The Branson School
The Branson School is a 105-year-old, private, non-profit coeducational college-preparatory day school serving 420 students in grades 9-12 on a 17-acre campus in Ross, California, with a tuition-driven revenue model, an 8:1 student-faculty ratio, and a 4,000+ alumni network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1917
- HeadquartersRoss, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Branson School does
The Branson School is a private, coeducational, non-denominational, non-profit college preparatory day school serving 420 students in grades 9-12 on a 17-acre campus in Ross, Marin County, California. Founded in 1917, the institution operates under a 105-year lineage that includes the 1985 merger of Katharine Branson School and Mount Tamalpais School. Its offering is built around a 153-course core curriculum delivered at an 8:1 student-faculty ratio (average class size 14) with 87% of faculty holding advanced degrees, supplemented by experiential programs including off-campus Immersives, the cross-school Bay Area BlendEd Consortium, and a separate Branson Summer Session serving middle schoolers, high schoolers, and adults.
The school's revenue model is tuition-driven subscription pricing set at $68,475 for 2026-27 (total cost of enrollment $71,290 including lunch and fees), supported by over $4 million in annual financial aid disbursed to approximately 19% of the student body. Revenue is complemented by an Annual Fund, capital and endowment giving, matching gift programs, planned giving, and crypto philanthropy — characteristic of a 501(c)(3) institution. Go-to-market is sales-led via the Ravenna Hub admissions platform, with enrollment cycles running August through March and financial aid processed through Clarity. The student body draws from 80+ feeder middle schools across Marin, San Francisco, East Bay, and Sonoma County, sustained by a multi-modal transportation network (bus service, SMART/Golden Gate Transit shuttles, Marin Transit Youth Pass) and a 4,000+ alumni referral base. Technology infrastructure is built on industry-standard SaaS (Finalsite, Blackbaud SIS, Ravenna, Clarity, Tripshot) with no proprietary platform or AI product.
The Branson School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Branson School
- Legal name
- The Branson School
- Website
- https://branson.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1917
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Branson School is a 105-year-old, private, non-profit coeducational college-preparatory day school serving 420 students in grades 9-12 on a 17-acre campus in Ross, California, with a tuition-driven revenue model, an 8:1 student-faculty ratio, and a 4,000+ alumni network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Branson School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Private School Education (Grades 9-12)
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Academic Enrichment Camps (General Studies) (EDAMALAB)
Keywords
Where The Branson School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ross
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Branson School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue from tuition. Total cost of enrollment for 2026-27 is $71,290 (tuition $68,475 plus lunch program and fees). Payment plans available including one-time annual, two-installment, four-installment, and ten-installment options. Deposits due in March for newly admitted students.
- Financial Aid from School: School commits over $4 million annually in financial aid to approximately 19% of student body. Aid ranges from 15% to nearly full tuition. Financial aid extends to enrichment activities, school-sponsored trips, athletics, and other expenses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | 2026-27 Total Cost of Enrollment |
| Subscription | Annual | 2025-26 Total Cost of Enrollment |
| Hybrid | Annual | Financial Aid Range |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Branson School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Branson School is a private, coeducational, non-denominational, non-profit college-preparatory day school serving 420 students in grades 9-12 on a 17-acre campus in Ross, California. It delivers a holistic curriculum of 153 courses across academic departments with an 8:1 student-faculty ratio, complemented by dedicated arts, athletics, college counseling, and community engagement programs. Specialized offerings include the Bay Area BlendEd Consortium, Immersive off-campus courses, and the Branson Summer Session for middle school, high school, and adult learners.
Product overview
The Branson School is a private, coeducational college-preparatory day school serving 420 students in grades 9-12. The school's educational offering is organized as a unified college-prep curriculum supplemented by specialized programs including Immersive Courses (off-campus experiential learning), the BlendEd Consortium (cross-school collaborative courses), and a Summer Session (summer camps and classes for various age groups). The core academic program spans 153 courses across departments including Arts, Computer Science, English, History, Languages, Math, Science, and Human Development, delivered through student-centered teaching methodologies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Branson Summer Session: Summer program offering academic and athletic classes for middle school students, high school students, and adults.
Products and services
- College-Preparatory Day School Curriculum (Grades 9-12) A four-year college-preparatory curriculum for grades 9-12 delivered with an 8:1 student-faculty ratio and average class size of 14, covering 153 courses across Arts, Computer Science, English, History, Languages, Math, Science, Human Development, and Physical Education departments. The program is designed for high school students seeking holistic development in academics, arts, athletics, and character.
- Branson Summer Session
- Bay Area BlendEd Consortium Courses A collaboration between six Bay Area independent high schools offering unique courses that combine virtual and in-person learning, combining interactive and individual work with Bay Area resources. Average class size of 16 students. Courses are UC-approved. Designed for high school students seeking cross-school collaborative learning.
- Immersive Courses Experiential, off-campus learning experiences that allow students to pursue deep, focused study in specialized topics through extended off-campus programs. Designed for high school students seeking hands-on, place-based education.
- College Counseling Program Comprehensive college counseling services for grades 9-12, guiding students through college selection, applications, and admissions. Designed for Branson students and their families.
