Academy of the Sacred Heart, Bloomfield Hills, MI

What Academy of the Sacred Heart, Bloomfield Hills, MI does

Academy of the Sacred Heart in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan is a private, independent Catholic college-preparatory school founded in 1851 in Detroit and relocated to its current 28-acre wooded campus in 1958, making it Michigan's oldest independent school. It serves approximately 400 students from infancy through Grade 12 (co-ed through Grade 8; all-girls Upper School), drawing families from 40+ metro Detroit communities and a student body representing four continents and approximately seven languages. The school is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the Network of Sacred Heart Schools — a global network of 155+ schools across 41 countries, with 25 schools in the U.S. and Canada and 50K+ North America alumni.

The school's academic program spans six divisions — Early Childhood Program, Primary School (PreK–Grade 1), Lower School (Grades 2–4), Kensington Hall middle school for boys, Middle School for Girls, and Upper School (Grades 9–12) — operating at a 12:1 student-to-teacher ratio with approximately 96 faculty/staff. It runs on a typical independent-school technology stack (Finalsite for the parent/student portal, Blackbaud Financial Aid Management for tuition assistance processing, Google Suite, Rubicon Atlas for curriculum documentation) and operates a 31,000-square-foot Field House supporting a 20-state-championship athletics program. Distinctive programs include ELEVATE (launching Fall 2026) for elite student-athletes with up to 250 hours of integrated training time, ASHWorks (a Lower School makerspace combining traditional craft with CAD, CNC machining, and laser engraving), and Project Term (Upper School experiential learning including international trips). Outcomes include 100% college attendance, acceptance to selective colleges at 2.5x the national average, and graduating classes averaging $4M+ in scholarship offers.

The business model is tuition-led, with annual tuition ranging from $24,800 (Primary School) to $28,325 (Upper School) plus per-tier activity, technology, facilities, and lunch fees. Revenue is supplemented by application fees ($50), a $2,000 chapel wedding rental, and summer/athletic camps. Distribution is direct: campus-based enrollment through an inquiry-first admissions funnel (open houses, personalized tours, student shadow days) supported by a $2,000 family-referral program and $1,000 alumnae/i and military/first-responder incentives. Need-based Tailored Tuition — processed through Blackbaud FAM — distributes over $1M annually to 35% of the student body, materially shaping realized revenue. The school is financially self-supporting, governed by a Board of Trustees (Kevin Nowlan, Chair; Joseph E. Carver, Head of School), and operates as a single-site nonprofit affiliated with the Society of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ) and the Network of Sacred Heart Schools.

Name

Academy of the Sacred Heart, Bloomfield Hills, MI

Legal name

Academy of the Sacred Heart

Website

https://ashmi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1851

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Academy of the Sacred Heart in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan is a private Catholic college-preparatory school serving approximately 400 students from infancy through Grade 12 on a 28-acre campus, operating within the global Network of Sacred Heart Schools and ranked #1 Catholic School in Michigan by Niche for 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Early Learning Academies (EDACADAH)

Keywords

• Independent school education
• Catholic college preparatory
• K-12 private education
• Early childhood learning
• Values-based education

Headquarters

HQ city

Bloomfield Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Primary revenue stream from tuition fees charged to families. Tuition varies by program level: Early Childhood Program (weekly rates), Primary School ($24,800), Lower School ($25,300), Kensington Hall/Middle School for Girls ($27,675), Upper School ($28,325). Additional fees include Student Activities, Technology Infrastructure, Facility & Grounds, and Lunch Program. Multi-student discounts available (25% for 3rd child, 50% for 4th, 75% for 5th, free for 6th). Alumnae/i, Military/First Responder incentives of $1,000 each.
2. Application Fees: One-time application fee of $50 required during the admissions process.
3. Chapel Rental Revenue: Rental of the on-campus Catholic chapel for wedding ceremonies. Fee is $2,000 for three-hour booking including chapel, parlor, and surrounding grounds, plus onsite wedding coordinator for rehearsal and ceremony. Limited to Roman Catholic weddings where at least one member of the couple is baptized Catholic.
4. Tailored Tuition Assistance: Need-based financial assistance distributed to qualified families. Over $1 million in tuition assistance available annually, with 35% of student body receiving benefits. Short form awards up to $8,000; Standard form through Blackbaud FAM for households typically with income $150,000 or less.
5. Referral Program: $2,000 referral bonus issued to current families who refer new families that apply, are accepted, and enroll full-time. Tax form 1099-MISC issued in January.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Academy of the Sacred Heart is a private Catholic college-preparatory school in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, providing co-ed and single-sex education from infancy through Grade 12. It delivers a five-Goals curriculum rooted in the Sacred Heart tradition, including academics, faith formation, athletics, arts, and service, on a 28-acre campus with specialized programs such as ELEVATE for elite athletes, Project Term experiential learning, and ASHWorks makerspace.

