Science & Arts Academy

What Science & Arts Academy does

Science & Arts Academy (SAA) is an independent, non-denominational, co-educational, not-for-profit day school for gifted students in Junior Kindergarten through 8th grade, operating from a campus at 1825 Miner Street in Des Plaines, Illinois. Founded in 1992 and housed in a purpose-built facility constructed in 2007, SAA is positioned as the only non-denominational independent day school in the Chicago area specifically dedicated to gifted education, drawing students from across the Chicagoland area via chaperoned Metra service from Chicago and a North Shore shuttle program.

The school's core academic product is a differentiated K-8 curriculum blending core subjects with world languages (French and Spanish from Junior Kindergarten), arts (visual arts, music, drama), a maker-focused Explore and Create program, dedicated Social-Emotional Learning, and Executive Function development. Supporting infrastructure includes four science labs, a Follett-powered library, and a Finalsite-built website integrated with CampBrain, SchoolAdmin, Clever, DonorPerfect, and YAY Company platforms. Curriculum differentiation is reinforced by the JEDI for Belonging framework developed in partnership with Single Story, Inc. (since 2019) and faculty with collective specialization in gifted education.

SAA generates revenue primarily through tuition ($17,000-$30,500 per year for 2026-2027), with supplementary income from the three-session Summer Adventures day camp ($575-$1,200 per session), the Future-Focused Fund annual giving campaign (targeting $160,000 with 100% family participation), an annual Spring Auction, and Shop & Support affiliate partnerships (Bonfire, Minted, Lands' End, Mabel's Labels). Approximately 37% of families receive need-based scholarships totaling about $1.3 million annually, administered through Clarity. Enrollment is gated by IQ testing (WISC-V or WPPSI-IV, minimum full-scale 125 for grades 1-8), and the school reports about 80% student participation in at least one extracurricular annually. Operational governance is provided by a Board of Trustees with Conrad Wildsmith serving as Head of School.

Name

Science & Arts Academy

Legal name

Science & Arts Academy

Website

https://scienceandartsacademy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Science & Arts Academy is an independent, not-for-profit day school for gifted students from Junior Kindergarten through 8th grade in Des Plaines, Illinois, serving Chicagoland families with differentiated curriculum, world languages, arts, and maker education, charging $17,000-$30,500 annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent K-8 Gifted Day School

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & STEM Instruction (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts Education Instruction (Visual/Performing) (EDAJAFAK)

Keywords

• Gifted education
• Independent day school
• Differentiated curriculum
• Junior kindergarten program
• Elementary education

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Plaines

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Primary revenue stream from tuition payments. 2026-2027 rates: Half-Day Junior Kindergarten $17,000, Full-Day Junior Kindergarten $28,000, Kindergarten $28,000, First through Eighth Grade $30,500. Monthly payment plans available with finance fees.
2. Annual Giving (Future-Focused Fund): Annual fundraising campaign targeting $160,000 with 100% family participation goal. Supports programs, innovations, and experiences beyond operational budget. Priority projects include outdoor classroom construction, alternate energy study area, and facility upgrades.
3. Summer Adventures Program: Summer day camp with three two-week sessions for children ages 3.5 to rising 8th graders. Rates range from $575-$1,200 per session depending on program type (half-day vs full-day, age group). Before/aftercare available at additional per-day rates.
4. Shop & Support Programs: Retail partnerships including SAA Spiritwear (Bonfire store), Minted (15% donation), Lands' End school apparel (portion of sales), and Mabel's Labels (percentage of orders).
5. Spring Auction: Annual signature fundraiser event generating support for school programs, opportunities, and experiences. Open to entire SAA community including donors, volunteers, families, faculty, and community partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Science & Arts Academy is an independent, non-denominational, co-educational, not-for-profit day school serving intellectually and creatively gifted students from Junior Kindergarten through eighth grade. Its core offering is a differentiated academic program that combines core academics, world languages (French and Spanish), arts, maker education (Explore and Create), social-emotional learning, and executive-function development, delivered on a purpose-built campus in Des Plaines, Illinois, with supplementary paid programs including Summer Adventures day camp, transportation, before/after care, and lunch service.

Product overview

Science & Arts Academy is an independent, non-denominational, co-educational, not-for-profit day school for gifted students from Junior Kindergarten through 8th grade. The school offers a differentiated academic program combining core academics (mathematics, language arts, science, social studies) with world languages (French and Spanish), arts (visual arts, music, drama), and specialized programs including Explore and Create (maker education), Social Emotional Learning, and Executive Function development. The school supplements its academic offerings with auxiliary programs including transportation services, before/after school care, lunch program, and Summer Adventures day camp. Extracurricular activities include athletics, academic competitions, performing arts productions, and leadership programs. Admissions requires IQ testing with minimum score of 125, and the school offers need-based scholarships totaling approximately $1.3 million annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-8 Academic Program Differentiated academic curriculum for gifted students from Junior Kindergarten through 8th grade, featuring small class sizes, acceleration, and enrichment across core subjects. Targeted at intellectually and creatively gifted students in the Chicagoland area.
• World Language Program French and Spanish language instruction beginning in Junior Kindergarten; students select one language to study through 8th grade. Targeted at SAA JK-8 students.
• Arts Program (Visual Arts, Music, Drama) Year-round instruction in visual arts, music (including band and orchestra), and drama/theatre education across all JK-8 grade levels. Targeted at SAA students.
• Explore and Create (EAC) Maker Program Maker education program from Junior Kindergarten through 8th grade covering sewing, cardboard, electronics, woodworking, coding, and robotics. Targeted at SAA JK-8 students.
• Social Emotional Learning Program Dedicated SEL classes for grades 1-4 weekly and every other week for middle school students, focusing on emotional management, stress management, and interpersonal skills to support asynchronous development in gifted learners. Targeted at SAA JK-8 students.
• Summer Adventures Day Camp Enrichment and recreation day camp offering three two-week sessions for children ages 3.5 to rising 8th graders, with half-day and full-day options including enrichment classes and recreation, plus optional before/after care. Open to SAA students and the broader community.
• Transportation Services Chaperoned Metra service from Chicago (Clybourn to Des Plaines stations) and shuttle service from the Evanston/North Shore area. Targeted at SAA JK-8 students and families.
• Before & After School Care Beforecare (7:30-8:20am) and Aftercare (3:30-6:00pm) programs offered on all school days for an additional fee. Targeted at SAA JK-8 students and families.
• Lunch Program Daily pre-order lunch program through YAY Company offering fresh, nutritious meals and grab-and-go options. Targeted at SAA JK-8 students and families.
• Athletics Program Middle school basketball (Varsity and JV) and cross country teams, plus youth soccer clinics for JK-3rd grade. Targeted at SAA students, with four of every five students participating in at least one school-sponsored extracurricular annually.
• Academic Competitions Math Club, Middle School Math Team, Science Olympiad, and Elementary Science Olympiad participating in competitions including MOEMS, IMSA, and Noetic Learning. Targeted at SAA JK-8 students.
• Performing Arts Productions Middle school fall productions, drama classes with performances starting in kindergarten, plus band, orchestra, and chorus opportunities. Targeted at SAA JK-8 students.
• Leadership Programs Student Ambassadors (grades 3-8) and Student Council (grades 5-8) programs for developing leadership skills and service. Targeted at SAA students.
• Need-Based Scholarship Program Need-based financial aid program awarding approximately $1.3 million in scholarships to 37% of SAA families, administered through Clarity with multiple payment plans available. Application does not influence admission decisions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 37% of families receive need-based scholarship funds totaling approximately $1.3 million
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Single Story, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019SAA partnered with Single Story, Inc. in 2019 to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The partnership includes professional development opportunities, curriculum planning tools development, and JEDI for Belonging scope and sequence creation. Single Story, Inc. also administers community surveys and focus groups to aid in development of DEI goals.
• The National SEED ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough the Single Story, Inc. partnership, teachers, administrators, parents, and community members participate in The National SEED Project (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity). This training program helps participants develop language and introspective lens necessary to effectively engage in a multicultural and diverse community.
• YAY CompanyminorOthersSAA partners with YAY Company for daily pre-order lunch program, bringing fresh, nutritious meals and flexible dining experience for families through the Yay Café.
• Mystic Waters Family Aquatic CenterminorOthersSAA summer program campers visit Mystic Waters Family Aquatic Center twice weekly for water activities. Located in Des Plaines parks.
• DonorPerfectminorOthersSAA uses DonorPerfect web-based fundraising platform for Future-Focused Fund donations and campaign management.
• CampBrainminorOthersSAA uses CampBrain online registration system for summer camp enrollment and account management. Also used for extracurricular program registration.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ScienceArtsAcademy
• Facebookfacebook.com/scienceandartsacademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/scienceandartsacademy
• Xx.com/SciArtsAcademy

Compliance5 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 Science & Arts Academy