St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal School

What St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal School does

Saint Thomas' Episcopal School (STE) is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) PK-12 college preparatory institution founded in 1955 in Houston, Texas, operating as a parish school of Saint Thomas' Episcopal Church. The school serves approximately 645 students across four divisions: Preschool (18 months to 4 years), Lower School (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and Upper School (9-12), with 108 faculty and staff delivering a 7.4:1 student-teacher ratio. The academic program is classical and Christ-centered, featuring 22 AP courses, daily chapel, and a unique Scottish Arts program (Pipe Band and Highland Dance) that has produced 23 U.S. champions. The school reports 100% college acceptance, an average SAT of 1300, and a 90% family retention rate under continuous enrollment.

STE's core technology stack is standard independent-school SaaS: Finalsite for website/content management, Veracross for admissions and continuous enrollment, and FACTS for tuition billing and financial aid assessment. The product surface includes the four academic divisions, the Studio at STE after-school program, an expanding summer programs portfolio (STEM Institute, Inspirit AI Program, Balmoral Scottish Arts Workshop, sports camps, Vacation Bible School), and ancillary services (college counseling, library, school counseling). Revenue is generated primarily through annual subscription tuition ($24,765-$32,970 by grade level), with approximately 10% of the operating budget covered by the Saint Thomas' Fund annual giving campaign, supplemented by event-based fundraising (Gala & Auction, Spaghetti Supper, Fall Fair, Bingo Night), activity fees, and payment plan fees. International students (grades 7-11) pay an additional $10,000 first-year and $3,000 subsequent-year surcharge. The go-to-market motion is sales-led through a dedicated admissions office employing campus tours, shadow visits, family interviews, and an online application portal, supported by community events and family referral channels.

Name

St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal School

Legal name

Saint Thomas' Episcopal School

Website

https://stes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Saint Thomas' Episcopal School is a private, non-profit PK-12 college preparatory institution in Houston, Texas, founded in 1955 as a parish school of the Episcopal Church. It serves approximately 645 students across Preschool through Grade 12 with a classical Christ-centered curriculum, 22 AP courses, and a unique Scottish Arts program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Classical Education K–12 Schools (EDAJABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC), Faith-Based Preschools (EDACABAF)

Keywords

• Private K-12 education
• Classical Christian schooling
• College preparatory programs
• Episcopal parish school
• Independent school education

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Primary revenue stream from tuition payments. Tuition varies by grade level, ranging from approximately $24,765 for Lower School to $32,970 for Upper School. International students pay additional fees of $10,000 first year, $3,000 thereafter.
2. Activity and Program Fees: Fees for sports, music, band, clubs, and extracurricular activities. Also includes textbook fees and course fees.
3. Annual Giving (Saint Thomas' Fund): Annual fund appeals supporting approximately 10% of operating budget. Donors can join The Tartan Society with gifts of $1,000 or more, with giving levels from $1,000 to $15,000+.
4. Special Events Revenue: Revenue from community events including Gala & Auction, Spaghetti Supper, Fall Fair, and Bingo Night. Includes corporate sponsorships and ticket sales.
5. Payment Plan Fees: 3.5% financing fee for families using 10 or 12-month payment plans through FACTS.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Saint Thomas' Episcopal School is a private PK-12 college preparatory institution delivering a classical education grounded in a Christ-centered worldview. The school offers four academic divisions (Preschool 18 months-4 years, Lower School K-5, Middle School 6-8, and Upper School 9-12) enhanced by 22 AP courses, a Scottish Arts program (Pipe Band and Highland Dance), college counseling, and an array of arts, athletics, and after-school programs.

