Cathedral School for Boys

What Cathedral School for Boys does

Cathedral School for Boys is an independent Episcopal K-8 school for boys located in San Francisco's Nob Hill neighborhood, founded in 1957 and operating as a financially independent department of Grace Cathedral Corporation. The school serves 264 students across 215 families, drawn primarily from San Francisco (90%) with smaller shares from Marin, the East Bay, and the Peninsula. Programs are divided into Lower School (Kindergarten-Grade 4), which uses a co-lead teaching model that halves the student-to-teacher ratio to 1:12 in the early grades, and Upper School (Grades 5-8), which uses a discipline-specific six-period schedule with advisory and world language specialization. Co-curricular programs include leadership development with outdoor education, the nationally renowned Choir of Men and Boys at Grace Cathedral, athletics, extended-day care, and Summer at CSB camps.

The business model is built on three revenue streams: all-inclusive tuition covering academics, lunch, athletics, and international travel; the Cathedral School Fund, an annual giving program that raises nearly $2 million for general operations; and ancillary Extended Day and Summer at CSB fees. The school markets through its website, Instagram, Facebook, and admissions events, with prospective families applying through a direct admissions process that includes inquiry, campus visits, interviews, and application materials. Operational characteristics include a 7:1 student-to-teacher ratio, faculty and staff totaling 55-74 across sources, 57% students of color, and 24% of families receiving adjusted tuition (financial aid). The school is governed by a Board of Trustees under Grace Cathedral Corporation, with the Episcopal Bishop approving the Head of School and the Dean of Grace Cathedral serving as an ex-officio board member.

Name

Cathedral School for Boys

Legal name

Cathedral School for Boys

Website

https://cathedralschool.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cathedral School for Boys is an independent Episcopal K-8 school for boys in San Francisco's Nob Hill, founded in 1957. It serves 264 students across 215 families through rigorous academics, leadership development, and the Choir of Men and Boys at Grace Cathedral.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent K-8 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Single-Sex (Boys/Girls) Private Schools (EDAJABAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

Keywords

• Independent K-8 education
• All-boys private school
• Episcopal primary education
• STEAM boys education
• Boys leadership development

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition: All-inclusive tuition covering academic instruction, lunch, snack, athletics, and international travel for students in Kindergarten through Grade 8
2. Cathedral School Fund (Annual Giving): Annual fundraising program that raises nearly $2 million annually for the School's general operations, managed by the Development Office
3. Extended Day Program: After-school care services available from dismissal until 6:00pm with enrichment classes

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Cathedral School for Boys is an independent K-8 school for boys in San Francisco's Nob Hill neighborhood, providing all-boys education from Kindergarten through Grade 8. The school delivers a unified academic program through Lower School (self-contained co-lead classrooms) and Upper School (discipline-specific subject teachers), supported by Leadership Development, Athletics, Choir, Extended Day, and Summer at CSB programs, all under an Episcopal tradition with a 7:1 student-teacher ratio.

Product overview

Cathedral School for Boys is an independent K–8 school for boys located in San Francisco's Nob Hill neighborhood. The school offers a unified educational program comprising two main divisions: Lower School (Kindergarten–Grade 4) with self-contained co-lead classrooms, and Upper School (Grades 5–8) with discipline-specific teachers and a six-period schedule. Supporting the core academic curriculum are co-curricular programs including Leadership Development (featuring outdoor education and international travel), Athletics, Choir (including the renowned Choir of Men and Boys), Extended Day after-school care, and Summer at CSB camps. The school is affiliated with Grace Cathedral and operates with an Episcopal tradition, emphasizing character development, scholarship, and service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lower School (Kindergarten–Grade 4) Self-contained classroom model for students in Kindergarten through Grade 4, featuring a co-lead teaching approach with two experienced teachers in each classroom. Emphasizes foundational academics, STEM, world languages, performing arts, and social-emotional learning.
• Upper School (Grades 5–8) Discipline-specific teacher model with a six-period schedule for students in Grades 5–8, featuring advisory system, world language specialization (Spanish or Mandarin), outdoor education, and high school counseling.
• Leadership Development Program Capstone leadership experiences for Upper School students including outdoor adventures (rock climbing, sea kayaking, ranch work), NOLS training, international travel and service, and the Sea Hawks Sailing Program with Saint Francis Yacht Club.
• Extended Day Program After-school supervision and enrichment activities available from dismissal until 6:00pm, including homework assistance, indoor/outdoor activities, and snacks.
• Summer at CSB Summer camp programs including Harry Potter Mini Musical, Band Camp, World Travelers, and Summer Slugfest Baseball Camp, offered to enrolled and prospective Cathedral School families.
• Choir Program Performing arts curriculum including the nationally renowned Choir of Men and Boys at Grace Cathedral, band instruction, handbells, and regular musical performances.
• Athletics Program Physical education and athletics including soccer, basketball, track and field, with team participation and physical education classes daily.

