Holton-Arms School

What Holton-Arms School does

Holton-Arms School is an independent, nonprofit, college-preparatory day school for girls in grades 3-12, founded in 1901 in Washington, D.C. and relocated to its current 57-acre campus on River Road in Bethesda, Maryland in 1963. The institution operates a three-division structure—Lower School (grades 3-6), Middle School (grades 7-8), and Upper School (grades 9-12)—serving approximately 665-671 students with 114-125 teachers, a 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and an average class size of 15. Its educational offering is anchored by the Learn Well, Live Well, Lead Well (LW3) philosophy, which integrates DEIB, health and wellbeing, and global competence across the curriculum, and is supplemented by distinction programs in Global Studies, STEM, and Humanities, plus college counseling, fine and performing arts, and an athletics program with 50 teams across 15 sports.

Revenue is generated primarily through annual tuition set at $60,535 for the 2026-2027 academic year, paid via one-, two-, or ten-payment plans through the TADS tuition management system, with 21% of students receiving need-based financial aid (average grant covering 62% of tuition). Ancillary revenue comes from a $1,200 enrollment deposit, bus transportation ($850-$2,520), extended day care ($25/day), optional international and domestic trips ($4,500-$6,350), the Creative Summer day camp, and the Brown House Child Development Center. The school's go-to-market is an inquiry- and event-driven admissions funnel: families engage through the website, Open House events, shadow visits, virtual tours, and the Veracross application portal, with applications typically due in January and decisions released in late February.

Holton-Arms is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees and led by Head of School Penny B. Evins (the eighth in school history, appointed July 2023), supported by an Associate Head, CFO/COO, and CIO/CTO. The institution holds multiple accreditations (AIMS, State of Maryland, NAIS) and memberships (ICGS, AISGW, NACAC, SSATB, ERB), and reports 100% of graduates accepted to four-year institutions, 7,400+ alumnae across 40 countries, and recent recognition including five National Merit Finalists and two Presidential Scholars. Technology infrastructure is built on industry-standard independent-school SaaS (Finalsite, Veracross, Canvas LMS) rather than proprietary platforms.

Name

Holton-Arms School

Legal name

Holton-Arms School

Website

https://holton-arms.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1901

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Holton-Arms School is an independent, nonprofit college-preparatory day school for girls in grades 3-12, founded in 1901 and located on a 57-acre campus in Bethesda, Maryland, serving roughly 665 students with a 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent K-12 Education (Private College-Preparatory Day School for Girls)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Middle Schools (EDAJAAAC), Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB), Public Magnet & Specialty Schools (STEM/Arts/IB/CTE) (EDAJAAAF)

Keywords

• Independent school education
• College preparatory
• Girls education
• Private day school
• K-12 academics

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethesda

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Primary revenue stream from tuition. 2026-2027 school year tuition is $60,535 which includes breakfast and lunch, snacks, academic field trips, Lower School textbooks, most materials and supplies, athletics and arts experiences.
2. Summer Programs: Creative Summer day camp and Brown House Child Development Center provide supplementary revenue.
3. Enrollment Deposits: One-time enrollment deposit of $1,200 required upon signing first enrollment contract, held and reapplied each year.
4. Optional Programs and Services: Bus transportation ($850-$2,520), extended day care ($25/day), summer camps, optional trips (Belize trip $4,500, Language Immersion Trip $4,600, Junior Journey Trip $6,350), and various activity fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Holton-Arms School is an independent, nonprofit, college-preparatory day school for girls serving approximately 665 students across Lower School (grades 3-6), Middle School (grades 7-8), and Upper School (grades 9-12) on a 57-acre Bethesda, Maryland campus. Core academic, arts, athletics, and college-counseling programs are delivered in person, with tuition of $60,535 for the 2026-2027 school year (inclusive of meals, textbooks, field trips, arts, and athletics) and 21% of students receiving need-based financial aid.