Product overview

Academy of the Sacred Heart offers a comprehensive, multi-level Catholic college-preparatory education through distinct programs: Early Childhood Program (birth-Preschool), Primary School (PreK-Grade 1), Lower School (Grades 2-4), Kensington Hall (all-boys middle school, Grades 5-8), Middle School for Girls (Grades 5-8), and Upper School (girls only, Grades 9-12). The school also offers specialized programs including ELEVATE for elite student-athletes, Project Term experiential learning, ASHWorks maker program, and summer camps. Additional offerings include facility rentals (chapel for weddings) and athletic facilities including a 31,000 sq ft Field House. The institution is accredited by ISACS and the Network of Sacred Heart Schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ELEVATE: A program for elite student-athletes in Grades 5-9 providing flexible academic schedules balanced with elite athletic training (up to 250 hours annually), launched Fall 2026.
• Early Childhood Program
• Project Term
• Global Scholars Program

Products and services

• Early Childhood Program Year-round developmental program for children from birth through preschool offering flexible scheduling and age-appropriate activities supporting physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and language development.
• Primary School Educational program for girls and boys in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 1 with personalized learning, multi-age learning centers, daily French instruction, and social-emotional development focus.
• Lower School Elementary program for girls and boys in Grades 2-4 with 1:18 teacher-to-student ratio, differentiated instruction in language arts, math, science, social studies, French, and ASHWorks enrichment.
• Kensington Hall (Middle School for Boys) All-boys middle school for Grades 5-8 with a Montessori-inspired 21st-century curriculum, daily movement, hands-on learning, peer collaboration, Immersion Weeks, Internships, and Capstone Class Trips.
• Middle School for Girls All-girls middle school for Grades 5-8 developing intelligent, moral, independent young women through rigorous academics, faith-based instruction, arts, athletics, and experiential learning.
• Upper School College-preparatory program for young women in Grades 9-12 with rigorous academics, individualized college counseling, Project Term experiential learning, and preparation for acceptance to selective colleges at 2.5x the national average.
• ELEVATE for Elite Athletes Specialized program for elite student-athletes in Grades 5-9 providing flexible academic schedules that accommodate up to 250 hours of athletic training annually while maintaining academic rigor and faith-based community connection, offered through Preferred Partner and Independent tracks.
• Summer Camps (SASH and Athletic Camps) Summer camp programs including SASH (Sacred Heart Summer) enrichment and sport-specific Athletic Camps providing training and activities during summer break for enrolled and prospective students.
• Chapel Wedding Rentals Rental of the on-campus Roman Catholic chapel for wedding ceremonies, accommodating up to 250 guests; includes 3-hour booking of chapel, parlor, and grounds plus an onsite wedding coordinator.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2.5x national average acceptance to most selective colleges
• +7 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

