What Suffield Academy does

Suffield Academy is a private, coeducational, independent secondary school founded in 1833 and located on a 325-acre campus in Suffield, Connecticut. The institution serves approximately 420 boarding and day students drawn from 31 countries, offering a college-preparatory academic curriculum across seven departments (English, Mathematics, Science including Computer Science, History, Languages, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts) supplemented by signature programs in college counseling, leadership, outdoor education (SOLO), and wellness (Balance Barn). The school operates 22+ interscholastic athletic teams and a robust arts program, with facilities including the Jeanice Seaverns Performing Arts Center, a new Tennis and Golf Center, and a 600-kilowatt solar array covering roughly 25% of campus energy use.

The business model is tuition-driven: boarding students pay $76,900 (2025-2026) rising to $79,400 (2026-2027), and day students pay $53,600 rising to $55,400, with approximately one-third of students receiving financial aid determined through the Clarity platform. Annual applications exceed 1,000 for approximately 125 new seats, providing strong demand-side pricing power. The school is a nonprofit organization governed by a Board of Trustees and funded by a $100M+ Cahn Scholars endowment, supplemented by an annual fund and capital campaign that have raised $80M+ over the past decade. Operations are supported by 85 teaching and administrative faculty plus 75 staff, with third-party technology integrations (Blackbaud for billing, Clarity for financial aid, Finalsite for web, A.W.G. Dewar for tuition refund insurance) rather than proprietary technology. Head of School Charlie Cahn III, the 25th and longest-serving head in the school's 192-year history, will be succeeded by Casey Hagerman Bobo effective July 1, 2027.

Name

Suffield Academy

Legal name

Suffield Academy

Website

https://suffieldacademy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1833

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Suffield Academy is a private coeducational boarding and day school in Suffield, Connecticut, serving approximately 420 students from 31 countries with a college-preparatory curriculum, 22+ athletics teams, and signature leadership and wellness programs supported by a $100M+ endowment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Suffield

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: Primary revenue source from tuition fees for boarding and day students. Boarding students pay $76,900 (2025-2026) and $79,400 (2026-2027); day students pay $53,600 (2025-2026) and $55,400 (2026-2027). Approximately one-third of students receive financial aid.
2. School Store: Revenue from bookstore operations selling school merchandise, apparel, and supplies
3. Tuition Refund Protection: Mandatory tuition refund protection plan administered through A.W.G. Dewar, Inc. providing financial protection for withdrawals
4. Donations and Endowment Income: The Cahn Scholars Fund has grown past $100 million. Donations support financial aid, facilities, and programs. Capital campaign raised $80+ million with $60+ million invested in campus facilities over the past decade.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Suffield Academy provides college-preparatory secondary education for boarding and day students through a 325-acre campus in Suffield, Connecticut, offering an integrated curriculum across English, Mathematics, Science (including Computer Science), History, Languages, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts. The educational product is enhanced by signature programs including a 4-year College Counseling program, Leadership Program, Advisory Program, Balance Barn wellness, SOLO outdoor leadership, Community Chapel, and Community Charity initiatives, supported by a 24-sport athletics program and dedicated visual and performing arts facilities.

Product overview

Suffield Academy is a private coeducational boarding and day school offering a unified college-preparatory educational product. The core offering centers on academic curriculum across seven departments (English, Mathematics, Science including Computer Science, History, Languages, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts). This foundation is enhanced by Signature Programs including College Counseling, Leadership Program, Advisory Program, Balance Barn wellness, SOLO outdoor leadership, and Community Charity. The school provides integrated Athletics and Visual & Performing Arts programs as core co-curricular modules. Supporting services include Cahn Scholars financial aid program, Clarity-based financial aid services, Blackbaud tuition billing, campus livestreaming, a mobile app, and the SUFFIELD magazine publication. A 600kW solar energy initiative supports campus sustainability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cahn Scholars Program: A scholarship program established to provide financial assistance to students demonstrating kindness, respect, leadership, and effort, along with academic accomplishment.
• Balance Barn
• SOLO Program

