Columbia Academy

What Columbia Academy does

Columbia Academy is a private Christian college-preparatory school serving students from preschool through 12th grade across two campuses in Columbia and Spring Hill, Tennessee, approximately 45 minutes south of Nashville. The institution operates on a 67-acre historic campus originally built in 1890 as the Columbia Arsenal and used from 1905 to 1979 as the Columbia Military Academy; it was re-founded in 1979 when the CMA board transferred governance to local members of churches of Christ. The school is governed by a board composed of members from those churches, with bylaws requiring faculty and administrative staff to be active members of a Church of Christ congregation, and is not owned by any parent company, holding group, or external investors. It offers a college-preparatory curriculum integrating Biblical principles with secular academics, plus fine arts, athletics, dual enrollment, and supplemental programs; the Class of 2025 reported 69 graduates, an average ACT of 24, 97% offered scholarships, and $8.3 million in total scholarships awarded.

The school's revenue is generated primarily through tuition ($10,270-$12,320 per student for 2026-27 depending on grade level), supplemented by book and technology fees ($250-$550), a $100 application/testing fee, a $400 enrollment fee, optional extended day care ($800) and transportation ($900), and a multi-channel Development Office that accepts cash gifts, appreciated securities, IRA distributions, bequests, and life insurance beneficiary designations. The school uses commodity K-12 administrative technology — RenWeb for online inquiry and registration (Member ID 499), FACTS for tuition payment processing and the Parent Portal, Blackbaud for online donations, and Constant Contact for alumni communications — with no proprietary technology, AI capabilities, or digital product surface. GTM is sales-led direct enrollment: families inquire and apply online, with a continuous enrollment model for returning students, a February 1 priority deadline, and an April 1 spring deadline, supported by the school's website, Instagram presence (@cabulldogs_), an annual alumni magazine (The Communicator), campus visits, and community events. Customer segments are households in the Columbia, Spring Hill, Chapel Hill, Hickman County, Giles County, and Franklin catchments seeking Christ-centered K-12 education and college preparation.

Name

Columbia Academy

Legal name

Columbia Academy

Website

https://cabulldogs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Columbia Academy is a private Christian college-preparatory school serving preschool through 12th grade students in Columbia and Spring Hill, Tennessee. It generates revenue primarily through tuition of $10,270-$12,320 annually plus fees and donations, operating from a 67-acre historic campus governed by local churches of Christ.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Columbia Academy generates revenue primarily through tuition charged to enrolled students. Tuition rates for 2026-27 range from $10,270 (Jr. K) to $12,320 (Grades 10-12), with additional fees for books, technology, and optional services like extended day care and transportation. New student fees include a $100 application/testing fee and $400 enrollment fee.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The school receives charitable donations through its Development Office, including cash/check donations, appreciated securities, IRA gifts, bequests through wills, and life insurance beneficiary designations. The 'All In' campaign supports facility improvements like Academy Hall restoration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Columbia Academy is a private Christian school providing college-preparatory education from preschool through 12th grade across two campuses in Columbia and Spring Hill, Tennessee. The school integrates rigorous academics with Biblical principles taught from a Christian worldview, offering programs including upper school, K-6, preschool, supplemental programs, fine arts (drama, band, music, visual arts), athletics, and extracurricular activities. Tuition ranges from $10,270 to $12,320 per year for 2026-27, with additional fees for books, technology, extended day care, and transportation.

Product overview

Columbia Academy is a private Christian school offering college-preparatory education from preschool through 12th grade. The institution operates two campuses in Columbia and Spring Hill, Tennessee, providing a comprehensive educational experience that combines academic excellence with Biblical principles. The school offers a range of programs including Upper School, K-6, Preschool, Supplemental Programs, Fine Arts (Drama, Band, Music, Visual Arts), Athletics, and various Extracurricular activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Upper School Program College-preparatory high school program covering Grades 9-12 with rigorous academics, dual enrollment opportunities, fine arts, and athletics, taught from a Christian worldview. 2026-27 tuition is $12,320 per year.
• K-6 Program Elementary school program for Kindergarten through Grade 6 with college-preparatory foundation and Biblical integration. 2026-27 tuition ranges from $10,470 (K-Grade 3) to $10,930 (Grades 4-6) per year.
• Preschool Program Early childhood education program for preschool-aged children (Jr. Kindergarten), with an emphasis on Christ-centered foundational learning. 2026-27 tuition is $10,270 per year. The program was recently consolidated into four additional classrooms in the Grimes Building.
• Supplemental Programs Additional educational support offerings that complement core academics for students at Columbia Academy, including academic advising and other enrichment services.
• Fine Arts Program Comprehensive fine arts program including Drama, Band, Music, and Visual Arts for Columbia Academy students across all grade levels.
• Athletics Program Comprehensive athletics program for Columbia Academy students across multiple sports, with separate athletic website at sports.cabulldogs.org. The program includes the Thrasher Family Tennis Complex with pickleball courts.
• Spiritual Life Program Christ-centered spiritual development activities including chapel services and other faith-based programming for Columbia Academy students.
• Extracurricular Activities Various extracurricular clubs and activities for Columbia Academy students beyond core academics, athletics, and fine arts.
• Academic Advising Academic advising services for Columbia Academy students, supporting college preparation, course selection, and dual enrollment guidance, with 83% of graduates enrolled in dual enrollment courses.
• Extended Day Care Optional extended day care service for Columbia Academy families, priced at $800 per year.
• Transportation Services School transportation service for Columbia Academy students, priced at $900 per year for round trip service.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of graduates offered scholarships totaling over $8.3 million
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and moderate.