Quantifiable outcome

• Typically 98% of students placed in first- or second-choice high school
• +1 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Grace CathedralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCathedral School is a financially independent department of Grace Cathedral Corporation. Boys gather at Grace Cathedral twice weekly for Chapel, service learning, and reflection. The Choir of Men and Boys is a nationally renowned choral tradition based at Grace Cathedral. The school shares facilities on the Close and contributes to their upkeep.
• Bayview MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based outreach initiative serving families, seniors, veterans, and neighbors in Bayview/Hunters Point neighborhoods. Provides essential resources to those experiencing economic hardship. Cathedral students volunteer and participate in service days.
• San Francisco City ImpactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit serving residents of Tenderloin District. Grade 8 students volunteer at San Francisco City Impact preparing and serving lunch at the soup kitchen during Day of Service.
• City of HopeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading U.S. nonprofit medical center and research institute that provides care for people with serious illnesses. Listed as a curriculum support partner.
• Saint Francis Yacht ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Sea Hawks Sailing Program promoting leadership development with Upper School students through sailing instruction.
• A Better ChanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit that identifies academically talented students of color and connects them to top independent schools.
• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest U.S. nonprofit membership organization for independent pre-K through 12 schools, bringing together nearly 1,700 schools.
• California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide nonprofit association of K-12 independent schools in California.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Synapse School: Independent K-8 school in Menlo Park with a similar progressive, project-based, and SEL-focused educational model; competes for the same Bay Area progressive-family segment.
• San Francisco Day School: Independent K-8 co-educational day school in San Francisco serving a comparable Bay Area family demographic; competes directly with Cathedral School for Boys for K-8 enrollment, though co-ed rather than all-boys.
• Grace Church School: Independent K-8 Episcopal school in New York City with a comparable church-affiliated identity, progressive pedagogy, and Bay Area-equivalent family demographic; directly comparable mission and structure.
• Allen-Stevenson School: Independent all-boys K-8 day school in New York City with a long-standing reputation for boys' education; directly comparable model, grade range, and emphasis on character alongside academics.
• The Hamlin School: Independent K-8 girls' school in San Francisco's Pacific Heights; directly comparable in mission, size, and Bay Area family demographic, and the most obvious single-sex counterpart to Cathedral School for Boys in the SF market.
• The Town School: Independent all-boys K-8 day school in New York City; the closest direct national analog as a single-sex K-8 day school with comparable pedagogy, scale, and college-preparatory outcomes.
• Marin Primary & Middle School: Independent K-8 school in Larkspur, Marin County, drawing families from a similar Bay Area professional demographic; comparable scale, mission, and tuition profile to Cathedral School for Boys.
• Children's Day School: Independent K-8 school in San Francisco with a similar progressive and family-focused approach, including a strong emphasis on social-emotional learning and diversity; competes for the same K-8 family segment.
• The Nueva School: Independent K-12 school in Hillsborough with a nationally recognized focus on gifted learners, design thinking, and social-emotional learning; comparable Bay Area family demographic and progressive pedagogy.
• Head-Royce School: Independent K-12 school in Oakland serving a similar Bay Area professional family demographic; comparable tuition, academic profile, and college-preparatory outcomes, with broader grade range.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CathedralSchoolforBoys
• Instagraminstagram.com/cathedralschoolforboys
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/cathedral-school-for-boys

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Cathedral School for Boys