Community School

What Community School does

Community School is an independent private nonprofit preschool and elementary school located on an 18-acre campus at 900 Lay Road in Ladue, Missouri, serving approximately 350 students from Nursery (age 3) through 6th grade across 38 zip codes in the St. Louis metro area. Founded in 1914 by a group of entrepreneurial mothers as Grace Church Kindergarten and renamed Community School in 1916, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization governed by a Board of Trustees and is led by Head of School Laurie Smilack. The school employs 190 staff including 52 full-time teachers with an average 19 years in education and 11 years at Community, and 68% hold advanced degrees, supporting a 7:1 student-teacher ratio and average class size of 20.

The curriculum is an experiential, inquiry-driven model that integrates academics with STEAM, French language instruction beginning in nursery, arts (drama, music, band, studio art, woodshop), physical education, and a leadership program that culminates in 6th graders running school assemblies. Instructional approaches include Singapore Math, Fundations phonics, and a workshop model for reading and writing, delivered across facilities such as the Early Childhood Center, Main Building with Discovery Center library, Centennial Arts Center with a 500-seat auditorium, the Broughton STEAM Center (opened 2024), and an outdoor Treehouse classroom (opened 2020). Students score 40-42% above national norms on standardized tests and consistently place at prestigious secondary schools including John Burroughs, MICDS, Whitfield, Chaminade, Saint Louis Priory, and Villa Duchesne.

The business model is tuition-driven: 2026-27 tuition ranges from $17,870 for half-day nursery to $27,390 for grades 1-6, billed in two installments with a monthly payment option, supplemented by a $90 non-refundable application fee and a 10% non-refundable enrollment deposit. The school distributes through a direct-to-consumer formal admissions process including campus tours, parent interviews with the Head of School, and developmental assessments (Gesell, IXL Diagnostic). Approximately $7 million in annual operating costs are covered 77% by tuition, with the balance from Extended Day ($1,890–$2,310 per semester), Homework Club, Mini Classes (over 75% student participation), summer camps for ages 3 through 8th grade, and fundraising events including a Biennial Gala, Book Show, and Trivia Night. Over $1 million is allocated annually in need-based financial aid through the Clarity Application platform, supporting a student body that is 36% students of color.

Name

Community School

Legal name

Community School

Website

https://communityschool.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Community School is an independent 501(c)(3) private nonprofit preschool and elementary school in Ladue, Missouri, serving approximately 350 students from Nursery through 6th grade on an 18-acre campus with a 7:1 student-teacher ratio and an experiential STEAM, French, and arts-integrated curriculum.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Preschool & Elementary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM)

Keywords

• Private elementary education
• Preschool and kindergarten
• STEAM curriculum
• Experiential learning programs
• After school childcare

Headquarters

HQ city

Ladue

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Primary revenue source. Tuition ranges from $17,870 (half-day nursery) to $27,390 (grades 1-6). Tuition includes books, supplies, lunch, snacks, and field trips.
2. After School Programs: Extended Day childcare, Homework Club, and Mini Classes generate additional revenue. Extended Day pricing: $1,890-$2,310 per semester.
3. Summer Camps: Summer camps for children age 3 through 8th grade with various activity options led by faculty and partners.
4. Annual Giving & Fundraising: Tax-deductible annual gifts support operations. Major fundraisers include Biennial Gala (Cornucopia), Book Show, and Trivia Night.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Community School is an independent private preschool and elementary school offering a unified educational program for children from nursery (age 3) through 6th grade on an 18-acre campus in Ladue, Missouri. The program integrates academics, STEAM, arts (drama, music, band, studio art, woodshop), French language instruction, physical education, and leadership development, complemented by after-school programs, summer camps, and athletics. Tuition-based enrollment covers books, supplies, lunch, snacks, and field trips.

