Benilde-St. Margaret's

What Benilde-St. Margaret's does

Benilde-St. Margaret's is a private, Catholic, co-educational college-preparatory school serving grades 6 through 12 from a single campus at 2501 Highway 100 in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, within the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The school was formed in 1974 through the merger of St. Margaret's Academy (founded 1907 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet) and Benilde High School (founded 1956 by the Christian Brothers), and now enrolls over 1,000 students — placing it among the larger Catholic schools in the region. Core offerings are the Middle School (grades 6–8) and High School (grades 9–12) academic programs, augmented by 24 Advanced Placement courses, college-credit partnerships with the University of Minnesota and Saint Mary's University, and differentiated EPIC internship and RED capstone programs. Co-curricular breadth is a central feature: 29 varsity sports, 46 clubs and activities, 24 AP subjects, and a service-learning Red Knight Volunteer Corps involving 517 students.

The school's technology stack is built on commodity educational SaaS rather than proprietary systems: Finalsite powers the public website and CMS, MySchoolApp manages admissions workflows, Blackbaud handles tuition billing, and TADS processes financial-aid applications. Each student is issued a personal laptop. There is no disclosed AI/ML capability, mobile app, or public API; digital investment is concentrated on admissions and tuition lifecycle automation rather than learning technology.

The business model is tuition-driven with a subsidy layer. For the 2026–2027 school year, Middle School tuition is $16,510, High School $19,275, and International Students $24,275. The school awards approximately $1.9 million in need-based tuition assistance annually to about 18% of students, supplements this with merit scholarships (Pietas, Veritas, Scientia), and offers a multi-student discount of $5,000 for families with three or more concurrently enrolled children. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through a rolling admissions process supported by open houses, campus tours, student-ambassador day visits, private family tours, and a Parent Ambassador referral program. As a nonprofit governed by a Board of Directors and affiliated with the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, BSM has no equity ownership, no funding rounds, and no M&A history; recent strategic activity has centered on leadership renewal, land tenure from the Archdiocese, and product extension through new programs and partnerships.

Name

Benilde-St. Margaret's

Legal name

Benilde-St. Margaret's School

Website

https://bsmschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Benilde-St. Margaret's is a private, Catholic, co-educational college-preparatory school serving over 1,000 students in grades 6–12 from a single campus in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, funded primarily through tuition (~$16,510–$24,275) with $1.9M in annual financial aid.

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

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

Keywords

• Private catholic education
• College preparatory school
• Secondary education
• Faith-based schooling
• K-12 education

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Louis Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from tuition payments for middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12) students. Additional revenue from registration fees, technology fees, graduation fees, and co-curricular fees. International student tuition is priced higher than domestic tuition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Benilde-St. Margaret's is a private Catholic college-preparatory school delivering middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12) education in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. The school sells tuition-based enrollment in its academic programs, supplemented by athletics (29 varsity sports), 46 clubs and activities, faith formation, AP coursework, and college-credit partnerships. It also offers a tuition assistance program, merit scholarships, and an international student program.

