What Pinecrest Academy does

Pinecrest Academy is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) PreK-3 through 12th grade Catholic college preparatory school located on a 68-acre campus at 955 Peachtree Parkway in Cumming, Georgia (Forsyth County, Atlanta metro). Founded in 1993, the school delivers its educational product through a proprietary philosophy called Integral Formation, which develops students across four pillars: intellectual, human, spiritual, and apostolic formation. The core product portfolio is segmented by grade band — Lower School (PreK-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12) — and is supplemented by STEAM instruction, a comprehensive athletics program, visual and performing arts, clubs, campus ministry, and a 30-plus-year summer camp operation for children ages 5 and up. The Paladin Portal (myschoolapp.com) serves as the student and parent platform for academic and administrative information.

The school serves families in the affluent northern Atlanta suburbs (Alpharetta, Milton, Johns Creek, Duluth, Suwanee) seeking faith-based, college-preparatory private education. Average class size is 20 or fewer students. Outcomes are a central value proposition: the Class of 2026 earned $7,006,056 in college scholarships, achieved 81% acceptance to the University of Georgia (vs. 29.8% average) and 50% acceptance to Georgia Tech (vs. 13-14% overall), with 89% of graduates receiving HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarships. Pinecrest has been recognized as #1 Catholic High School and #1 Catholic K-12 School in Georgia by Niche.com and named Best Private School by Forsyth County News for 12 consecutive years, with AP School Honor Roll Platinum distinction for three consecutive years.

Revenue mechanics rely on tuition as the primary stream (covering approximately 90% of per-student education cost), with the remaining ~10% funded through a diversified fundraising apparatus: the Pinecrest Pillars Annual Fund, the Starry Night Gala Benefit Auction, an annual Golf Tournament at Saint Ives Country Club, the Paladin Pacer fun run, and the Georgia GOAL state-tax-credit scholarship program. Go-to-market is direct, sales-led admissions via campus tours, open houses, parish relationships, and community events, with a multi-channel digital presence (website, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, blog) and a Partners in Giving program with local retailers. The school is currently conducting concurrent searches for Head of School and PreK-8th Grade Principal, signaling an executive transition phase. The organization operates as a single-site institution with 101-250 employees and is governed by a Board of Trustees with no parent company or institutional equity ownership.

Name

Pinecrest Academy

Legal name

Pinecrest Academy

Website

https://pinecrestacademy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pinecrest Academy is an independent, nonprofit Catholic PreK-3 through 12th grade college-preparatory school on a 68-acre campus in Cumming, Georgia, serving Atlanta-metro families with small classes, AP coursework, and spiritual formation under its proprietary Integral Formation philosophy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Catholic Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Catholic K-12 education
• College preparatory programs
• Summer camp programs
• STEAM education
• Spiritual formation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cumming

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Primary revenue source from tuition payments. Tuition and fees cover approximately 90% of the education cost per student, with the remaining 10% supplemented by fundraising.
2. Annual Fund: The Pinecrest Pillars Annual Fund provides essential unrestricted, tax-deductible gifts that support academics, athletics, campus ministry, fine arts, facilities, and scholarships.
3. Summer Camps: Revenue-generating summer camp programs offering various activities for children ages 5 and up, including Adventure Camp, Chess Camp, Tennis Camp, Spanish Camp, Minecraft Camp, Coed Basketball Camp, and more.
4. Gala Benefit Auction: Annual signature fundraising event featuring silent and live auctions, raffles, and fund-the-cause initiatives. The Starry Night Gala is the largest annual fundraising event.
5. Golf Tournament: Annual golf tournament held at Saint Ives Country Club with various sponsorship levels and foursome registrations, with proceeds benefiting the school.
6. Paladin Pacer: Annual fun run/walk event on the 68-acre campus that serves as both a community event and fundraiser.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pinecrest Academy is an independent PreK3 through 12 college-preparatory Catholic school delivering classroom-based instruction grounded in its proprietary Integral Formation philosophy, which develops students intellectually, humanly, spiritually, and apostolically. The school operates day-to-day academic programs across Lower School (PreK-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12) divisions on a 68-acre campus in Cumming, Georgia, and also offers separately enrolled summer camps, athletics, visual and performing arts, spiritual life programming, and college counseling.

