Spring Street International School

What Spring Street International School does

Spring Street International School is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational institution founded in 1995 and located on a two-acre campus at 505 Spring Street in Friday Harbor, on San Juan Island in Washington State. It operates a college-preparatory program for grades 6-12 as both a day school and a small boarding school, serving approximately 70 students (63 day, 7 boarding) with 16 full and part-time teachers, an 8:1 student-teacher ratio, and average class size of 10. Core academic offerings include Middle School and High School programs, an ESL/International Student Program across three proficiency levels, Arts (Theatre, Visual Arts, Music), Athletics (including sailing), and comprehensive College Counseling that begins freshman year. A distinguishing element of the school is its Expeditionary Learning model, anchored by Fall Backpacking in the North Cascades (in continuous operation since 1995) and a May Term culminating in self-designed internships or international expeditions, supplemented by access to the University of Washington Friday Harbor Labs for marine science collaboration.

The school's business model is structured around tuition and philanthropy. Published 2026-27 tuition is $26,700 for day students, $52,500 for 5-day boarding, $56,700 for 7-day boarding, and $59,500 for international boarding, with a $450-$1,000 student fee and a 10% sibling discount. Over 40% of students receive tuition assistance through an indexed tuition program administered via the Clarity Application, supported by multiple named funds including Spring Street Forever Fund, C.A.S.E. Applied Arts Project Fund, Ted Hope Memorial Scholarship Fund, and the Oasis From Conflict Scholarship Program. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through a five-step admissions process via RenWeb, with priority deadline of February 1 and rolling admissions thereafter, including a dedicated international student track requiring ITEP Slate or TOEFL scores and I-20 issuance. The school holds Cognia accreditation and memberships in NAIS, WFIS, and the Small Boarding Schools Association.

Name

Spring Street International School

Legal name

Spring Street International School

Website

https://springstreet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Spring Street International School is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) day and boarding school in Friday Harbor, Washington serving grades 6-12 with college-preparatory academics and an expeditionary learning model, supported by tuition and philanthropic donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Middle Schools (EDAJAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pre-College Summer/Winter Academic Programs (High School Students) (EDAIAIAD), Secondary School Exchange Programs (Academic Year/Semester) (EDAIAHAB)

Keywords

• Independent secondary education
• College preparatory programs
• Boarding school programs
• Experiential learning programs
• ESL international student services

Headquarters

HQ city

Friday Harbor

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Primary revenue source from tuition fees for day and boarding students. Day student tuition: $26,700; 5-Day Boarding: $52,500; 7-Day Boarding: $56,700; International Boarding: $59,500 for 2026-27 academic year.
2. Philanthropy and Donations: As an independent school, Spring Street depends on tuition and philanthropy. Multiple donation funds including Spring Street Forever Fund, C.A.S.E. Applied Arts Project Fund, Ted Hope Memorial Scholarship Fund, Oasis From Conflict Scholarship Program, and planned giving through estate plans. Over 40% of students receive tuition assistance.
3. Indexed Tuition: Financial aid program using Clarity Application to determine family financial need. Budget is comprised of funds from annual operating budget, primarily tuition and donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Spring Street International School provides college-preparatory secondary education for grades 6-12 as both a day school and a boarding school on San Juan Island, Washington. It delivers rigorous academics combined with expeditionary and experiential learning, ESL support for international students, college counseling, arts, athletics, and residential life in a small 70-student community with an 8:1 student-teacher ratio.