Product overview

Saint Thomas' Episcopal School is a private, PK-12 college preparatory institution founded in 1955, offering a classical Christian education. The school operates as a single unified educational institution with multiple divisions: Preschool (18 months-4 years), Lower School (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and Upper School (9-12). The academic program is enhanced by specialized programs including the Scottish Arts (Pipe Band and Highland Dance), Summer STEM Institute, Inspirit AI Program, comprehensive arts (Choir, Orchestra, Theatre, Visual Arts), athletics, and extensive after-school programs through The Studio at STE. The school offers 22 AP courses and personalized college counseling from 9th grade. Summer programs include STEM, AI, Scottish arts, VBS, and sports camps.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Preschool Program Early childhood education program for children 18 months to 4 years, providing developmental curriculum in a safe, nurturing Christian environment that prepares students for kindergarten and the classical education model.
• Lower School Program (K-5) Kindergarten through Grade 5 program laying foundations of literacy, mathematics, and skills in physical education, art, music, and science, with study of Christian doctrine integrated with academics.
• Middle School Program (6-8) Grades 6-8 curriculum building on principles of personal responsibility and citizenship, developing critical thinking, time management, and independent collaboration skills with different teachers by subject.
• Upper School Program (9-12) College preparatory liberal arts curriculum for grades 9-12 offering 22 Advanced Placement courses, mathematics, languages, history, science, religion, and diverse electives including computer science, theatre, and Scottish arts.
• STE Summer Programs Suite of summer enrichment offerings for K-12 students including STEM/robotics, Scottish arts workshops, an AI program, Vacation Bible School, and basketball and volleyball camps.
• The Studio at STE (After-School Programs) After-school activities program offering chess club, basketball, Highland dance, robotics, study buddy program, choir, and volleyball for students of all ages.
• Pipe Band World-renowned Scottish Arts program with instruction on Great Highland bagpipes and Scottish snare, tenor, or bass drum, with three levels (C, B, A band), international competition, and performances.
• Highland Dance Curricular and extracurricular Highland dance program with competitive opportunities that has produced more than 23 U.S. champions and top-six World Championship finishes.
• College Counseling Personalized college counseling beginning in 9th grade covering college search, applications, scholarships, and financial aid with a dedicated full-time college counselor.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of graduates attend 4-year colleges and universities
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Saint Thomas' Episcopal ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1955Founded in 1955 as a parish school of Saint Thomas' Episcopal Church. The church and school maintain a close relationship; the school is the largest outreach mission of the church. The school operates within The Episcopal Church and the broader Anglican Communion. Daily chapel services are held, and church clergy are involved in school life.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Village School: Houston-area PK-12 private school with strong college-prep academics and international student program; comparable to STE's international student offering and college acceptance outcomes.
• The John Cooper School: PK-12 college-prep independent school in The Woodlands (Houston metro) with similar AP-heavy curriculum, competitive athletics, and family demographics comparable to STE's.
• Houston Christian High School: Faith-based Houston private school offering PK-12 college-prep education with similar Christian identity and competitive athletics. Closest faith-based peer for STE families.
• St. Agnes Academy (Houston): Houston Catholic college-prep high school with rigorous academics and AP offerings similar to STE's Upper School program. Competes for the same faith-conscious Houston families.
• Second Baptist School: Houston PK-12 private Christian school affiliated with Second Baptist Church. Competes with STE in the Christian college-prep segment with similar tuition band and extracurricular breadth.
• Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart: Houston all-girls Catholic PK-12 college-prep school sharing STE's faith-based classical identity and similar tuition band for Houston families.
• Episcopal High School (Houston): Houston-based Episcopal college-preparatory school sharing STE's Episcopal identity, college-prep mission, and Houston-area market. Strongest direct competitor in the faith-based college-prep segment.
• St. John's School: Premier Houston PK-12 independent school with similar college-preparatory academic profile and comparable tuition band. Competes head-to-head with STE for Houston families seeking traditional college-prep education.
• The Kinkaid School: Elite PK-12 private school in Houston serving a similar upper-middle-class family demographic with rigorous college-prep academics. Most directly comparable Houston private school competitor for STE families.

Regional players

• TMI - The Episcopal School of Texas: Episcopal college-prep PK-12 school in San Antonio sharing STE's Episcopal identity, college-prep curriculum, and TAPPS athletic affiliation. Same diocesan tradition but different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/STE_Houston
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/SaintThomasEpiscopalSchool
• Facebookfacebook.com/StThomasEpiscopalSchool
• Instagraminstagram.com/steschool

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries2 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 St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal School