Cardinal Newman School

What Cardinal Newman School does

Cardinal Newman School is a private Catholic college-preparatory school serving students in grades 7-12, located on a 76-acre campus at 2945 Alpine Rd in Columbia, South Carolina. Operated as a ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Charleston, the school traces its origins to 1858 as Ursuline Academy and was renamed Cardinal Newman in 1961, with its current campus opened in 2016. It enrolls a student body that is approximately 55% Catholic and 45% non-Catholic, drawing families primarily from the Midlands region of South Carolina, including military families from Fort Jackson, Shaw Air Force Base, and McEntire Joint National Guard Base. The school employs 109 staff and operates selective rolling admissions with a $85 non-refundable application fee.

The school's core product is a college-preparatory academic program built on an alternating Red Day/Black Day block schedule featuring Advanced Placement and dual enrollment coursework, complemented by a nine-grade-long college counseling service that supports Common Application, CSS Profile, and FAFSA processes. Specialized offerings include the DeLaSalle Program (an inclusive education track for students with intellectual disabilities, unique among Midlands Catholic schools), comprehensive Campus Ministry, and required community service hours tracked via MobileServe. Athletic participation exceeds 70% of students across varsity, junior varsity, and middle school sports, while fine arts offerings include band, choir, orchestra, theater, and visual arts — notably including the area's only private high school marching band. The technology stack is built on third-party K-12 SaaS platforms: Finalsite for the website, RenWeb/FACTS for student information and tuition management, Naviance for college and career readiness, and Blackbaud for fundraising.

Cardinal Newman's business model is tuition-driven, with annual tuition set at $15,390 (middle school parishioner) to $19,060 (high school non-parishioner), billed via FACTS with annual, semester, or monthly payment plans. Supplemental revenue streams include application fees ($85), enrollment fees ($250), capital improvement fees ($400 + $50 per additional student), activity/technology/PTO fees, summer camps, extended care ($5/day), and event tickets. The school distributes over $30,000 in institutional scholarships annually and accepts ESTF (up to $7,500) and Exceptional SC scholarships, with a separate Advancement Office managing donor-funded scholarships including the Mahoney Family Memorial Scholarship for military families and Folds of Honor. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via rolling admissions, campus tours, shadow days, an annual Open House (September 30), and a channel-partner pipeline from four Catholic feeder schools that grant priority enrollment consideration.

Name

Cardinal Newman School

Legal name

Cardinal Newman School

Website

https://cnhs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1858

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Cardinal Newman School is a private Catholic college-preparatory school serving grades 7-12 in Columbia, South Carolina, operated as a ministry of the Diocese of Charleston. It offers AP and dual enrollment coursework, athletics, fine arts, faith formation, and the unique DeLaSalle inclusive education program to Midlands-region families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Catholic Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Classical Education K–12 Schools (EDAJABAF)

Keywords

• Catholic secondary education
• College preparatory school
• Private K-12 education
• Faith-based schooling
• Inclusive education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Primary revenue stream from tuition payments. Tuition varies by grade level (middle vs high school) and parishioner status. Payment plans available including annual, semester, and monthly options through FACTS Management.
2. Student Fees: Various annual and one-time fees including application fee ($85), enrollment fee ($250), capital improvement fee ($400 per first student + $50 per additional), PTO dues ($80), activities fee ($325), technology fee ($140), and senior fee ($200).
3. College Counseling Services: Free college counseling services included in tuition, with students applying to colleges through supported processes including Common Application (up to 20 schools), CSS Profile, and FAFSA.
4. Financial Aid Distribution: School provides need-based financial assistance to qualifying families, distributing over $30,000 in scholarship awards annually through the Advancement Office. Also facilitates ESTF (Education Scholarship Trust Fund) scholarships up to $7,500 per student and Exceptional SC Scholarships for students with disabilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cardinal Newman School is a private Catholic college-preparatory school serving students in grades 7-12 in Columbia, South Carolina. It delivers a rigorous college-preparatory academic curriculum with AP courses and dual enrollment, integrated Catholic faith formation through Campus Ministry and Theology, required community service hours, an athletics program with over 35 teams, fine arts programming in music, theater, and visual arts, a dedicated college counseling office, an inclusive DeLaSalle program for students with intellectual disabilities, and student support services. Tuition is supplemented by donations, fundraising, and scholarship programs administered through the Advancement Office.

Product overview

Cardinal Newman School is a Catholic college-preparatory school for students in grades 7-12, offering a unified educational program built around academic excellence, faith formation, athletics, and fine arts. The core academic offering includes a college-preparatory curriculum with AP and dual enrollment courses, complemented by specialized programs such as the DeLaSalle Program for students with intellectual disabilities, and comprehensive student support services. Beyond academics, the school provides Campus Ministry and community service programs for faith formation, a full athletics program with over 35 teams across three seasons, and a thriving fine arts department encompassing music (band, choir, orchestra), theater, and visual arts (ceramics, painting, digital design). Supporting services include summer camps, extended care, college counseling, and financial aid programs. Technology platforms including RenWeb and FACTS Management enable enrollment, tuition management, and parent communication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DeLaSalle Program: Inclusive academic program for Middle and High School students with intellectual exceptionalities.
• Campus Ministry

Products and services

• College Preparatory Academic Program (Grades 7-12)

Quantifiable outcome

• $18 million in merit-based scholarships offered to Class of 2026 graduates
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and supportive.

