What Cambridge-Ellis School does

Cambridge-Ellis School is an independent, non-profit preschool founded in 1981 and located at 80 Trowbridge Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school serves children from approximately 1 year 9 months through 5 years of age across seven indoor classrooms grouped by developmental stage, with an average 5:1 child-to-teacher ratio. Core offerings include Day Programs (Toddler and Preschool, morning and full day), an Afternoon Language Program offering immersive French, Spanish, and Mandarin instruction, Enrichment Programs (Arts Adventure, Nature, Ann Murphy Artisan Program), a School-Age Mandarin Jade Program for K–4th grade, and seasonal Summer Programs. Curriculum is play-based and emergent, drawing on Reggio Emilia and Inquiry Approach influences, with no proprietary technology platform — operations are entirely physical, in-person, and human-led.

The school's revenue model combines subscription tuition (2026–27 tuition ranging from $27,500 for Preschool morning to $58,745 for Toddler Day + Language), the Annual Fund with a 100% participation goal across board, parents, faculty, and staff, a Spring Auction, and Summer Program fees. Approximately 10% of tuition revenue is dedicated to financial aid scholarships, and aid offerings have expanded by 22% over the last five years. Go-to-market is sales-led and community-driven: families submit online inquiries, attend mandatory in-person tours managed by a Director of Admissions between October 1 and January 31, submit applications before the tour date, and may apply for financial aid via the Clarity Application; additional top-of-funnel channels include an annual Open House and the Boston Area School Fair. The school maintains an average 9-year teacher tenure, strong community integration through a parent volunteer organization (Community Builders), and partnerships including a sister-school teacher exchange with St. James Preschool in Taiwan and student-teaching relationships with Wheelock, Lesley, Tufts, and UMass.

There is no parent company, no controlling entity, and no venture capital or private equity backing. Governance rests with a Board of Directors (Co-Chairs Rahul Khara and Ashley Green) under Head of School Bekah Riley, with a senior leadership team covering education, language programs, admissions, business management, development, arts coordination, and office administration. Technology footprint is limited to the school's informational website and standard admissions tooling — no app, no API, and no disclosed AI/ML capabilities.

Name

Cambridge-Ellis School

Legal name

Cambridge-Ellis School

Website

https://cambridge-ellis.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cambridge-Ellis School is an independent, non-profit preschool in Cambridge, Massachusetts, founded in 1981, serving children ages ~1.9–5 through play-based Day Programs, immersive French, Spanish, and Mandarin language tracks, enrichment, and summer programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Education

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Language Schools (611630)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Bilingual/Language-Immersion Preschools (EDACABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Preschools (Play-Based) (EDACABAA), Play-Based Early Learning Academies (EDACADAE), Bilingual & Language-Immersion Early Learning Academies (EDACADAG)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• Play-based preschool
• Language immersion programs
• After school care
• Summer camp programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Primary revenue stream from tuition fees for Day Programs (Toddler and Preschool), Language Immersion Programs (French, Spanish, Mandarin), and School Age Mandarin Programs. Tuition varies by program type and schedule (morning, full day, extended day).
2. Annual Fund: Annual fundraising campaign targeting 100% participation from board members, families, faculty, staff, and support from alumni, grandparents, and friends. Donations range from $1 to $20,000.
3. Spring Auction: Annual fundraising event that brings current parents, teachers, staff, and alumni families together to celebrate the school and support financial aid and educational programs.
4. Summer Program Fees: Summer program tuition for English and Language Immersion programs in June and July, with half-day ($2,400), full day ($2,750), and extended day ($3,150) options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cambridge-Ellis School provides tuition-based early childhood education for toddlers through upper preschoolers (ages ~1 year 9 months to 5 years), plus afternoon French, Spanish, and Mandarin language immersion and K-4 Mandarin programming. Instruction follows a play-based, emergent curriculum delivered across seven indoor classrooms and two outdoor playground spaces at 80 Trowbridge Street in Cambridge, with optional summer and enrichment extensions.