- Arts Programs (Dance, Music, Theater, Visual Arts, Technical Theater) Comprehensive arts program with 35+ courses spanning Dance, Music, Theater, Visual Arts, and Technical Theater, with 85%+ student participation. Designed for high school students seeking creative and performance-based education.
- Interscholastic Athletics Program Interscholastic sports program with 81% student participation, including Cross Country, Track & Field, Mountain Biking, and other team sports. Designed for high school students seeking competitive athletic experiences.
- Community Engagement Program School-wide community engagement program with 100% student participation, integrated into the curriculum and character development framework. Designed to develop service learning and civic responsibility.
- Financial Aid Program Need-based financial aid program providing over $4 million annually to approximately 19% of the student body, with aid ranging from 15% to nearly full tuition. Aid also extends to enrichment activities, school-sponsored trips, concerts, plays, athletics, and other expenses. Processed through the Clarity platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- Strong college placement outcomes with comprehensive college counseling program
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Branson School
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
The Branson School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Branson School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Bay Area BlendEd ConsortiumcoreCollaboration with six Bay Area independent high schools offering unique courses combining virtual and in-person learning. Provides access to courses like Applied AI, Financial Literacy, and Bay Area-focused humanities. Average class size of 16 students. UC-approved courses.
- Recover BrandsminorSustainable apparel partner for Branson spirit wear. Students created eco-friendly product line from 100% recycled content and post-consumer PET (plastic bottles).
- ClaritycoreFinancial aid application platform used by families to submit eligibility information. Provides streamlined process for determining financial aid awards.
- Marin AcademyminorPartnership on bus routes to provide additional pickup and drop-off locations for shared transportation services.
- SMART TrainminorSonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit provides commuter train service from north and Larkspur ferry to San Rafael Transit station. Branson shuttle connects to station for student commutes.
- Golden Gate TransitminorBus service provider for East Bay, San Francisco, and Marin routes. Branson shuttle connects students from nearest GGT stop to campus.
- Marin Transit Youth PassminorYouth pass program allowing Marin County students under 18 unlimited rides on local transit. Low-income students eligible for free passes.
- Mike's BikesminorMonthly mobile van bike service on campus supporting cycling students with maintenance and repairs.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Branson School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Castilleja School: Palo Alto-based independent girls' college-preparatory day school (grades 6-12). Comparable tuition tier, faculty credentials, and Bay Area private school competitive set, though single-gender.
- Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton: Atherton-based Catholic independent day school serving grades PK-12 with college-preparatory curriculum. Comparable scale and tuition; overlaps on Bay Area private school recruitment funnel.
- Crystal Springs Uplands School: Hillsborough-based independent, coeducational college-prep day school (grades 6-12). Similar tuition tier, faculty credentials, and Peninsula/Bay Area family market.
- Head-Royce School: Oakland-based independent, coeducational day school (K-12) with college-preparatory mission. Comparable tuition, robust financial aid commitment, and East Bay family market overlap.
- San Francisco University High School: San Francisco-based independent, college-preparatory coeducational day school serving grades 9-12. Direct Bay Area peer with similar tuition tier, holistic admissions approach, and competition for SF families.
- The College Preparatory School: Oakland-based independent, college-preparatory coeducational day school for grades 9-12. Highly comparable model with similar faculty credentials, financial aid commitment, and East Bay recruitment overlap.
- Menlo School: Atherton-based independent, college-preparatory day school serving grades 6-12. Comparable tuition, holistic admissions, and significant financial aid program; competes for Peninsula families.
- The Bay School of San Francisco: San Francisco-based Jewish community day school serving grades 9-12 with college-preparatory curriculum. Comparable size (~400 students), tuition tier, and Bay Area independent school positioning.
- Marin Academy: San Rafael-based coeducational independent day school serving grades 9-12 in Marin County. Closest geographic and product peer; shares transportation partnerships and competes for the same Marin-area feeder middle schools.
- Lick-Wilmerding High School: San Francisco private coeducational college-preparatory day school (grades 9-12) with strong emphasis on arts and technical education. Competes directly for SF families and similar tuition tier.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Branson School social profiles
Digital presenceThe Branson School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Branson School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles24 records
The Branson School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Branson School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Branson School
What does The Branson School do?
The Branson School is a private, coeducational, non-denominational, non-profit college-preparatory day school serving 420 students in grades 9-12 on a 17-acre campus in Ross, California. It delivers a holistic curriculum of 153 courses across academic departments with an 8:1 student-faculty ratio, complemented by dedicated arts, athletics, college counseling, and community engagement programs. Specialized offerings include the Bay Area BlendEd Consortium, Immersive off-campus courses, and the Branson Summer Session for middle school, high school, and adult learners.
Is The Branson School a public or private company?
The Branson School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Branson School founded?
The Branson School was founded in 1917. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is The Branson School based?
The Branson School is headquartered in Ross, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Branson School make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are financial Aid from School.
Who are The Branson School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Castilleja School, Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton, Crystal Springs Uplands School, Head-Royce School, San Francisco University High School, The College Preparatory School, Menlo School, The Bay School of San Francisco, Marin Academy and Lick-Wilmerding High School.
Does The Branson School have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Branson School.
What industry is The Branson School in?
The Branson School's product category is Independent Private School Education (Grades 9-12). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJABAA, Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools, with a secondary code of EDAMALAB, Academic Enrichment Camps (General Studies). Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.