Product overview

Community School is a private preschool and elementary school offering a unified educational program spanning Nursery (age 3) through 6th Grade. The core academic program is complemented by integrated STEAM, Arts (Drama, Music, Art, Band, Woodshop), French Language, Physical Education, and Leadership curricula. Extended offerings include After School Programs (Extended Day, Homework Club, Mini Classes), Summer Camp, Athletics, and Financial Aid support. The school operates on an 18-acre campus featuring the Broughton STEAM Center, Centennial Arts Center, and Treehouse Classroom. Secondary school placement services support students transitioning after 6th grade.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Preschool Program (Nursery & Junior Kindergarten) Developmentally appropriate, child-centered preschool curriculum for ages 3-4 that uses active, experiential learning to build foundations for literacy, math, and social-emotional growth. Available as half-day or full-day options.
• Elementary School Program (Senior Kindergarten through 6th Grade) Senior Kindergarten through 6th grade program featuring differentiated instruction, hands-on exploration, Singapore Math, Fundations phonics, workshop model for reading/writing, and preparation for secondary school placement.
• After School Programs (Extended Day, Homework Club, Mini Classes) Extended Day childcare, Homework Club for 4th-6th graders, and Mini Classes (art, chess, robotics, tennis, dance, gymnastics) available after regular school hours, with more than 75% of the student body participating.
• Summer Camp Summer camps for children age 3 through 8th grade, featuring the signature FUNdamentals Camp and partnerships with Mad Science, STAGES, COCA, and other community organizations.
• Financial Aid Program Need-based financial aid program allocating over $1 million annually in student assistance, with awards based on demonstrated family need and availability of funds, processed via the Clarity Application platform.
• Secondary School Placement Services Guidance and support for families in finding appropriate secondary school placement, beginning in 5th grade with a collaborative approach involving the Head of School and Upper Division Director; has placed 88 students at John Burroughs and 44 at MICDS over the past five years.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students score 40-42% above national norms on standardized tests, 11% above gifted suburban public students, and 6% above other independent schools
• +4 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Mad Science of St. LouisminorOthersProvides after school science enrichment classes for students junior kindergarten through 6th grade as part of Mini Classes program.
• STAGESminorOthersProvides after school performing arts classes as part of Mini Classes program for students junior kindergarten through 6th grade.
• COCAminorOthersProvides after school arts enrichment classes as part of Mini Classes program for students junior kindergarten through 6th grade.
• The Novel NeighborminorOthersLocal bookstore partner for annual Book Show fundraiser. Mini bookstore set up at school with 20% of proceeds returning to school for library purchases.
• Sage DiningminorOthersProvides lunch menu and food services for students. Operating on campus.
• Clarity ApplicationminorOthersFinancial aid application platform used to determine family's level of financial need based on assets, income, expenses, and debts.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Saint Louis Priory School: Independent Catholic middle and upper school in St. Louis and a common secondary destination for Community School graduates; offers a competing middle-school pathway that draws families out of the K-6 elementary market.
• Chaminade College Preparatory School: St. Louis-area Catholic independent K-12 school that competes for the same Catholic-affiliated and broadly faith-seeking families as a feeder/destination option, with overlap in both lower-division enrollment and secondary placement.
• Forsyth School: St. Louis independent preschool through 6th-grade school with a similar experiential, hands-on learning philosophy and comparable tuition tier — a direct substitute for St. Louis families choosing between private elementary options.
• Whitfield School: St. Louis independent school serving grades 6-12 that is a common secondary destination for Community School graduates; its middle-school grades overlap with Community's upper grades, creating direct competition for older elementary families.
• John Burroughs School: St. Louis independent K-12 school and the top secondary destination for Community School graduates (88 placed in five years). Its lower division competes directly with Community for early-elementary families seeking a single-school pathway.
• The Waldorf School of St. Louis: St. Louis private preschool through grade school offering an alternative educational philosophy in the same geography and price band — competes for families seeking progressive, experiential private elementary education.
• MICDS (Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School): St. Louis-based independent K-12 school that is both a direct competitor for K-5 families and the destination secondary school for many Community School graduates (44 placed there in five years). Operates a lower division that competes head-to-head with Community School for the same preschool/elementary families.
• Villa Duchesne / Oak Hill School: St. Louis Catholic independent school serving preschool through 12th grade, a secondary destination for Community School graduates and a direct competitor for early-elementary families seeking faith-based or single-school pathways.

Emerging players

• City Garden Montessori School: St. Louis independent elementary school using a Montessori approach; competes for a narrower but overlapping segment of families seeking progressive private elementary education in the metro area.

Broad incumbents

• The Principia School: St. Louis-area independent school serving preschool through 12th grade with a broader, multi-campus footprint; provides a benchmark for tuition, faculty composition, and curriculum design at the upper end of the regional private school market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCaf33NwmiU5XasHiI-le_KA
• Facebookfacebook.com/communityschoolstlouis
• Instagraminstagram.com/community_school_1914
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-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 Community School