Cathedral Preparatory School
Cathedral Preparatory School is a private Catholic college preparatory school in Erie, Pennsylvania, serving 664 high school students with 20 AP courses, Gannon University dual enrollment, and $2.5 million in tuition assistance. It operates as part of the Villa Maria Cathedral Preparatory Catholic School System.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1896
- HeadquartersErie, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Cathedral Preparatory School does
Cathedral Preparatory School is a private Catholic college preparatory school located at 250 W. 10th Street in Erie, Pennsylvania, operating as part of the Villa Maria Cathedral Preparatory Catholic School System (VMCPCSS). Founded approximately 130 years ago (per the company's own historical materials) and consolidated with Villa Maria Academy under co-institutional partnership since 2009, the school serves 664 high school students from the Erie, Meadville, and Titusville communities. It offers 20 Advanced Placement courses, a dual enrollment program with Gannon University (117 participating students), 20-plus extracurricular programs, and provides $2.5 million in tuition assistance for the 2025-2026 academic year. Outcomes include a 100% four-year college acceptance rate for the Class of 2025 and over $39.5 million in scholarships offered to that cohort.
The school's product surface spans the Veracross student/parent portal for enrollment and academic management, the Salata Technology & Innovation Center for technology-integrated instruction, athletic and arts facilities (Hagerty Family Events Center, Hallman Aquatics Center), the Rambler Podcast (100+ episodes), and Rambler summer camps for Grades 3 and up. The Class of 2026 marked the first fully coed graduating cohort after the 2009 Cathedral Prep/Villa Maria Academy integration. A subsidiary, Mother Teresa Academy, was founded in 2018 to serve students of different abilities and interests.
The revenue model is a hybrid of tuition and fees (recurring subscription from enrolled students), annual giving/donations (Fund for Excellence campaign targeting $750,000, Giving Day 2025 raising $368,885 from 551 gifts, Legacy Gala 2026 raising $437,831 including a $150,200 Tuition Angels component), and dual enrollment fees. Specific tuition amounts are not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is recruitment-driven via entrance exams with merit-based scholarships ($500-$2,500 for top-15 performers), direct family enrollment through the Veracross portal, community outreach across northwestern Pennsylvania, and alumni event-based referrals through the nationwide RV Tour.
Cathedral Preparatory School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cathedral Preparatory School
- Legal name
- Cathedral Preparatory School
- Website
- https://prep-villa.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1896
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cathedral Preparatory School is a private Catholic college preparatory school in Erie, Pennsylvania, serving 664 high school students with 20 AP courses, Gannon University dual enrollment, and $2.5 million in tuition assistance. It operates as part of the Villa Maria Cathedral Preparatory Catholic School System.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cathedral Preparatory School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Secondary Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ)
Keywords
Where Cathedral Preparatory School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Erie
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cathedral Preparatory School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Private Catholic school tuition revenue from enrolled students (664 students). School provides $2.5 million in tuition assistance for 2025-2026 school year to support enrollment accessibility.
- Annual Giving and Donations: Fund for Excellence annual campaign targeting $750,000 goal. Giving Day campaign raised $368,885 from 551 gifts. Legacy Gala 2026 raised $437,831 total with $72,700 from auction and basket raffle, plus $150,200 from Tuition Angels program.
- Dual Enrollment Fees: Revenue from Gannon Dual Enrollment program with 117 students participating, providing college credit courses to high school students.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Entrance Exam Scholarships |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Cathedral Preparatory School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cathedral Preparatory School is a private Catholic college preparatory school serving grades 9-12 in Erie, Pennsylvania, founded in 1896. The school delivers a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum combined with Catholic faith formation, including 20 Advanced Placement courses, 6 dual enrollment courses, and a structured House System for character and spiritual development. It operates as part of the Villa Maria Cathedral Preparatory Catholic School System under the Diocese of Erie, with a stated 100% college acceptance rate and significant annual scholarship attainment for graduating classes.
Product overview
Cathedral Preparatory School is a private Catholic college preparatory institution serving the Meadville, Titusville & Erie, PA communities. The school offers a comprehensive educational program including traditional academic curricula, Advanced Placement courses (20 AP courses available), dual enrollment opportunities through Gannon University, athletics, theatre arts, campus ministry, and various co-curricular activities. The institution operates the Salata Technology & Innovation Center for technology-focused education and utilizes the Veracross portal system for student and parent communications. Additional offerings include The Rambler Podcast (media content series), Rambler summer camps, and annual traditions such as Mary's Day and the Legacy Gala. The school maintains athletic facilities including the Hagerty Family Events Center and Hallman Aquatics Center, and recently introduced its mascot Victor E.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- College Preparatory Curriculum
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% college acceptance rate for Class of 2025
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Cathedral Preparatory School
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Cathedral Preparatory School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cathedral Preparatory School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Chris Krug '86minorCathedral Prep alumnus and President & CEO of Franklin News Foundation, sponsoring the RV Tour Chicago alumni reception free of charge.
