Sacred Heart Academy
Sacred Heart Academy is a private Catholic Pre-K through 12th grade school in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, founded in 1889, serving students on a single campus with a Christ-centered curriculum, STEM lab, AP courses, dual enrollment, and competitive athletics, funded by tuition and a ~$9M Foundation endowment.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1889
- HeadquartersMount Pleasant, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sacred Heart Academy does
Sacred Heart Academy (SHA) is a private, Roman Catholic Pre-K through 12th grade school founded in 1889 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, operating as the only remaining single-campus Pre-K-12 school in the Saginaw Diocese and one of a select few Michigan parochial schools supported by a single parish (Sacred Heart Parish). The institution delivers a Christ-centered curriculum integrating daily religious instruction, weekly Mass, STEM programming in a dedicated lab, competitive athletics (basketball, volleyball, track, softball, baseball, football), band, National Honor Society, and service learning, supported by 4 AP courses and dual-enrollment college-credit options for secondary students. Approximately 38 staff and faculty serve early-childhood latchkey care through college-prep secondary tracks, with admissions directed by Lisa Roach and fundraising directed by Director of Development Lindsay Ley.
The revenue model is tuition-subscribed (Pre-K through 12th, billed annually per family) layered with an unusually structured endowment: the Sacred Heart Academy Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3) Michigan non-profit established in 1976 with a ~$9 million principal balance and cumulative disbursements of more than $6.9 million to the school. Ancillary revenue streams include the RaiseRight (Scrip) gift-card program (with 2-15% merchant discounts, 80% rebated to families and 20% retained by the school), annual giving, planned/legacy gifts, and event-based fundraising via the SHAgala auction. The school uses FACTS for tuition/SIS, Blackbaud for donor management, and operates debt-free without per-pupil state funding.
Go-to-market is event-driven and community-anchored: Open Houses, New Family Orientation, campus tours, and parish-based referral rather than paid advertising. Distribution is exclusively regional (Midwest USA, Michigan) and on-campus; there is no online or distance-learning channel. Competitive positioning rests on 135 years of brand equity, the unique one-campus Pre-K-12 model, an active 4,000+ alumni association, and championship athletics; material risks are concentration on a single supporting parish, enrollment sensitivity to regional demographics, and the broader secular decline facing U.S. Catholic schools.
Sacred Heart Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sacred Heart Academy
- Legal name
- Sacred Heart Academy
- Website
- https://academy.sha.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1889
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sacred Heart Academy is a private Catholic Pre-K through 12th grade school in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, founded in 1889, serving students on a single campus with a Christ-centered curriculum, STEM lab, AP courses, dual enrollment, and competitive athletics, funded by tuition and a ~$9M Foundation endowment.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sacred Heart Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Catholic K-12 Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Campus Spiritual & Religious Life (EDALAHAI)
Keywords
Where Sacred Heart Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mount Pleasant
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Sacred Heart Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition: Primary revenue source from tuition payments by families for Pre-K through 12th grade Catholic education.
- SHA Foundation Endowment: Non-profit endowment established in 1976. The Foundation raises money, invests assets, and annually disperses earned income to the Academy for teachers' salaries and operational expenses. Total contributions exceed $6.9 million since inception.
- RaiseRight (Scrip) Program: Gift card program where families purchase gift cards for national and local merchants. Sacred Heart purchases cards at a discount (2-15% or more) and re-sells at face value. Families receive 80% of the discount as credit, with 20% retained by the school. Applied toward tuition/fees or donated to school departments.
- Capital Campaign Fundraising: Faith in the Future capital campaign targeting $1.5 million for facility improvements including window replacement, security glazing, restroom renovation, bleacher seating, lighting upgrades, prayer Grotto construction, and security cameras.
- Annual Giving and Donor Gifts: Annual campaign, memorial and honorarium gifts, and designated gifts for technology, scholarships, and specific school programs.
- Planned/Legacy Gifts: Bequests through wills or trusts, gifts of life insurance, and gifts of appreciated stocks.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Pre-K through 12th Grade Tuition |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels10 records
Sacred Heart Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sacred Heart Academy is a private Catholic school delivering Pre-K through 12th grade education on a single campus in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school provides a Christ-centered, rigorous academic curriculum including STEM, four AP courses, dual enrollment, college preparatory advising, athletics, arts (band), community service, and before/after-school latchkey care. Founded in 1889, it is the only Pre-K-12 one-campus school remaining in the Saginaw Diocese.
