The Ancona School

What The Ancona School does

The Ancona School is a private, nonprofit independent school operating from a single campus at 4770 S Dorchester Ave in Chicago's Hyde Park-Kenwood Historic District. Founded in 1962, it serves approximately 250-400 children from Preprimary 3 through 8th grade, drawing students from 23 Chicago zip codes and surrounding suburbs. The school employs 51-100 staff, maintains an 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio with an average class size of 18, and reports a 100% graduation rate.

The educational product combines a Montessori-inspired early-childhood program with a progressive pedagogy through Primary and Middle School divisions, delivered via mixed-age open classrooms, a two-year cycle curriculum, project-based learning, and an experiential travel program that culminates in an 8th-grade international capstone trip. Auxiliary infrastructure includes a 4,000 sq. ft. outdoor farm tended by a full-time Outdoor Educator, a 15,000 sq. ft. outdoor learning space, interscholastic athletics in the CAMS League, and a comprehensive Student Support Services team. Technology is conventional education software: MySchoolApp for SIS/parent portal, Clarity for tuition contracts and billing, and CampBrain for camp registration. There is no disclosed proprietary technology, AI/ML capability, or data flywheel.

The business model rests on four revenue streams: (1) tuition ranging from $21,840 (EC half-day) to $29,870 (7th/8th grade) for the 2026-27 school year, plus a one-time $2,000 new-family enrollment fee; (2) subscription-style auxiliary programs (Aftercare up to $5,400/year, Breakfast Club up to $2,184/year, Ancona Extra pay-as-you-go); (3) seasonal camps (Ancona Summer at $535-$595/week, Spring Break Camp at $80/day or $375/week) with dedicated registration infrastructure; and (4) philanthropic revenue through The Butterfly Effect Annual Fund, structured Giving Circles (Monarch $50,000; Butterfly $15,000-$50,000; Chrysalis $5,000-$15,000), and an annual Gala. The school is governed by a 19-member Board of Trustees and led by Head of School Liz Iverson.

Name

The Ancona School

Legal name

The Ancona School

Website

https://anconaschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Ancona School is a private, nonprofit independent school in Chicago's Hyde Park-Kenwood neighborhood serving children ages 3 through 8th grade through a Montessori-progressive model, supplemented by extended-day care, summer camp, and philanthropic fundraising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent K-8 Private Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

School-Age Wraparound Childcare Centers (Holiday/Break Care) (EDACAAAL)

Keywords

• Independent K-8 education
• Montessori early childhood
• Progressive elementary school
• Private middle school
• Summer day camp programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: The school generates primary revenue from tuition fees for students ages 3 through 8th grade across multiple programs including Early Childhood, Primary, and Middle School divisions. Tuition ranges from $21,840 to $29,870 depending on grade level and program type (full-day vs half-day).
2. Auxiliary Programs: Revenue from before and after school care programs including Aftercare ($1,080-$5,400 per year), Breakfast Club ($504-$2,184 per year), and Ancona Extra day care services ($80-$90 per day).
3. Summer Camp Programs: Revenue from summer day camp programs offering nine themed weekly sessions for Early Childhood and Primary-aged students, with Counselor-in-Training program for older students. Early Bird rate $535/week, Regular rate $595/week.
4. Spring Break Camp: Revenue from week-long spring break camp programs with daily rate of $80 or weekly rate of $375.
5. Annual Fund Donations: The Butterfly Effect Annual Fund Campaign generates donations from families and the broader community to support tuition assistance, professional development, and extraordinary student experiences.
6. Giving Circles: Philanthropic donations through giving circles at various levels (Monarch Circle $50,000, Butterfly Circle $15,000-$50,000, Chrysalis Circle $5,000-$15,000) that provide gala sponsorships and other benefits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Ancona School provides independent preprimary through 8th-grade education rooted in the Montessori tradition and progressive pedagogy, with small mixed-age classrooms and an 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio. Beyond core academics, it operates paid auxiliary programs including a nine-week summer day camp, spring break camp, before and after school care, interscholastic athletics through the CAMS league, and an experiential student travel program with overnight and international trips.