Product overview

Holton-Arms School is an independent college-preparatory school for girls in grades 3-12, founded in 1901. The school offers a unified educational program structured across three divisions—Lower School (grades 3-6), Middle School (grades 7-8), and Upper School (grades 9-12)—supported by specialized curricular programs including Global Scholars, STEM Scholars, and Humanities Scholars. The institution provides comprehensive programming in academics, fine and performing arts, athletics, college counseling, global education, and student support services. The Learn Well, Live Well, Lead Well (LW3) philosophy integrates the school's three institutional priorities: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging; Health and Wellbeing; and Global Competence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lower School (Grades 3-6) Foundational academic program for grades 3-6 focused on building core skills, joyful learning, self-awareness, and social-emotional development within a supportive girls' community.
• Middle School (Grades 7-8) Middle-school program for grades 7-8 emphasizing core academics, specialized subjects, and proactive social-emotional wellness curriculum to help girls navigate adolescence.
• Upper School (Grades 9-12) Upper-school program for grades 9-12 offering challenging coursework, advanced placement options, athletics, arts, college counseling, and leadership development.
• Global Education Program Cross-divisional program enabling students to encounter and engage with world cultures, people, and ideas through technology, research, and travel.
• STEM Scholars Program Specialized distinction program providing enhanced STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education within the Center for the Advancement of STEM.
• Humanities Scholars Program Distinction program introducing students to the humanities through tools and frameworks for understanding humanities in real-world contexts.
• College Counseling Comprehensive college-preparation services including application guidance, financial aid assistance, and college-visit programs for Upper School students.
• Fine and Performing Arts Program Comprehensive arts program covering visual arts, performing arts, dance, drama, music, photography, and ceramics across dedicated performance spaces and studios.
• Athletics Program Athletics program with 50 teams across 15 sports, featuring on-campus facilities including a double gymnasium, competition pool, tennis courts, and synthetic turf field.
• Financial Aid Program Need-based financial aid grants covering 5-97% of tuition (average grant 62%), available for tuition, textbooks, technology, transportation, and extended-day care.
• Creative Summer Day Camp Creative Summer day camp operating on the Holton campus, providing supplementary fee-based summer programming for students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of graduates accepted to four-year institutions
• +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

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)coreOthersMember of national organization supporting independent schools. Provides access to resources, professional development, and networking opportunities for independent school leaders.
• International Coalition of Girls Schools (ICGS)coreOthersMember of coalition dedicated to advancing girls' education. Provides research, resources, and advocacy for girls' schools.
• Association of Independent Maryland Schools (AIMS)coreOthersAccrediting body and membership organization for independent schools in Maryland. Holton holds accreditation through AIMS.
• Landon SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative theatrical productions with nearby boys' school. Holton and Landon students stage joint productions such as A Wrinkle in Time and Holton-Landon improv performances.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Madeira School: All-girls college-preparatory school in McLean, VA serving grades 9-12 (boarding and day). Comparable girls' education mission in the immediate DMV region with strong college placement outcomes.
• Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart: All-girls Catholic independent school in Bethesda, MD serving grades 1-12. Closest geographic and demographic peer — directly competes for the same DMV families seeking girls' college-preparatory education.
• Sidwell Friends School: Elite co-ed Quaker day school in Washington, D.C. serving grades PK-12. Competes for the same affluent DMV families at the highest price point and is widely considered the gold-standard DMV independent school.
• Bullis School: Co-ed independent school in Potomac, MD serving grades K-12. Competes in the same DMV premium market for college-preparatory families, just outside the girls-only niche.
• National Cathedral School: All-girls Episcopal day school in Washington, D.C. serving grades 4-12. Direct peer competing for the same Washington, D.C. families seeking girls' college-preparatory education.
• Garrison Forest School: All-girls college-preparatory school in Owings Mills, MD serving grades K-12 with boarding. Comparable girls' school model in the broader Maryland region.
• Landon School: All-boys independent school in Bethesda, MD serving grades 3-12. Sister/partner school via joint theatrical productions; competes for the same DMV families seeking elite college-preparatory education.
• Episcopal High School: Co-ed college-preparatory boarding/day school in Alexandria, VA serving grades 9-12. Competes for the same DMV families seeking elite college-prep at the high school level.
• The Bryn Mawr School: All-girls college-preparatory school in Baltimore, MD serving grades K-12. Closely comparable girls' school model in the broader Maryland region with similar mission and outcomes profile.
• Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School: Catholic all-girls college-preparatory school in Washington, D.C. serving grades 9-12. Direct competitor for high-achieving DMV families seeking single-sex girls' education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCY2D3zHRLdQPedy8VM0lzIQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/holtonarmsschool
• Instagraminstagram.com/holtonarms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/holton-arms-school

Compliance13 records

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 Holton-Arms School