• FACTS Management CompanycoreTechnology or IntegrationFACTS provides the online payment system used for tuition payments, enrollment deposits, and FACTS Parent Portal for student information management. Used by over 7,000 schools nationwide. Handles payment processing with highest security standards in the industry.
• RenWebcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline enrollment and admission management system (now part of FACTS) used for the online inquiry and registration process for prospective students. Member ID 499 for CA.
• Churches of ChristcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 1979, the Columbia Military Academy board turned the school over to a board of members of local churches of Christ, establishing Columbia Academy's Christian foundation and governance structure.
• Freed-Hardeman UniversitymoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple school leaders hold degrees from Freed-Hardeman University including President Dr. James Thomas (B.S. Bible and Psychology, M.S. General Psychology), Spring Hill Principal Nathan Hixson (M.Ed. Instructional Leadership), and Athletic Director Drew Pirtle (B.S. Math & Natural Sciences). Strong educational partnership for staff development and recruitment.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Harding Academy: Private K-12 college-preparatory school in Memphis, Tennessee, affiliated with Churches of Christ. Highly comparable to Columbia Academy given shared religious affiliation (Churches of Christ), similar college-prep mission, and overlapping governance and feeder networks.
• Lipscomb Academy: Private Christian K-12 college-preparatory school in Nashville, affiliated with the Churches of Christ tradition through Lipscomb University. Comparable faith-based positioning, college-prep mission, and dual enrollment pathway structure.
• Brentwood Academy: Private Christian college-preparatory K-12 school in Brentwood (Nashville), Tennessee. Closest large-market peer to Columbia Academy, with similar faith-based positioning, college-prep curriculum, athletic programs, and tuition-band pricing in the Nashville MSA.
• Christ Presbyterian Academy: Private Christian K-12 school in Nashville, Tennessee, offering college-preparatory education from a faith-based perspective. Direct comparable on faith integration, college-prep focus, tuition pricing, and Nashville-area market dynamics.
• Battle Ground Academy: Private college-preparatory K-12 school in Franklin, Tennessee, in the Nashville MSA. Comparable on private college-prep model, tuition pricing, suburban Nashville market positioning, and similar dual-enrollment/college outcomes focus.

Regional players

• Baylor School: Private college-preparatory K-12 school in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Comparable on premium college-prep positioning, strong athletic/boarding programs, and Tennessee private-school market dynamics, though located outside the Nashville MSA.
• McCallie School: Private boys' college-preparatory boarding/day school (grades 6-12) in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Comparable on rigorous college-prep academics and dual-enrollment/college outcomes, though located in a different Tennessee region and single-sex.

Broad incumbents

• University School of Nashville: Independent private K-12 college-preparatory school in Nashville, Tennessee. Comparable on rigorous college-prep curriculum, tuition pricing, and Nashville-area market dynamics, though secular rather than faith-based.
• Harpeth Hall School: Private girls' college-preparatory school (grades 5-12) in Nashville, Tennessee. Comparable on premium college-prep positioning, tuition pricing, and Nashville MSA market, though single-sex and secular versus Columbia Academy's coed Christian model.
• Montgomery Bell Academy: Prestigious private boys' school (grades 7-12) in Nashville, Tennessee. Comparable on premium college-prep positioning, tuition band, and Nashville MSA market, though single-sex and non-religious-affiliated versus Columbia Academy's coed Christian model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/cabulldogs_
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/columbia-academy-02

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Columbia Academy