Product overview

Benilde-St. Margaret's is a private, Catholic college-preparatory school serving grades 6-12 in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. The school's primary offerings are its Middle School (grades 6-8) and High School (grades 9-12) academic programs, which form the core educational product. The school provides a comprehensive college-preparatory curriculum with 24 AP courses, honors courses, and college credit options through partnerships with University of Minnesota and Saint Mary's University. The core academic programs are enhanced by extensive co-curricular offerings including 29 varsity sports, 46 clubs and activities, faith formation programs, and summer camps. Additional support services include tuition assistance (over $1.9M annually awarded), merit-based scholarships, international student program, college counseling, and internship/capstone programs (EPIC and RED).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Middle School Program (Grades 6-8) Middle school program for grades 6-8 providing a strong academic foundation with emphasis on intellectual, emotional, spiritual, social, and physical development. Features separate English and literature classes, world language instruction, and personal laptop program for students in the Twin Cities area.
• High School Program (Grades 9-12) College-preparatory high school program with solid core curriculum and broad selection of elective courses for grades 9-12. Offers 24 Advanced Placement courses and numerous honors courses, preparing students for top colleges and universities.
• International Student Program Welcomes international students through approved exchange programs. Tuition is $24,275 for 2026-2027 school year, with students arriving in August to begin the academic year.
• Summer Programs Summer camps and programs including sports, STEM, arts, and activities for students and community youth. Registrations fill up quickly each year.
• EPIC Internships Program A capstone program offering internships allowing students to solve real-world problems, innovate, and collaborate in topics mirroring the modern workplace.
• RED Capstone Program A capstone program providing opportunities for students to engage in real-world projects and leadership training.
• Tuition Assistance Program Need-based tuition assistance program awarding over $1.9 million annually. Uses TADS for financial need assessment with average award of $9,000. Approximately 18% of student body receives assistance.
• Merit-Based Scholarships Scholarships including Pietas ($5,000), Veritas ($1,000 for middle school), and Scientia ($1,500 for high school) awarded based on GPA, testing benchmarks, and attendance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93.5% of Students Attend a 4-year College
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)coreOthersBSM is a member of NAIS, a national organization serving independent schools and their communities through advocacy, research, and professional development.
• MinndependentcoreOthersMembership organization for Minnesota independent schools providing advocacy and support services.
• National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)coreOthersNational organization serving Catholic educational institutions with resources, advocacy, and professional development.
• Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL)coreOthersBSM participates in MSHSL athletics and activities, allowing students to compete at the state level in various sports and activities.
• University of Minnesota College in the Schools ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership allowing BSM students to earn college credit through University of Minnesota while in high school.
• Saint Mary's University Program for Advanced College Credit (PACC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Saint Mary's University allowing students to earn college credit through the PACC program while enrolled at BSM.
• Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA)minorOthersAssociation providing resources and recognition for student publications including the Knight Errant high school newspaper and yearbook.
• Minneapolis Regional ChamberminorOthersLocal business organization connecting BSM with the broader Minneapolis business community.
• Nacel Open DoormajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved exchange program organization facilitating international student placement at BSM.
• Public and Private School F-1 ExchangemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved F-1 exchange program organization facilitating international student enrollment at BSM.
• LaSalle Christian BrotherscoreOthersFounding religious community whose charism and Lasallian teaching principles guide BSM's educational approach. One of three charisms informing the school's identity.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Academy of Holy Angels: Catholic co-educational college-prep high school in Richfield, MN. Comparable Catholic secondary school targeting similar Twin Cities families with overlapping tuition and program profile.
• Providence Academy: Catholic co-educational college-prep school in Plymouth, MN serving grades K-12. Comparable faith-based private school with similar small-class, college-prep orientation in the western Twin Cities.
• Saint Thomas Academy: Catholic all-boys college-prep military-style school in Mendota Heights, MN. Comparable Catholic secondary institution in the Twin Cities competing for similar faith-oriented families (note: single-gender differentiates).
• Minnehaha Academy: Christian (nondenominational) college-prep school in Minneapolis, MN serving grades 9-12. Comparable Twin Cities private secondary option with similar AP course breadth and athletic programs.
• Totino-Grace High School: Catholic co-educational college-prep high school in Brooklyn Park/Falcon Heights, MN. Directly comparable Catholic secondary option with overlapping curricular and athletic profile in the same Twin Cities market.
• DeLaSalle High School: Catholic co-educational college-prep high school in Minneapolis, MN. Most direct Twin Cities competitor to BSM, serving grades 9-12 with overlapping tuition band and athletic/academic competition.
• Cretin-Derham Hall: Catholic co-educational college-prep high school in St. Paul, MN. Comparable faith-based secondary school with similar AP/honors curriculum, athletics footprint, and Twin Cities Catholic identity.
• Hill-Murray School: Catholic co-educational college-prep school in Maplewood, MN serving grades 6-12. Closely matches BSM's grade span, faith-based identity, and college-prep orientation within the Twin Cities.

Broad incumbents

• Breck School: Independent (Episcopal heritage) PK-12 college-prep school in Golden Valley, MN. Competes with BSM for the same high-income Twin Cities families seeking faith-affiliated or values-based private education.
• The Blake School: Elite independent non-sectarian PK-12 college-prep school with campuses in Minneapolis and Hopkins, MN. Competes with BSM for top-tier Twin Cities families willing to pay premium private school tuition, though larger and non-faith-based.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bsmredknights
• Facebookfacebook.com/benildestmargarets
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/benilde-st--margaret's-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/bsmredknights

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 Benilde-St. Margaret's