Product overview

The Ancona School is an independent Montessori-progressive school serving children ages 3 through 8th grade. The core educational offerings include the Preprimary Program (Montessori-based), Primary Program (1st-4th grade), and Middle School Program (5th-8th grade), supported by Student Support Services and a High School Transition Program. Beyond academics, Ancona offers Ancona Summer (nine-week day camp), Spring Break Camp, Ancona Extended (before/after care), the Athletics Program (Aviators), and an experiential Student Travel Program with progressive overnight trips culminating in an international capstone trip for 8th graders. The school also operates Parent Connection (APC) for community engagement, an annual Gala for fundraising, Giving Circles for major donors, and The Butterfly Effect Annual Fund campaign. Tuition management is handled through the Clarity platform, and the school integrates with various partners including Chi-Fresh Kitchen for meals, YMCA for swimming, and Challenge Island for STEAM programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Preprimary Program Montessori-based early childhood education for children ages 3 through kindergarten, featuring self-directed activities, multi-age classrooms, and materials that isolate specific skills.
• Primary Program Elementary education for 1st-4th graders featuring mixed-age open classrooms, TCRWP literacy approach, Eureka Math2 curriculum, and subjects including art, Spanish, music, and outdoor learning.
• Middle School Program Middle school education for 5th-8th graders with specialized subject teachers, advisory programs, experiential travel curriculum, and preparation for high school transitions.
• Student Support Services Academic and social-emotional support including Learning Specialists, School Counselor, and School Nurse providing holistic student assistance across all grade levels.
• High School Transition Program Comprehensive support for 7th-8th grade families including Choices sessions, High School Week, interview skills workshops, portfolio preparation, and connections with partner schools.
• Ancona Summer Nine-week summer day camp program for children ages 3 through rising 5th graders, featuring themed weekly sessions, swimming lessons, field trips, and a Counselor-in-Training program for rising 6th-8th graders.
• Spring Break Camp Five-day spring break day camp with themed daily activities for Early Childhood and Primary age students.
• Ancona Extended Before and after school care including Aftercare (3-5:45pm), Breakfast Club (7:30-8am), and Ancona Extra for conference days and holidays.
• Athletics Program (Ancona Aviators) Interscholastic athletics program competing in the Chicago Area Middle Schools League, offering flag football, volleyball, soccer, and basketball with no-cut policy.
• Student Travel Program Experiential travel curriculum including apple picking for preprimary, Ancona in the Woods for 1st/2nd grade, overnight camping for 3rd/4th, wilderness trips for 5th/6th, Spanish camp and wilderness adventure for 7th/8th, and international capstone trip for 8th grade.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% graduation rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chi-Fresh KitchencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChi-Fresh Kitchen provides lunch orders for students who do not bring packed lunches. The partnership offers delicious, kid-friendly meals with gluten-free, vegan, and allergy-friendly options available.
• Hyde Park School of DancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHyde Park School of Dance provides dance workshops for Ancona Summer camp, encouraging self-expression, creativity, and appreciation for performing arts while promoting physical activity.
• YMCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYMCA provides weekly swimming lessons for Ancona Summer campers. Children are grouped by skill level and build water confidence through structured lessons and supervised play with trained instructors and lifeguards.
• Court TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through City Quest program (7th/8th grade) where students learn collaboration and care principles through meaningful connections with cultural institutions.
• South Side Community Arts CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership connecting Ancona students with community arts resources and programming through experiential learning initiatives.
• ClaritycoreTechnology or IntegrationClarity is used for enrollment contracts, tuition billing, and tuition assistance management. Families can pay deposits, tuition, and incidental charges via ACH or credit card through the Clarity platform.
• Lake Michigan Association of Independent Schools (LMAIS)coreOthersLMAIS is a network of independent schools where Ancona honors agreed-upon admissions decision/response dates. The association coordinates timelines across member schools.
• Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISAACS)minorOthersAffiliation with regional association of independent schools for professional development, networking, and standards alignment.
• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)minorOthersAffiliation with national organization representing independent schools for advocacy, professional development, and best practices.
• American Montessori Society (AMS)coreOthersAffiliation with American Montessori Society validates Ancona's Montessori programming for early childhood education and connects the school to Montessori resources and professional development.
• Chicago Area Middle Schools League (CAMS)coreOthersAncona belongs to CAMS along with other independent schools in Chicago. All middle school students are encouraged to participate with no-cut policy ensuring all interested students can play regardless of skill level.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• British International School of Chicago, South Loop: Independent international K-12 school in Chicago serving globally-minded families at similar tuition. Overlaps with Ancona on experiential travel and international capstone programming.
• Chicago City Day School: Independent K-8 school in Chicago serving the same city family demographic with comparable tuition and progressive orientation.
• Catherine Cook School: Independent, nonsectarian K-8 school in downtown Chicago with similar progressive pedagogy, comparable tuition, and overlapping Chicago-family target market.
• North Shore Country Day School: Independent, progressive K-12 school in Winnetka serving Chicago-area families. Comparable progressive philosophy, tuition, and feeder-school network to top high schools.
• Latin School of Chicago: Independent, nonsectarian K-12 school on Chicago's North Side with comparable tuition and progressive tradition. Ancona explicitly lists Latin as a top high school placement destination, and the two compete for the same Chicago family demographic.
• Francis W. Parker School: Independent, progressive K-12 school in Chicago with a similar philosophy-driven mission, comparable tuition band, and direct overlap in family demographics and progressive pedagogy.
• The Avery Coonley School: Independent, progressive K-8 school in the western Chicago suburbs with a similar progressive-pedagogy mission and overlapping tuition and family demographic.
• University of Chicago Laboratory Schools: University-affiliated independent pre-K-12 school located just blocks from Ancona in Hyde Park. Directly competes for the same Hyde Park-Kenwood families and shares a progressive educational philosophy.
• Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School: Independent Jewish day school serving preschool through 8th grade on Chicago's North Side. Comparable tuition and progressive family demographic, though with a Jewish cultural lens.
• Near North Montessori School: Independent Montessori preschool-through-8th-grade school in Chicago. Directly overlaps with Ancona's Montessori early-childhood and elementary programming and operates at a similar tuition band.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/anconaschool
• Instagraminstagram.com/anconaschool
• Xx.com/theanconaschool

Compliance1 record

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 The Ancona School