Product overview

Cambridge-Ellis School offers a portfolio of early childhood education programs centered on play-based, emergent curriculum. The core offerings include Day Programs (seven classrooms for toddlers through upper preschool), the Afternoon Language Program (immersive French, Spanish, and Mandarin instruction), and Enrichment Programs (Arts Adventure, Nature Program, Artisan Program). Summer Programs and school-age Mandarin programming extend the offerings seasonally and for older children. The programs collectively emphasize social-emotional development, pre-literacy skills, and exposure to world languages and cultures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Day Programs Full-day play-based preschool education for toddlers and preschool-age children across seven classrooms grouped by age and developmental stage, operating Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with optional noon dismissal.
• Afternoon Language Program Immersive language learning experience offering French, Spanish, and Mandarin instruction for children ages 2.9 to 6 years, plus English immersion in the Rainbow Room, running daily from 3:00-6:00pm.
• Enrichment Programs Supplementary programming including Arts Adventure (music, visual arts, dance, drama), Nature Program (outdoor exploration, neighborhood walks), and the Ann Murphy Artisan Program (artist residencies, professional development).
• Summer Programs
• After School Toddler Program Afternoon care and programming for toddlers ages 1 year 9 months to 2 years 8 months by September.
• Mandarin Jade Program (School Age Mandarin) School-age Mandarin programming for children in Kindergarten through 4th grade, following a project-based model with cultural and community components, offered 2, 3, or 5 days per week.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% participation in Annual Fund achieved for several consecutive years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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.

• St. James Preschool (Taiwan)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Sister School Partnership and Cultural Teacher Exchange Program. Each summer CES sends two teachers to Taiwan and St. James Preschool sends one teacher to spend the school year at CES teaching in the Mandarin Program. This cultural exchange enriches both teaching communities and fosters cross-cultural relationships.
• Ann Murphy Artisan ProgramcoreOthersEndowment established in 2003 by Ann Murphy, beloved CES teacher and administrator. Hosts artists in residence annually with themes including dance, textile, healthy cooking. Artists, musicians, specialists work directly with children and provide professional development for teachers.
• Wheelock CollegeminorOthersCES mentors student teachers from universities including Wheelock College as part of their teaching school model.
• Lesley UniversityminorOthersCES mentors student teachers from universities as part of their teaching school model.
• Tufts UniversityminorOthersCES mentors student teachers from universities as part of their teaching school model.
• University of MassachusettsminorOthersCES mentors student teachers from universities as part of their teaching school model.
• Cambridge, Rindge and Latin School Early Childhood ProgramminorOthersPartnership formed in 2013. CES visits their classroom for activities and hosts their student teachers for observations and internships.
• Cambridge Community Charter SchoolminorOthersPartnership began in 2014. Student interns from CCCS are high school seniors completing 100 hours during their internship, a graduation requirement.
• Boston Arts AcademyminorOthersPartnership began in 2015. Students volunteer during community day, perform for CES children, and offer instrument petting zoo.
• Habitat Wildlife SanctuaryminorOthersRegularly scheduled visits to inspire awe and wonder as children learn about their world through discovery and nature programming.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tenacre Country Day School: Independent PreK-6 school in Wellesley, MA serving the same Boston metro west demographic. Comparable play-based, arts-integrated progressive model and tuition band; competes for similar Cambridge-area family choice when expanding.
• Belmont Day School: Independent PreK-8 school in nearby Belmont, MA serving the same greater Boston/Cambridge demographic. Comparable size, tuition band, and progressive play-based approach make it a close peer for family choice.
• International School of Boston: French-English bilingual independent school in the Cambridge/Boston area serving preschool through grade 12. Most directly comparable on the language immersion dimension, with a French-only focus versus Cambridge-Ellis's three-language portfolio.
• Charles River School: Independent PreK-8 school in Dover, MA, west of Cambridge. Comparable size, progressive philosophy, and arts integration; serves overlapping Boston metro affluent demographic.
• Shady Hill School: Independent PreK-8 school in Cambridge, MA with play-based, progressive pedagogy. Most directly comparable to Cambridge-Ellis given shared geography, similar age range served, and comparable non-profit independent school ethos with arts and inquiry-based curriculum.
• The Park School: Independent PreK-8 school in Brookline, MA, just outside Cambridge. Similar progressive philosophy, arts integration, and family demographic profile; competes for the same high-income Boston-area families.

Broad incumbents

• Buckingham Browne & Nichols School: Elite PreK-12 independent school in Cambridge, MA with much larger scale, broader curriculum, and broader admissions base. Overlaps on the Cambridge demographic and progressive ethos, but operates at a different scope and price point.
• The Fenn School: Independent boys' school in Concord, MA serving grades 4-9 with a broader curricular scope. Comparable in independent school ethos and affluent demographic, but secondary-school focus rather than early childhood.

Emerging players

• Acera School: Independent K-8 school in Cambridge, MA focused on STEAM and gifted learners. Comparable geographic catchment and progressive philosophy, but differentiated STEM focus rather than language immersion or arts.
• German International School Boston: Independent German-English bilingual school in the Boston area serving preschool through grade 12. Overlaps on the immersion-language dimension but with German rather than Mandarin/French/Spanish.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cambridge-ellis-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 Cambridge-Ellis School