Product overview

Pinecrest Academy is an independent PreK3-12 college-preparatory Catholic school offering a comprehensive educational program built on the Integral Formation® philosophy. The institution provides a unified educational product portfolio including Lower School (PreK-5th), Middle School (6th-8th), and High School (9th-12th) programs, supplemented by summer camps, athletics, arts (visual arts and music/theater), STEAM education, clubs, and spiritual life programs. Key platforms include the Paladin Portal for student/parent access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PreK-12 Catholic Education Program College-preparatory Catholic day school education for students from PreK3 through 12th grade, structured into Lower School (PreK-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12) divisions and built on the proprietary Integral Formation philosophy that develops students intellectually, humanly, spiritually, and apostolically. Includes Advanced Placement courses, college counseling, STEAM curriculum, athletics, visual and performing arts, clubs and honor societies, and Catholic spiritual life programming on a 68-acre campus in Cumming, Georgia.
• Summer Camps Multi-week summer day camp programs for children ages 5 and up, including Adventure Camp, Chess Camp, Tennis Camp, Spanish Camp, Minecraft Camp, Coed Basketball Camp, and Summertime Fun Camp, conducted in a safe Christian environment on the Pinecrest Academy campus.

Quantifiable outcome

• 81% acceptance rate into University of Georgia (vs 29.8% average)
• +5 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Billy Howell Ford LincolnminorOthersFamily owned and operated since 1977, Billy Howell Ford Lincoln is a long-time supporter of Pinecrest Academy through the Partners in Giving program.
• PublixminorOthersThrough the Partners in Giving program, families can earn money for Pinecrest Academy every time they shop at Publix. Key tags available at Main Office or through Club Publix registration. Pinecrest receives $250 for every $37,500 spent.
• Kroger Community RewardsminorOthersThrough the Partners in Giving program, families can link their Kroger Plus Card to earn money for Pinecrest Academy with each purchase.
• The Quest Atlanta Catholic RadiominorOthersAtlanta Catholic radio station (AM1160) serving as media sponsor providing radio spots and partnership opportunities throughout the year.
• Atlanta Rehabilitation & Performance CenterminorOthersOutpatient physical therapy private practice specializing in orthopedics and sports medicine, participating in Partners in Giving program.
• Box Tops for EducationminorOthersSchool receives 10 cents per Box Top coupon submitted, with funds used for classroom equipment and supplies.
• Georgia GOAL Scholarship ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGOAL (Greater Opportunities for Access to Learning) is a Georgia state income tax credit scholarship program. Pinecrest Academy partners with Georgia GOAL as their Student Scholarship Organization. Taxpayers receive 100% state income tax credit for contributions, with credit limits ranging from $2,500 to $25,000 depending on filing status. This is a significant fundraising channel for scholarship funding.
• Saint Ives Country ClubminorOthersVenue partner for the annual Pinecrest Academy Golf Tournament held in November.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Woodward Academy: Large secular private PreK-12 school in College Park, GA. Comparable in scale of programming and college-prep breadth; competes in the broader Atlanta private school market.
• The Westminster Schools: Elite secular private K-12 school in Atlanta. Larger, more prestigious, and non-faith-based, but competes for the same upper-income Atlanta families seeking college-prep rigor and elite outcomes.
• The Lovett School: Elite secular private K-12 school in Atlanta. Premium secular incumbent that competes with Pinecrest at the upper end of the tuition band for families prioritizing college placement.

Direct peers

• Marist School: Catholic college-preparatory school in Atlanta (grades 7-12) with strong AP and college placement outcomes. Closest high-school analog in the metro for Pinecrest's upper grades.
• Wesleyan School: Private Christian PreK-12 college-preparatory school in Peachtree Corners, GA. Faith-based, college-prep curriculum and suburban Atlanta location make it a near-direct competitor for the same families.
• Mount Paran Christian School: Large private Christian PreK-12 school in Kennesaw, GA (nearby suburban Atlanta). Comparable faith-based, college-preparatory model at greater scale.
• St. Pius X Catholic High School: Catholic college-preparatory high school in Atlanta. Pinecrest's Director of Advancement previously taught there for seven years, indicating direct personnel and mission overlap.
• Holy Spirit Preparatory School: Catholic PreK-12 school in Atlanta serving a similar faith-based, college-preparatory mission. Most direct comparable to Pinecrest in terms of faith identity, grade span, and metro Atlanta location.
• Greater Atlanta Christian School: Large private Christian PreK-12 school in Norcross, GA. Comparable faith-based, college-preparatory model with significant athletic and arts programming similar to Pinecrest's portfolio.
• Mount Pisgah Christian School: Private Christian PreK-12 school in Johns Creek, GA — directly adjacent to Pinecrest's Forsyth County catchment. Competes for the same suburban Atlanta faith-oriented families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PinecrestAcadem
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCYl-N-ZmeoGCYHfC5uSdpTQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/pinecrestacademy1993
• Instagraminstagram.com/pinecrestacademy1993/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Pinecrest Academy