Integration3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Network of Sacred Heart SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASH is one of 25 Sacred Heart schools in the U.S. and Canada, part of a global community spanning 41 countries and 155+ schools worldwide. This network provides shared educational philosophy (Goals and Criteria), global exchange opportunities, and connections to 50,000+ North America alumni. Students participate in Network Experiences connecting them to other Sacred Heart schools globally.
• Society of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by St. Madeleine Sophie Barat over 200 years ago. The Society continues to guide Sacred Heart education through the Goals and Criteria. Religious of the Sacred Heart serve on the Board of Trustees (including Maureen Glavin RSCJ and Barbara Quinn RSCJ). ASH celebrated 175th anniversary with RSCJ presence at special Mass.
• Sacred Heart Schools in ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLower School Grade 4 students participate in pen pal program with Sacred Heart school in Chicago, culminating in overnight trip to meet pen pals and visit Schools of the Sacred Heart in Chicago. This 50+ year tradition connects students to the broader Sacred Heart Network.
• Local Businesses (Internship Partners)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerKensington Hall Grade 8 students serve internships in local businesses and professional environments, gaining hands-on career awareness and real-world experience. Internal internships also available within school supporting teachers, mentoring younger students, and helping with operations.
• Archdiocese of DetroitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Academy adheres to guidelines established by the Archdiocese of Detroit. Chapel ceremonies comply with Roman Catholic traditions. Families can access AOD Tuition Assistance Program. School is an equal opportunity employer under Archdiocese guidelines.
• Ss. Peter and Paul Jesuit ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial venue for 175th Anniversary Mass, joining RSCJ, alumni, students, families, and clergy for celebration of founding in 1851.
• Field House Preferred Athletic TrainersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorELEVATE Program partners with preferred athletic trainers. The school provides transportation to/from training facilities for student-athletes in the Preferred Partner Program. Independent Program allows student choice of trainer without transportation provided.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cranbrook Schools: Premier independent co-ed K-12 day and boarding school located in Bloomfield Hills, MI, just minutes from ASH. Direct competitor for the same tuition-paying families in metro Detroit with comparable prestige, college-preparatory curriculum, and athletics programs.
• Detroit Country Day School: Highly regarded independent K-12 school in Beverly Hills, MI, serving metro Detroit families. Competes directly with ASH for college-preparatory families seeking elite private education with strong athletics and selective college outcomes.
• Marian High School: Catholic, all-girls college-preparatory high school in Bloomfield Hills, MI, sharing the same city and faith-based mission. Direct competitor for ASH Upper School graduates and for Catholic families seeking single-sex secondary education.
• Brother Rice High School: Catholic, all-boys college-preparatory high school in Bloomfield Hills, MI, providing an alternative faith-based pathway for boys graduating from ASH's Kensington Hall. Direct competitor for Catholic families in metro Detroit.
• Mercy High School: Catholic, all-girls college-preparatory high school in Farmington Hills, MI, in the metro Detroit area. Competes directly with ASH for Catholic families and all-girls Upper School enrollment.
• University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy: Catholic, Jesuit all-boys college-preparatory school in Detroit, MI. Competes for Catholic families seeking rigorous college-prep education for boys; serves as an alternative destination to ASH's Kensington Hall pathway.
• Sacred Heart Schools, Chicago: Network peer within the Sacred Heart school system, offering Catholic co-ed PK-12 education. Shares the Goals and Criteria framework, enabling direct programmatic comparison and student exchange opportunities through Network Experiences.

Regional players

• Roeper School: Independent co-ed K-12 school in Bloomfield Hills, MI, with a progressive educational approach. Competes for the same local tuition-paying families but with differentiated philosophy rather than faith-based curriculum.

Others

• International Academy: Public magnet high school in Bloomfield Hills, MI, that draws top academic students from across Oakland County. Competes indirectly for college-preparatory families who might otherwise choose private school, given its strong selective college outcomes at no tuition cost.

Broad incumbents

• Georgetown Preparatory School: Catholic, Jesuit all-boys boarding school in North Bethesda, MD. While geographically distant, it represents the broader competitive set for elite Catholic college-prep education at scale, sharing the faith-based college-preparatory model and a national reputation for selective college placement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/sacredheartmi
• Facebookfacebook.com/sacredheartmi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/academy-of-the-sacred-heart-bloomfield-hills-mi
• Instagraminstagram.com/sacredheartmi

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Academy of the Sacred Heart, Bloomfield Hills, MI