Product overview

Spring Street International School is a single, unified educational institution offering a comprehensive college-preparatory program spanning grades 6-12 as both day and boarding school. The school provides an integrated portfolio of programs including the Middle School Program (grades 6-8) focused on foundational learning, the High School Program (grades 9-12) emphasizing academic rigor and college preparation, Boarding/Residential Life for domestic and international students, an ESL/International Student Program with comprehensive language support, Expeditionary Learning featuring Fall Backpacking and May Term experiential expeditions, Arts Program encompassing Theatre, Visual Arts, and Music, Athletics including team sports and sailing, College Counseling from freshman year through graduation, Holistic Health Services through a Care Team approach, and an Advising Program pairing each student with a faculty mentor. The programs interlock through the school's educational philosophy emphasizing relationships, individualized attention, experiential learning, and the development of confident, thoughtful learners prepared for university success.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Middle School Program College-preparatory program for grades 6-8 emphasizing love of learning, good study habits, and strong teacher-student relationships in an informal setting with high academic expectations, serving students transitioning into adolescence.
• High School Program Rigorous college-preparatory program for grades 9-12 combining challenge and support, recognizing students as individuals with unique strengths and needs, and emphasizing relationship-driven education with AP course offerings.
• Boarding/Residential Life Program Residential program promoting the emotional, physical, psychological, and intellectual health of students through dorm parents, shared meals, activities, and a family-like atmosphere in a 5,000+ square foot facility, serving both domestic and international boarding students.
• ESL/International Student Program Comprehensive English as a Second Language instruction with immersion-supported tutorial, three proficiency levels, TOEFL/SAT preparation, and pathways to university placement for international students.
• Expeditionary Learning Program Experiential education combining traditional academics with hands-on travel, including Fall Backpacking in North Cascades, May Term expeditions culminating in self-designed internships or international expeditions, and leadership development through expedition behavior principles.
• Arts Program Comprehensive arts education including Theatre, Visual Arts, and Music disciplines, nurturing creative expression and appreciation of artistic diversity across cultures for students in grades 6-12.
• Athletics Program Physical education and athletics including competitive team sports, the Friday Harbor Sailing Team supported by the San Juan Island Sailing Foundation, Ultimate Frisbee, and outdoor fitness activities promoting lifelong exercise habits.
• College Counseling Comprehensive college preparation beginning freshman year through Senior Studies, including application support, best-fit school identification, and university placement outcomes with graduates admitted to MIT, NYU, USC, GW, and Carleton College.
• Holistic Health Services Wellness support including Care Team coordination, learning specialists, stress management workshops, counseling services, and nature-based activities promoting student well-being across the school community.
• Advising Program Faculty advisor assignment for each student serving as mentor, advocate, and main school contact, with advisee groups of 8-12 students meeting multiple times weekly to support academic and social-emotional development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates accepted to top universities including MIT, NYU, USC, GW, and other highly ranked institutions
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CogniacoreOthersCognia provides accreditation services for educational institutions. Spring Street International School is Cognia accredited, demonstrating commitment to meeting rigorous quality standards in education.
• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)coreOthersNAIS is a membership organization for independent schools. Spring Street is a member, providing access to resources, conferences, and professional development opportunities within the independent school community.
• Washington Federation of Independent Schools (WFIS)coreOthersWFIS is the regional trade association for independent schools in Washington state. Spring Street maintains membership for networking and advocacy within the state.
• Small Boarding Schools Association (SBSA)minorOthersSBSA is a membership organization for small boarding schools. Spring Street maintains membership for peer networking and best practice sharing among small boarding institutions.
• San Juan Island Sailing FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization that supports the Friday Harbor Sailing Team, made up of Spring Street and public school students. Provides funding and support to keep sailing participation costs affordable.
• Port of Friday HarborminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal port authority that supports the Friday Harbor Sailing Team by providing facilities and infrastructure for sailing activities from Jackson Beach.
• University of Washington Friday Harbor LabsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld-famous marine research facility located in Friday Harbor. Spring Street students benefit from proximity to this institution, and the school collaborates with university scientists on marine biology citizen science projects.
• ClaritycoreOthersFinancial technology company providing Indexed Tuition affordability assessment and contracts & billing services. Spring Street uses Clarity for financial aid applications, enrollment contracts, and student billing management.
• iTEP SlateminorOthersEnglish language proficiency testing service. Spring Street accepts iTEP Slate-Plus test scores for international student admissions and uses it for initial English proficiency assessment.
• NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School)minorOthersDirector of Experiential Education Erik Gearhart is certified in Risk Management for Administrators by NOLS. School incorporates NOLS principles of expedition behavior in experiential education programs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Putney School: Small, progressive independent boarding school in Vermont serving grades 9-12 with a close-knit community, hands-on learning, and farm-based program — closely comparable in size, mission, and boarding-day model to Spring Street.
• Chewonki: Maine-based small boarding and outdoor education organization offering semester and gap programs; shares Spring Street's expeditionary pedagogy and small-cohort residential model.
• Teton Science Schools: Wyoming-based K-12 and graduate organization built around place-based, experiential science learning — highly comparable to Spring Street's expeditionary model and small-cohort immersive approach.
• The Mountain School (Vershire, VT): Small semester-based experiential program for high schoolers on a working farm in Vermont — comparable cohort size, boarding model, and place-based learning emphasis.
• Verde Valley School: Small international boarding school in Arizona with an experiential, expeditionary learning model and a focus on global citizenship — directly comparable to Spring Street's experiential curriculum and international student mix.

Others

• North Cascades Institute: Environmental learning organization operating in the North Cascades — overlapping with Spring Street's Fall Backpacking program and outdoor education philosophy as a complementary provider rather than a direct competitor.
• Salish Sea Expeditions: Pacific Northwest marine science sailing education nonprofit — adjacent to Spring Street's marine biology programming and San Juan Island location, providing supplementary expedition-based learning.

Emerging players

• IslandWood: Bainbridge Island, WA outdoor learning organization offering overnight and day programs for school-age youth — geographic and pedagogical peer for Spring Street's San Juan Island outdoor programming, though not a full degree-granting school.

Regional players

• San Juan Island School District: Public K-12 district serving San Juan Island — the local geographic peer against which Spring Street competes for island-resident families, though Spring Street differentiates on size, independence, and boarding.
• Annapurna Waldorf School (regional Pacific NW independent schools): Regional independent K-12 school in the broader Pacific Northwest; comparable as a small private school serving families seeking alternative pedagogy, though based off-island and without a boarding program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SpringStreetIntlSchool
• Instagraminstagram.com/springstreetschool/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spring-street-international-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Spring Street International School