What Montclair Kimberley Academy does

Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit independent day school in Montclair, New Jersey, founded in 1887 and operating three age-segmented campuses serving approximately 1,050 students from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12. The school delivers a college-preparatory curriculum anchored by a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio, 14 AP courses, 43 Honors courses, and a STEM+ program supported by a 27,000-square-foot Inquiry and Innovation Center opened in 2025. Technology infrastructure includes a 1:1 MacBook program for Grades 4-12 managed via Jamf, and the school has maintained Apple Distinguished School recognition since 2013. Sustainability assets include 1,717 solar panels installed across all three campuses in 2024 (via partnership with Novitium Energy), LEED Silver certification on the Johnson Academic Center, LEED Gold pursuit on the Innovation Center, and three Eco Schools USA Green Flag Awards.

MKA's business model is subscription/recurring annual tuition scaled by grade level, ranging from $38,500 for Junior Kindergarten/Kindergarten to $55,650 for Upper School (Grades 9-12) for the 2026-2027 school year. The school's annual operating budget exceeds $50 million, with tuition covering approximately 92% of costs and philanthropy (The MKA Fund, endowment, planned giving, capital campaigns) funding the remainder. Ancillary revenue streams include summer programs (STAR Camp, STEM+ Explorers, Summer Enrichment), after-school care (Extended Play and Enrichment, Extended Student Supervision), and optional transportation services. Go-to-market is sales-led via the Veracross admissions portal, supplemented by campus tours, weekend open houses, parent-coffee events, and an active alumni referral network. Outcomes cited include placement of greater than two-thirds of graduates at Tier 1 colleges and universities, 110+ athletic championships over the past decade, and 15+ annual performing arts productions.

The institution is governed by a Board of Trustees and led by Head of School Nigel D. Furlonge (appointed 2021), with Kathryn Davison as Chief Financial and Operating Officer. Day-to-day academic leadership is distributed across separate Primary, Middle, and Upper School Heads. MKA is accredited by the Middle States Association and holds membership in NJAIS and NAIS. Core competitive positioning rests on nearly 140 years of operating history, a longitudinal tri-campus feeder model, ethical leadership and STEM+ curriculum differentiation, and a sustainability program that supports premium pricing within the Northern New Jersey independent school market.

Name

Montclair Kimberley Academy

Legal name

Montclair Kimberley Academy

Website

https://mka.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1887

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Montclair Kimberley Academy is a nonprofit independent day school in Montclair, NJ, serving approximately 1,050 students from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12 across three campuses. It delivers college-preparatory education with a 16:1 student-faculty ratio, 14 AP courses, and tuition-funded annual operations exceeding $50 million.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent K-12 Private Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Enrichment Programs for Gifted Learners (STEM, Humanities, Arts) (EDAKALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Extended Learning Time Programs (After-School/Summer Intervention) (EDAJAGAK), Special Needs-Inclusive Early Learning Academies (EDACADAI)

Keywords

• Independent day school
• College preparatory education
• K-12 private education
• Primary secondary education
• STEM education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Montclair

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Annual tuition payments from families for K-12 educational services. Tuition ranges from $38,500 for Jr-K and Kindergarten to $55,650 for Upper School (Grades 9-12). Additional fees for books, lunch program, and transportation.
2. Philanthropy and Fundraising: Annual giving program (The MKA Fund), planned giving, endowment contributions, and capital campaign donations. The annual operating budget exceeds $50 million, with tuition covering approximately 92% of costs, requiring philanthropy to fund the remainder.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Montclair Kimberley Academy is a nonprofit independent day school delivering college-preparatory education to approximately 1,050 students from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12 across three campuses in Montclair, New Jersey. Its core offering includes a unified academic program in mathematics, language arts, science, and social studies, supplemented by signature STEM+ education in a dedicated Inquiry and Innovation Center, fine and performing arts, world languages, ethical leadership, and competitive athletics with 110+ championships in the past decade. The school also operates paid summer programs (STAR Camp, STEM+ Explorers, Summer Enrichment) and after-school supervision programs.

Product overview

Montclair Kimberley Academy offers a comprehensive college-preparatory independent day school education spanning Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12 across three campuses in Montclair, New Jersey. The institution provides a unified academic program featuring core academics (mathematics, language arts, science, social studies), STEM+ education with an Inquiry and Innovation Center, fine and performing arts, world languages, ethical leadership development, and extensive athletics and co-curricular activities. Summer programs include STEM+ Explorers, STAR Camp, and Summer Enrichment. The school utilizes Veracross for admissions and parent portal management, with extended care options through Extended Play and Enrichment (EPE) and Extended Student Supervision (ESS) programs. Financial support is available through the Community Scholars Program covering full tuition and additional costs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary School Program (Jr-K through Grade 3) Early childhood and elementary education program for students ages 4-8, featuring inquiry-based learning in mathematics, language arts, science, social studies, fine and performing arts, and world language at the Orange Road campus in Montclair, NJ.
• Middle School Program (Grades 4-8) Academically rigorous middle school program for grades 4-8 focused on developing effective learning strategies, confidence, independence, social-emotional skills, and college-prep foundation at the Valley Road campus.
• Upper School Program (Grades 9-12) College-preparatory high school program for grades 9-12 offering 14 AP courses, 43 Honors Courses, six dedicated college counselors, and placement of more than two-thirds of students into Tier 1 colleges and universities at the Lloyd Road campus.
• STEM+ Program Interdisciplinary STEM education program preparing students with practical skills and knowledge to collaborate, adapt, and leverage connections across fields, inspiring creativity and innovation through the Inquiry and Innovation Center.
• Ethical Leadership Program Character development program using ethics as an entry point for authentic leadership work, including the Philip McNeal Leadership Program, allowing students to examine identities and chart their own leadership path rooted in integrity, empathy, and service.
• Extended Play and Enrichment (EPE) Program After-school care program for Primary School students available from end of school day until 6:00 p.m., offering Stay and Play, homework help, enrichment activities, and Bitty Sports.
• Extended Student Supervision (ESS) After-school supervision program for Middle School students (grades 6-8), available Monday-Friday from 3:00-6:00 p.m. with trimester-based enrollment options.
• STAR Camp Summer day camp program for students from JrK through Grade 8 offering classic camp adventures and activities led by MKA faculty and staff.
• STEM+ Explorers Summer Program Summer enrichment program for students in grades 6-9 offering hands-on learning experiences in STEM disciplines including architecture, experimental techniques, and fabrication.
• Summer Enrichment Academic enrichment summer program for students in grades 4-8 providing engaging educational opportunities during summer break.
• Community Scholars Program Need and merit-based scholarship program covering full tuition and additional costs including books, lunch, transportation, and athletic equipment for students in grades 6-11 from underrepresented backgrounds.
• Middle School Athletics Athletic program for grades 6-8 offering seasonal sports including soccer, field hockey, football, tennis, cross country, volleyball, basketball, swimming, fencing, ice hockey, lacrosse, baseball, softball, and track and field.
• Upper School Athletics Comprehensive athletic program for grades 9-12 with team practices lasting approximately two hours daily, offering multiple sports at varsity and junior varsity levels and producing 110+ championships over the past decade.
• Transportation Services Door-to-door van service and centralized shuttle buses from Short Hills, Maplewood, Livingston, and Ridgewood for students commuting to all three MKA campuses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2/3 of MKA students are accepted into Tier 1 Colleges and Universities
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• HackBACminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Partnership to host community event featuring Anthony Ray Hinton. HackBAC is a forum for students to conceptualize change they want to see in their communities, focused on Civic Catalysts: Cultivating Justice & Designing an Equitable Future.
• Equal Justice Initiative (EJI)minorOthers · 1 April 2025EJI, led by attorney Bryan Stevenson, supported HackBAC conference and MKA connection with Anthony Ray Hinton. EJI provides support for criminal justice reform initiatives.
• Novitium EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Partnership for solar panel installation across all three campuses. A total of 1,717 solar panel modules were installed (375 at Primary School, 797 at Middle School, 545 at Upper School). Projected to generate 975,231 kWh of energy annually with excess returned to the local grid.
• New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS)minorOthersProfessional membership organization for independent schools in New Jersey, providing accreditation and professional development support.
• Middle States Association (MSA)coreOthersAccrediting body for independent schools, providing school improvement and quality assurance through the MSA Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools.
• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)minorOthersProfessional membership organization representing independent schools nationally, providing advocacy and professional resources.
• Green Schools AllianceminorOthersMembership organization supporting schools in environmental sustainability initiatives and sharing best practices.
• NJ Clean Energy ProgramminorOthersState program providing energy benchmarking and audit services to help schools measure and track energy consumption and carbon footprint.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Princeton Day School: Independent day school serving PreK-12 in Princeton, NJ, with a comparable tuition band and college-prep mission. Overlapping feeder geography in Central NJ and similar STEM, arts, and athletics positioning make it a direct functional competitor.
• The Pingry School: Large New Jersey independent day school with K-12 programming across multiple campuses, drawing students from similar Northern/Central NJ feeder communities. Directly comparable in college-prep mission, tuition band, and athletics/arts offerings, and a primary competitor for the same applicant families.
• Newark Academy: Independent day school serving grades 6-12 in Livingston, NJ, with a comparable college-prep curriculum and a similar draw from the Northern NJ commuter belt. Comparable in tuition band, faculty credentials, and emphasis on AP/Honors outcomes.
• Dwight-Englewood School: Independent day school in Englewood, NJ, serving PreK-12 with a similar college-prep mission and tuition positioning. Comparable AP/Honors breadth, arts programming, and Northern NJ commuter geography make it a direct functional peer.
• The Lawrenceville School: Highly selective NJ independent school located near Princeton, offering both day and boarding options for grades 9-12 (with a House system). Comparable on academic rigor, college placement reputation, and athletic/arts programming, though broader geographic reach and boarding component set it apart.
• Kent Place School: Independent all-girls day school in Summit, NJ, serving K-12 with a similar college-prep curriculum and tuition structure. Comparable scale and outcomes reputation, with overlapping feeder geography in Northern NJ.
• The Hun School of Princeton: Independent school in Princeton, NJ, serving grades 6-12 (plus post-graduate) with both day and boarding options. Comparable college-prep outcomes and curricular depth, though the boarding component expands geographic reach beyond MKA's day-school footprint.
• Morristown-Beard School: Independent day school in Morristown, NJ, serving grades 6-12 with a comparable college-prep curriculum, athletics program, and tuition structure. Draws from overlapping Northern NJ communities and competes for similar middle-income to upper-middle-income families.

Regional players

• The Peck School: Independent K-8 day school in Morristown, NJ, that competes with MKA's Primary and Middle School divisions for the same Northern NJ families. Relevant as a feeder competitor for grades K-8, though it does not extend to Upper School.

Others

• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS): Industry membership and advocacy organization representing independent K-12 schools nationally. Not a competitor but a relevant ecosystem participant for benchmarking peer-school data, advocacy, and accreditation signaling relevant to MKA's positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MKAcademy
• Facebookfacebook.com/MontclairKimberley

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Montclair Kimberley Academy