What Vistamar School does

Vistamar School is a private, nonprofit, college-preparatory independent day school serving grades 9-12, founded in 2005 by civic-minded families in the South Bay region of Los Angeles and headquartered on a 76,000-square-foot campus at 737 Hawaii Street in El Segundo, California. The school enrolls approximately 230-240 students drawn from 60 zip codes across the LA Metro area, plus a meaningful cohort of international students recruited through placement partners in China, Korea, and Singapore. Operating with a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of 14, Vistamar delivers a problem-based, integrated curriculum built around proprietary pillars including the VistaMath program (modeled on Phillips Exeter), a four-year Life Planning/College Counseling program with a 20:1 student-to-counselor ratio, 18 AP and 12 Honors courses, world languages in Spanish and Mandarin, and dedicated tracks such as the Tigre Scholars Program and an ESL Sheltered Immersion Program.

The revenue model is tuition-driven and subscription-recurring: domestic tuition for the 2026-2027 school year is $52,950 per academic year and international tuition is $57,500, each inclusive of daily lunch, athletic fees, and most student expenses. The Moderated Tuition Program, a need-based financial aid mechanism administered via partner Clarity, returns approximately $2.7M annually at an average award of $39,000 to roughly 36% of families, serving as a quasi-financial-aid differentiator. The institution is governed by a Board of Trustees (chaired by Darlene Fountaine) and is led by Erik Carlson, who became the 4th Head of School on July 1, 2025 after serving as Interim Head since July 2024. Vistamar holds full accreditations from CAIS and WASC and institutional memberships in NAIS, CIS, EARCOS, and IB, positioning it as a credentialed, intentionally diverse (49% students of color) member of the LA-area independent school consortium. Faculty are highly credentialed (80% advanced degrees including 8 Ph.D.s), and the broader program offering spans 22 athletic teams across 14 sports and approximately 30 student clubs, producing graduates consistently placed at selective universities including UC Berkeley, University of Pennsylvania, Brown, Johns Hopkins, Claremont-McKenna, Berklee College of Music, and Parsons.

Name

Vistamar School

Legal name

Vistamar School

Website

https://vistamarschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Vistamar School is a private, nonprofit college-preparatory day school in El Segundo, CA, serving approximately 230-240 students in grades 9-12 with a 7:1 student-faculty ratio, proprietary integrated curriculum, and four-year college counseling program. The school draws families from 60 LA-area zip codes and operates international student recruitment in China, Korea, and Singapore.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

El Segundo

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Domestic Tuition: Annual tuition for domestic students in grades 9-12 for college preparatory education including daily lunch, athletic fees, and most student expenses
2. International Student Tuition: Higher tuition rate for international students including ESL program support and I-20 visa processing
3. Moderated Tuition Revenue: Need-based tuition with approximately 36% of students receiving moderated tuition awards averaging $39,000; $2.7 million annual budget

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Vistamar School is a private independent, nonprofit college preparatory day school serving students in grades 9-12 in El Segundo, California. The school delivers a full college-preparatory academic curriculum across humanities, mathematics, sciences, world languages, arts, and computer science, supplemented by athletics, life planning/college counseling, and specialty programs including Tigre Scholars and Moderated Tuition. Educational services are sold to families through annual tuition subscriptions, with international student tuition, ESL support, and need-based moderated tuition as distinct offerings.

Product overview

Vistamar School is a private college-preparatory independent day school serving grades 9-12, founded in 2005 and located in El Segundo, CA. The school offers a comprehensive academic program with integrated curricula across Humanities (English/History), VistaMath (Mathematics), Sciences, World Languages (Spanish/Mandarin), Arts, Theatre, Computer Science, and ESL. Beyond core academics, the school provides specialized programs including the Tigre Scholars Program for Latino students, a Moderated Tuition financial aid program serving approximately 36% of families, an International Student Program with housing and visa support, and a four-year Life Planning/College Counseling program. The school also offers 22 athletic teams, extensive arts programs including theatre productions and music ensembles, approximately 30 student clubs, and the Senior Project capstone experience. The institution operates on a trimester system with a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio and average class size of 14 students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tigre Scholars Program: A program combining Vistamar's academic program with leadership training, summer internships, and scholar off-campus events for Latino students and Spanish speakers.
• Moderated Tuition