• St. John Neumann Catholic SchoolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCatholic partner school in Northeast Columbia (29223). Principal: Mrs. Katie Harris. Provides priority enrollment consideration for students transitioning from this feeder school to Cardinal Newman.
• St. Joseph Catholic SchoolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCatholic partner school in Downtown Columbia (29205). Principal: Mr. Donavan Yarnall. Provides priority enrollment consideration for students transitioning from this feeder school.
• St. Peter Catholic SchoolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCatholic partner school in Downtown Columbia (29201). Principal: Mrs. Kylie Skotniski. Provides priority enrollment consideration for students transitioning from this feeder school.
• St. Martin de Porres Catholic SchoolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCatholic partner school in Downtown Columbia (29204). Principal: Mr. Don Doggett. Provides priority enrollment consideration for students transitioning from this feeder school.
• Schoolhouse FareminorOthersLunch provider partner offering pre-ordered lunch options from local restaurants delivered to school daily. Families order online through Schoolhouse Fare platform.
• Fort Jackson Army BasesupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor military installation in Columbia, SC. School values military families and actively recruits in this community. Proximity enables military family participation.
• Shaw Air Force BasesupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilitary installation in Sumter, SC near Columbia. School welcomes military families stationed at this base.
• McEntire Joint National Guard BasesupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Carolina National Guard base in Columbia area. School welcomes military families from this installation.
• Family Connections South CarolinasupportiveOthersResource organization for families of individuals with disabilities. Listed as additional resource for parents of DeLaSalle program students.
• South Carolina Autism SocietysupportiveOthersState organization providing autism resources and support. Listed as additional resource for parents of DeLaSalle program students.
• Prisma Health Down Syndrome ClinicsupportiveOthersHealthcare clinic providing specialized services for individuals with Down syndrome. Listed as resource for DeLaSalle program families.
• South Carolina Inclusive Post Secondary Education Consortium (SCIPSEC)supportiveOthersOrganization supporting inclusive post-secondary education options for students with intellectual disabilities. Relevant for DeLaSalle program graduate pathways.
• FinalsitecoreTechnology or IntegrationWebsite platform provider powering the Cardinal Newman School website with content management system and communication tools.
• FACTS ManagementcoreTechnology or IntegrationStudent information system handling admissions applications, tuition management, and financial aid processes. All admissions, tuition, and financial aid use this online system.
• NaviancecoreTechnology or IntegrationCollege, Career and Life Readiness platform used for career and college searching, skills assessments, and secure document transfers throughout college application process.
• MobileServecoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline platform for tracking and managing student community service hours and reflections. Used school-wide for service requirement compliance.
• Diocese of CharlestoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic Diocese providing governance oversight and sponsorship. School is a ministry of the Diocese. Liaisons include CFO Kelly Engelbert and CSO Faith Rummelsburg.
• Cardinal ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAthletic booster club providing support for all athletic teams through membership dues, fundraising, sponsorships, and volunteer efforts. Nonprofit organization supporting student-athletes.
• Cardinal Newman Performing Arts Collaborative (CN-PAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent volunteer and fundraising booster organization for performing arts department including choir, band, orchestra, musical theatre, and drama. Provides scholarships and essential resources.
• College Fair NetworksupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-campus college fair hosted at least annually featuring representatives from colleges, universities, trade schools, and military institutions.
• RepVisitssupportiveTechnology or IntegrationPlatform used to schedule college admission representative visits to campus. Scheduling opens early July; visits run September through mid-November.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bishop England High School: A Catholic diocesan high school in Charleston, SC, operating under the same Diocese of Charleston governance structure as Cardinal Newman and serving a comparable Catholic college-prep mission.
• Ben Lippen School: A Christian (inter-denominational) K-12 school in Columbia, SC, competing for faith-oriented families seeking rigorous college-preparatory education in the Midlands.
• Hammond School: A private, non-denominational college-prep school in Columbia, SC, serving the same Midlands market as Cardinal Newman with comparable tuition and academic positioning.
• St. Joseph's Catholic School: A Catholic partner feeder school in Columbia, SC, sharing diocesan governance and serving as both a peer and pipeline source for Cardinal Newman.
• Heathwood Hall Episcopal School: A private K-12 college-preparatory school in Columbia, SC, directly competing with Cardinal Newman for college-prep-oriented families in the Midlands region.

Broad incumbents

• Porter-Gaud School: A well-established private K-12 school in Charleston, SC, with similar college-preparatory academics and broader extracurricular programs, serving as a larger-scale independent school peer.
• Christ Church Episcopal School: A private K-12 college-preparatory school in Greenville, SC, with comparable faith-rooted educational philosophy and strong athletic and arts programs.
• Ashley Hall: A historic private K-12 school in Charleston, SC, offering a comparable college-preparatory academic model with strong college placement outcomes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/4CardinalNewman
• Facebookfacebook.com/CardinalNewmanColumbia
• Instagraminstagram.com/4cardinalnewman
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/cardinalnewman-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Cardinal Newman School