Products and services

• Boarding and Day Secondary Education Private coeducational independent secondary school offering college-preparatory education to boarding and day students, combining challenging academics with athletics, arts, and character development programs.
• College-Prep Academic Curriculum College-prep academic program featuring courses in English, Mathematics, Science (including Computer Science), History, Languages, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts.
• Athletics Program Comprehensive athletic program featuring interscholastic sports teams including football, soccer, basketball, swimming, tennis, squash, lacrosse, crew, wrestling, riflery, golf, and more, emphasizing sportsmanship and character development.
• Visual and Performing Arts Program Robust arts programs in music, theater, and dance with dedicated facilities on campus supporting student participation in visual and performing arts.
• Balance Barn Wellness Program Health and wellness facility focused on mindfulness, stress management, and student well-being, led by Hillary Rockwell Cahn.
• Cahn Scholars Program Financial assistance program providing need-based and merit-based aid to students demonstrating values of kindness, respect, leadership, and effort; Suffield's largest endowment fund exceeding $100 million.
• College Counseling (4-Year Program) Signature 4-year college counseling program through the Hoffman College Counseling Center providing structured college guidance, resources, and college-rep engagement.
• Tuition Refund Protection Plan Tuition refund protection plan administered through A.W.G. Dewar, Inc. providing financial protection for withdrawals.
• Financial Aid Services (Clarity) Need-based financial aid assessment and award management through the Clarity application platform for tuition assistance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 students apply annually for 125 spots
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Carney Sandoe & AssociatescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Leading search firm assisting the Board of Trustees with Head of School search process. Consultants Bob Vitalo, Todd Bland, and Lisa Parsons worked with the search committee to identify over 200 potential candidates, focusing on administrators around the country with special focus on boarding schools.
• Blue Earth CompostminorOthersSustainability partner for dining hall composting initiatives as part of environmental sustainability program supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• A.W.G. Dewar, Inc.coreOthersAdministers the Tuition Refund Protection Plan for the school. Handles refund processing on behalf of the school and its tuition refund program. Originator of the trademarked Tuition Refund Plan. Located at Four Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts.
• Highpoint PicturesminorOthersProfessional photography service for Commencement Weekend, photographing families and graduate portraits. Photos posted in private online gallery for purchase.
• JostensminorOthersClass ring provider for Suffield Academy tradition of class rings for graduating students.
• ClaritycoreTechnology or IntegrationFinancial aid application platform used by Suffield to determine family financial need based on assets, income, expenses, and debts. Families complete application and upload required documents through Clarity dashboard.
• Blackbaud Tuition ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationBilling and tuition management platform used for enrollment contracts, payment processing, and ancillary charges. Students receive email invitation to establish billing account.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Hotchkiss School: Elite coeducational boarding school in Lakeville, CT. Comparable in college-preparatory focus, boarding model, and selective admissions profile to Suffield, with similar tuition range and applicant demographics.
• Choate Rosemary Hall: Coeducational private boarding and day school in Wallingford, CT. Direct competitor for boarding students in the same New England prep school market, with similar tuition, college-prep focus, and selective admissions profile.
• Taft School: Coeducational independent boarding and day school in Watertown, CT. Direct peer in the Connecticut prep school market, with similar size, mission, and tuition structure.
• The Lawrenceville School: Coeducational private boarding school in Lawrenceville, NJ. Comparable elite boarding school competing for top students in the Northeast, with similar academic profile, athletics, and arts programming.
• Deerfield Academy: Coeducational private boarding school in Deerfield, MA. Competes with Suffield for boarding students in the New England prep market, with similar academic rigor, athletic programs, and college-prep focus.
• Kent School: Coeducational private boarding school in Kent, CT. Comparable boarding school serving similar student demographics with similar tuition and college-preparatory focus in the New England prep market.
• Phillips Academy Andover: Elite coeducational boarding school in Andover, MA. Higher-profile peer competing for top boarding students, with similar college-prep mission, sizable endowment, and selective admissions process.
• Phillips Exeter Academy: Elite coeducational boarding school in Exeter, NH. Top-tier peer competing for boarding students nationally and internationally, with similar college-preparatory curriculum and applicant demographics.
• St. Paul's School: Coeducational elite boarding school in Concord, NH. Top-tier private boarding school comparable to Suffield in college-preparatory mission, boarding model, and selective admissions.
• Loomis Chaffee: Coeducational independent boarding and day school in Windsor, CT. Comparable in size, mission, and tuition to Suffield, with overlapping applicant pool in the Connecticut prep school market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SuffieldAcademy/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/suffieldacademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/suffield-academy
• Instagraminstagram.com/suffieldacademy
• Xx.com/SuffieldAcademy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 Suffield Academy