Products and services

• Humanities Program Integrated English and History curriculum covering literature, creative writing, history, geography, philosophy, psychology, law, and economics, taught by faculty holding advanced degrees from institutions including Stanford, UCLA, and USC. Designed for Vistamar School students grades 9-12.
• VistaMath Mathematics Program Integrated, problem-based mathematics curriculum modeled after Phillips Exeter Academy, covering Algebra through Multivariable Calculus and AP courses, focused on critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Designed for Vistamar School students grades 9-12.
• Science Program Integrated science curriculum focusing on Physical Sciences (Physics, Chemistry) in 9th grade and Life Sciences (Biology) in 10th grade, followed by AP and advanced courses. Modular structure with four full-sized science laboratories on campus. Designed for Vistamar School students grades 9-12.
• World Languages Program Spanish and Mandarin Chinese language instruction with proficiency-focused curriculum including Heritage Spanish track and AP language courses. Designed for Vistamar School students grades 9-12.
• Arts Program Visual and performing arts curriculum including 2D/3D Art, Photography, Digital Media, Music (Rock Ensemble, Jazz Band), Theatre, Film Production, and AP Art courses. Designed for Vistamar School students grades 9-12.
• Computer Science Program Computer science curriculum covering Introduction to Computer Science, AP Computer Science, and Robotics, with competition club opportunities. Designed for Vistamar School students grades 9-12.
• English as a Second Language (ESL) Program Sheltered immersion program for international students providing foundational English language support integrated with Humanities coursework for grades 9-10.
• Senior Project Capstone project allowing seniors to gain real-world experience in a career or service setting, culminating in community presentation and self-reflection paper. Designed for Vistamar School seniors.
• International Student Program Comprehensive program for international students including F-1 visa support, I-20 documentation, housing coordination, TOEFL preparation, and cultural integration services. Tuition of $57,500 per academic year for 2026-2027.
• Moderated Tuition Program Need-based financial assistance program serving families with moderate financial need, administered through the third-party financial assessment service Clarity. Approximately 36% of students receive awards averaging $39,000 against a $2.7 million annual budget.
• Tigre Scholars Program Leadership and scholarship program for Latino/Hispanic students combining Vistamar's academic program with leadership training, summer internships, and scholar off-campus events. Matriculation outcomes include Johns Hopkins, Brown, and Claremont-McKenna.
• Life Planning & College Counseling Program Four-year program providing college planning, application support, and life skills development with a 20:1 student-to-counselor ratio. Mentorship delivered by dedicated Life Planners.
• Athletics Program 22 athletic teams across 14 sports including CIF interscholastic teams in baseball, basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, swimming, track, and volleyball. Designed for Vistamar School students grades 9-12.

Quantifiable outcome

• 49% of students identify as students of color
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• HopSkipDrivesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransportation partner providing school transportation car service with high safety standards. Uses mobile app with real-time data, driver profiles and ratings. Serves families from Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey, West LA, Torrance/Palos Verdes, Inglewood, Long Beach areas with 3-4 students per car.
• ClaritycoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party financial assessment service used to evaluate family financial capacity for Moderated Tuition determinations. Uses Federal poverty guidelines, family size, income, assets and debt information to assess financial situations.
• International Placement Agencies and ConsultantssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAgency partners assisting international students with application guidance, admission spot reservation, I-20 visa application support, vetted homestay family placement, tuition payment, health records and insurance, and communication in native language.
• Host Family Placement OrganizationssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrganizations that find local host families for international students requiring I-20 visa documentation and local guardianship arrangements.
• Educational Records Bureau (ERB)supportingTechnology or IntegrationTesting organization administering ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) for admission testing purposes.
• Enrollment Management Association (EMA)supportingTechnology or IntegrationOrganization administering SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) with Vistamar school code 7976.
• Los Angeles Area Independent Schools (LAIS) ConsortiumsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium of LA independent schools using standard recommendation forms and collaborating on admissions processes.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Windward School: Independent college-prep day school on the Westside of Los Angeles serving grades 9-12. Direct peer matching Vistamar's grade band, LA Westside location, and college-preparatory value proposition.
• Crossroads School: Independent college-preparatory day school in Santa Monica serving grades 5-12. Direct peer due to similar LA-area college prep mission, comparable tuition band, and overlapping family demographic seeking small-class progressive education.
• Brentwood School: Large, well-established independent K-12 day school in West Los Angeles. Direct peer competing for the same LA Westside college-prep families with similar tuition levels and broader grade-band scope.
• Marymount High School: Catholic, independent, college-preparatory girls' high school in West Los Angeles. Direct peer competing for LA Westside college-prep families with comparable tuition structure.
• Wildwood School: Independent progressive K-12 day school in West Los Angeles with explicit emphasis on progressive pedagogy and small class sizes. Direct peer for LA families seeking smaller, progressive college-prep education.
• The Archer School for Girls: Independent girls' college-prep day school in Los Angeles serving grades 6-12. Direct peer in the LA independent school market with similar mission emphasis on academic excellence and character development.
• Campbell Hall: Independent K-12 day school in North Hollywood serving the greater LA area. Direct peer in the LA independent school market with overlapping mission emphasis and competitive tuition.
• Buckley School: Independent K-12 day school in Sherman Oaks serving the greater Los Angeles area. Direct peer in the LA independent school competitive set with comparable tuition and college-prep focus.
• New Roads School: Independent progressive K-12 school in Santa Monica with a college-preparatory mission. Direct peer for LA Westside families, similar in mission philosophy to Vistamar's progressive-yet-rigorous approach.

Broad incumbents

• Harvard-Westlake School: One of the largest and most prestigious independent K-12 schools in Los Angeles with significantly larger enrollment and stronger college placement brand. Broader incumbent that competes for top-tier LA college-prep families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vistamarschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/vistamarschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/vistamar-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/vistamarschool

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Vistamar School