- Gannon UniversitycoreDual enrollment partnership allowing Cathedral Prep students to earn college credit through Gannon University courses. 117 Gannon Dual Enrollment Students currently participating. Also a frequent destination for student athletes signing NLIs and alumni attending college.
- Finish Thompson, Inc.minorSponsor of Legacy Gala 2026, Cathedral Prep's premier annual fundraising event.
- Jimmy John'sminorOfficial sponsor of Cathedral Prep football games, providing promotional support including BOGO coupons and product availability at games.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cathedral Preparatory School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Saint Joseph's Collegiate Institute: Catholic college preparatory school in Buffalo, NY region. Comparable in Catholic coed college-prep identity, AP-rich curriculum, athletic programs, and Erie/western NY family draw.
- McQuaid Jesuit High School: Catholic Jesuit college preparatory school in Rochester, NY. Comparable in Catholic all-boys college-prep model, strong academic outcomes, robust athletics, and significant annual fundraising campaigns.
- Bishop McCort Catholic High School: Catholic diocesan high school in Johnstown, PA. Comparable in diocesan-affiliated Catholic secondary education, college-prep curriculum, tuition assistance, and Pennsylvania regional mission.
- Central Catholic High School (Pittsburgh): Private Catholic college preparatory high school in Pittsburgh, PA. Comparable in faith-based mission, college-prep curriculum, AP offerings, athletic programs, and donor-driven revenue model serving Pennsylvania families.
- Vincentian Academy: Catholic college preparatory school in Pittsburgh, PA. Comparable in Catholic college-prep mission, advanced academics, athletic offerings, and donor-supported tuition assistance model.
- La Salle College High School: Catholic college preparatory school in suburban Philadelphia, PA serving young men. Comparable in faith-based college prep, AP/dual enrollment offerings, athletic prominence, and tuition assistance programs.
- Canisius High School: Catholic Jesuit college preparatory school in Buffalo, NY. Comparable in regional Catholic college-prep positioning, tuition assistance scale, college acceptance outcomes, and alumni network-driven enrollment pipeline.
- Malvern Preparatory School: All-boys Augustinian Catholic college preparatory school near Philadelphia, PA. Comparable in Catholic college-prep identity, single-sex tradition, advanced academics, athletics, and strong alumni development culture.
Others
- Gannon University: Catholic university in Erie, PA operating Cathedral Prep's dual enrollment program with 117 participating students. A strategic academic partner rather than a competitor, but the most directly linked institution in Cathedral Prep's pipeline.
Emerging players
- Holy Cross Academy: Catholic K-12 institution in the Erie-area diocese, part of the same regional Catholic education ecosystem. Comparable in faith-based K-12 mission and potential feeder school relationship.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cathedral Preparatory School social profiles
Digital presenceCathedral Preparatory School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cathedral Preparatory School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Cathedral Preparatory School subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Cathedral Preparatory School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cathedral Preparatory 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 Cathedral Preparatory School
What does Cathedral Preparatory School do?
Cathedral Preparatory School is a private Catholic college preparatory school serving grades 9-12 in Erie, Pennsylvania, founded in 1896. The school delivers a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum combined with Catholic faith formation, including 20 Advanced Placement courses, 6 dual enrollment courses, and a structured House System for character and spiritual development. It operates as part of the Villa Maria Cathedral Preparatory Catholic School System under the Diocese of Erie, with a stated 100% college acceptance rate and significant annual scholarship attainment for graduating classes.
Is Cathedral Preparatory School a public or private company?
Cathedral Preparatory School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Cathedral Preparatory School founded?
Cathedral Preparatory School was founded in 1896. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cathedral Preparatory School based?
Cathedral Preparatory School is headquartered in Erie, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cathedral Preparatory School make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are annual Giving and Donations and dual Enrollment Fees.
Who are Cathedral Preparatory School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Saint Joseph's Collegiate Institute, McQuaid Jesuit High School, Bishop McCort Catholic High School, Central Catholic High School (Pittsburgh), Vincentian Academy, La Salle College High School, Canisius High School and Malvern Preparatory School. Gannon University is listed as an others. Holy Cross Academy is listed as an emerging player.
Does Cathedral Preparatory School have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cathedral Preparatory School.
What industry is Cathedral Preparatory School in?
Cathedral Preparatory School's product category is Private Secondary Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJACAJ, Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.