NICS

Name

NICS

Legal name

Network of International Christian Schools

Website

https://nics.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

NICS is a US-based 501c3 non-profit operating 14 K-12 international Christian schools across 12 countries, serving roughly 4,900 students from 100 nations with an American college-preparatory curriculum and biblical worldview integration, funded by overseas tuition and donor contributions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Christian K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Virtual/Online Charter Schools (EDAJACAD)

Keywords

• International Christian education
• K-12 American curriculum
• Missionary school network
• Overseas accredited schools
• Expatriate family education

Headquarters

HQ city

Southaven

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. School Tuition and Fees: Tuition and fees from international families paying for their children's education. Income covers staff salaries and ongoing operational expenses. Schools classified as Pioneer (start-up), Transitional (becoming established), and Established (stable) with varying salary structures.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from supporters including churches, individuals, and organizations. NICS is a recognized 501c3 organization. Donations support new project start-ups, stabilization costs, supplemental staff income, and special needs like technology.
3. Overseas Operations Income: Home office is primarily supported by overseas operations. Approximately $67 million in overseas annual income.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NICS operates a global network of 14 accredited international Christian K-12 schools across 12 countries, providing an English-language American curriculum that culminates in a U.S. high school diploma. The organization also runs the parallel Oasis International Schools brand for religiously sensitive regions and offers related programs including NorthStar Academy online school, teacher recruitment and placement, and pre-field cross-cultural training (IMPACT).

Product overview

NICS (Network of International Christian Schools) is a global educational organization operating a network of 14 international Christian schools across 12 countries, along with its parallel brand Oasis International Schools. The organization offers K-12 education programs (PK through grade 12) with American-based curriculum, issuing U.S. high school diplomas accredited by U.S. regional agencies and ACSI. The product portfolio includes core school networks (NICS and Oasis), online education through NorthStar Academy, teacher recruitment and placement services, pre-field training (IMPACT), international student teaching placements, university partnership scholarships, an online donation platform, and merchandise sales via NICSGear. Approximately 4,900 students from 100 nations are served, with instruction in English integrating biblical worldview throughout the curriculum.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NorthStar Academy: Network's #1-rated online school, housed in Building One at the home office in Southaven, MS.

Products and services

• NICS International Christian K-12 Schools A network of accredited international Christian K-12 schools delivering an American-based English-language curriculum integrated with a biblical worldview and leading to a U.S. high school diploma; serves missionary, diplomatic, and expatriate families abroad.
• Oasis International Schools Parallel network of international schools adapted for countries with religious sensitivities; offers values-based, character-rich education emphasizing respect for people from all religious and non-religious backgrounds while maintaining Christian principles.
• NorthStar Academy Network's online K-12 school offering virtual education options, housed at the NICS headquarters training facility in Southaven, Mississippi.
• IMPACT Training International Missions Preparation And Cross-Cultural Training (IMPACT) - a mandatory 10-day pre-field training event held annually near the Memphis headquarters for all new staff and families, covering cross-cultural living, team-building assessments (MBTI, DISC), TCK profiles, and agency onboarding.
• Student Teaching Program International student teaching placements at NICS schools in partnership with universities, providing teaching experience abroad for education students.
• NICS Donation Platform Online donation system accepting credit/debit cards (processed via Authorize.net) and bank transfers for one-time and recurring gifts, with designation options for schools, staff support, and projects.
• NICSGear Online Store Online merchandise store powered by BigCartel selling NICS-branded merchandise and apparel.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14 schools across 12 countries serving 4900+ students from 100 nations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACSI is a major affiliation providing accreditation services to network schools. ACSI lifetime certifications are available for administrators and superintendents. Schools hold dual accreditation combining ACSI with regional U.S. accreditation agencies.
• AdvancEd/CogniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional U.S. accreditation agency providing accreditation to many network schools alongside ACSI. Ensures academic standards meet international university admission requirements.
• ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability)coreOthersNICS is ECFA accredited, demonstrating financial accountability standards expected of evangelical nonprofit organizations.
• Abilene Christian UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOffers 10% tuition reduction for online degrees and 25% for graduate theology programs to NICS staff. Graduates of NICS schools eligible for $1,000/year scholarships.
• Liberty UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOffers 15% discount on online programs for NICS staff and spouses. Provides scholarships for missionary kids and debt repayment opportunities for alumni serving overseas.
• Asbury UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGuarantees minimum 50% tuition covered in scholarships for NICS graduates. Offers 20% tuition discount on online undergraduate and graduate programs for teachers, staff, and parents.
• Bob Jones UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOffers 50% tuition reduction on graduate programs for NICS teachers and administrators. Also provides dual credit options for NICS students.
• BBB (Better Business Bureau)minorOthersNICS holds BBB accreditation demonstrating commitment to business ethics and consumer trust.
• Southaven Chamber of CommerceminorOthersLocal chamber membership supporting the Southaven, MS business community where NICS headquarters is located.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Office of Overseas Schools (U.S. State Department): U.S. government body that supports American-style schools overseas and is the primary funding mechanism for many peer schools; comparable ecosystem enabler for the international school market NICS serves.
• Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI): Accreditation and member-services organization that credentialing partner of NICS schools; comparable from a mission and member-services perspective and a critical ecosystem player for NICS.

Broad incumbents

• International School Bangkok (ISB): Premier international K-12 school in a posting where NICS once had a planned project; comparable American/international curriculum but much larger and secular.
• Christian Schools International (CSI): Broad umbrella association supporting K-12 Christian schools across North America and beyond; relevant as a peer mission-aligned support organization but does not operate multi-country school networks internationally like NICS.
• Singapore American School: Large, well-established American-curriculum international school serving expatriate and diplomatic families in a NICS-adjacent market (Singapore); broader scale and secular identity but directly comparable premium tuition model.

Direct peers

• Christian Academy in Japan: K-12 international Christian school serving missionary, diplomatic, and business families in Japan with US-style curriculum; nearly identical mission-aligned operating model to a NICS school.
• International Schools Services (ISS): Provides operational, staffing, and recruiting support to international schools worldwide; directly comparable to NICS Home Office's teacher placement and accreditation functions across a multi-country network.
• Quality Schools International (QSI): Multi-country K-12 international private school network with similar tuition-based model and missionary/expat family orientation; closely comparable in geographic footprint and target families to NICS.
• Asia Pacific Christian Academy (APCA): K-12 international Christian school in Korea founded for missionary children, using a similar American curriculum as NICS schools and competing for the same third-culture-kid demographic in Korea.
• Faith Academy (Philippines): K-12 international Christian school serving mainly missionary and expatriate families; comparable values-based American curriculum offering in a single high-expat-posting country.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nicsschools
• Xx.com/nicsschools

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries16 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 NICS