Product overview
Sacred Heart Academy is a Pre-K through 12th grade Catholic school that has operated since 1889, providing a culturally diverse educational experience rooted in Catholic tradition. The institution offers a comprehensive academic curriculum (rigorous academics, STEM, dual enrollment, AP courses, band), competitive athletics, community service programs, and National Honor Society. The school operates with support from the SHA Foundation endowment (over $9 million in assets), offers latchkey services for elementary students, and maintains an active alumni association with over 4,000 members. Additional programs include the RaiseRight (Scrip) gift card fundraising program, SHAgala annual auction, and S4S Service Day community outreach.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pre-K through 12th Grade Catholic Education
- STEM Program
- Latchkey Services
- Athletics Program
- Dual Enrollment Program
- National Honor Society
- RaiseRight (Scrip) Program
- Band Program
- SHA Foundation Endowment
Quantifiable outcome
- First-ever state championships in girls track and volleyball
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Sacred Heart Academy
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Sacred Heart Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Sacred Heart Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Sacred Heart ParishcoreSacred Heart Parish is the supporting church community for the Academy. The school is one of a select few in Michigan supported by a single church. Pastor Fr. Andy Booms leads both Sacred Heart Parish and Saint Mary University Parish. The parish provides spiritual guidance, facility support, and community connection.
- FACTS ManagementcoreFACTS provides school information management services including the family portal, student records, and financial management. The school uses FACTS for tuition management, family communications, and event management.
- MANS (Michigan Association of Non-Public School Administrators)minorAccreditation body for non-public schools in Michigan. Sacred Heart Academy displays the MANS accreditation logo.
- Great Lakes Bay Catholic SchoolsminorConsortium of Catholic schools in the Great Lakes Bay region. Sacred Heart Academy is a member of this collaborative group.
- NicheminorEducation review and ranking platform. Sacred Heart Academy is ranked on Niche.com as a K-12 school in Mount Pleasant, MI.
- RaiseRight (Scrip Program Merchants)minorNational and local merchants whose gift cards are sold through the RaiseRight Scrip program. Families purchase gift cards at 2-15% discount, with 80% of discount credited to their account. Merchants include national chains and local vendors.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Sacred Heart Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- National Heritage Academies: Michigan-based operator of a large network of public charter and private K-12 schools; a broader incumbent offering K-12 education at scale, including faith-affiliated curriculum options.
Direct peers
- Marian High School: Catholic college-preparatory high school in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, with comparable Catholic identity, AP offerings, and college counseling focus.
- Nouvel Catholic Central: Catholic Pre-K-12 school in Saginaw, Michigan, also within the Diocese of Saginaw and the most direct local competitor to SHA for Catholic families in central Michigan.
- Brother Rice High School: Catholic college-prep high school in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, sharing the same faith-based educational mission, competitive athletics, and AP/dual-enrollment academic model.
- Powers Catholic High School: Catholic secondary school in Flint, Michigan, serving a similar faith-based, college-preparatory student base with comparable athletics and extracurricular programs.
- St. Mary's Preparatory: Catholic preparatory school in Orchard Lake, Michigan, comparable to SHA in faith-based mission, college preparation focus, and boarding/day student services.
Emerging players
- Chesterton Academy: A growing network of classical, Catholic high schools; while smaller and newer, it represents an emerging Catholic education model that may compete for Catholic families nationally.
Regional players
- Regina High School: Catholic college-preparatory high school for young women in Warren, Michigan; comparable in faith-based mission and single-gender/secular Catholic tradition but serves a different metro area.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sacred Heart Academy social profiles
Digital presenceSacred Heart Academy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Sacred Heart Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sacred Heart Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Sacred Heart Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sacred Heart Academy 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 Sacred Heart Academy
What does Sacred Heart Academy do?
Sacred Heart Academy is a private Catholic school delivering Pre-K through 12th grade education on a single campus in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school provides a Christ-centered, rigorous academic curriculum including STEM, four AP courses, dual enrollment, college preparatory advising, athletics, arts (band), community service, and before/after-school latchkey care. Founded in 1889, it is the only Pre-K-12 one-campus school remaining in the Saginaw Diocese.
Is Sacred Heart Academy a public or private company?
Sacred Heart Academy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Sacred Heart Academy founded?
Sacred Heart Academy was founded in 1889. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sacred Heart Academy based?
Sacred Heart Academy is headquartered in Mount Pleasant, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sacred Heart Academy make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Tuition is the primary driver. The others are SHA Foundation Endowment, raiseRight (Scrip) Program, capital Campaign Fundraising, annual Giving and Donor Gifts and planned/Legacy Gifts.
Who are Sacred Heart Academy's main competitors?
National Heritage Academies is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Marian High School, Nouvel Catholic Central, Brother Rice High School, Powers Catholic High School and St. Mary's Preparatory. Chesterton Academy is listed as an emerging player. Regina High School is listed as a regional player.
Does Sacred Heart Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sacred Heart Academy.
What industry is Sacred Heart Academy in?
Sacred Heart Academy's product category is Private Catholic K-12 Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJABAC, Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools, with a secondary code of EDALAHAI, Campus Spiritual & Religious Life. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.