Courses follow a college curriculum but are taught by Briarcrest teachers through a Biblical worldview. This partnership saved Briarcrest families more than $600,000 last year.
• School and Student Services (SSS)coreOthersBriarcrest partners with School and Student Services (SSS) in their financial aid process. All financial aid is awarded based on financial need as determined through SSS. The school uses SSS information as a starting point along with school policies, practices, and available budget.
• Memphis Opportunity Scholarship Trust (M.O.S.T.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerM.O.S.T. gives Memphis-area families the opportunity to send their children to schools like Briarcrest. They help committed families access schools where children can achieve their full potential through scholarship programs.
• TN Education Freedom ScholarshipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBriarcrest participates in the TN Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS) program for Tennessee residents entering Grades K-12. Note: Briarcrest does not accept the TN Education Savings Account (ESA).
• FLIK Dining ServicesminorOthersFLIK Dining Services is the food service provider for Briarcrest Christian School, handling all cafeteria operations.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Memphis University School: Private college preparatory boys' school in Memphis, TN serving grades 7-12. Comparable in academic rigor and college placement, though non-faith-based, serving similar affluent Mid-South families.
• St. Mary's Episcopal School: Episcopal-affiliated private K-12 school in Memphis, TN. Comparable in academic excellence and Memphis market presence, though denominationally distinct.
• Providence Christian Academy: Private Christian K-12 school in Murfreesboro, TN. Comparable faith-based college preparatory model serving Tennessee families outside the Mid-South market.
• Hutchison School: Independent college preparatory girls' school in Memphis, TN serving grades K-12. Comparable in scale and college preparatory academics for Mid-South families, though single-sex and non-faith-based.
• Christian Brothers High School: Catholic all-boys college preparatory high school in Memphis, TN. Comparable private faith-based school in the same market targeting similar families, though denominationally distinct and limited to high school.

Broad incumbents

• Wheaton Academy: Private Christian K-12 school in West Chicago, IL with college preparatory academics and faith integration. Comparable model and scale serving a different geographic market.
• Prestonwood Christian Academy: Large private Christian K-12 school in Plano, TX with similar comprehensive academics, athletics, and fine arts programs. Comparable operational model at greater scale in a different geographic market.

Direct peers

• First Assembly Christian School: Christian K-12 school in Cordova, TN (Memphis metro) with college preparatory academics. Competes directly with Briarcrest for Christian education-seeking families in the eastern Memphis suburbs.
• Evangelical Christian School: Private Christian K-12 school in Memphis, TN offering college preparatory education with biblical integration. Operates in the same Mid-South market competing for faith-seeking families.
• Harding Academy: Private Christian K-12 school in Memphis, TN serving similar Mid-South families with college preparatory academics integrated with Christian values. Direct competitor for the same demographic in the same geographic market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BCHS_Saints
• YouTubevimeo.com/user8771543
• Facebookfacebook.com/SaintsBCS
• Instagraminstagram.com/briarcrest

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Briarcrest Christian School