What Cotter Schools does

Cotter Schools is a private, independent Catholic school in Winona, Minnesota, founded in 1911 and operating on a unified 45-acre campus. It serves 1,149 students (2025-26) from infancy through Grade 12, organized across five on-campus programs: Main Square Montessori (16 months-6 years), St. Nicholas Hall (6 weeks-Kindergarten, including EduCare and Preschool), St. Luke Hall (K-6), St. Teresa Hall (7-8), and St. Joseph Hall (9-12). The school employs 66 teachers (46% with advanced degrees) at a 13:1 student-teacher ratio, and is led by President Mary Eileen Fitch under an independent Board of Directors.

The school operates no proprietary technology platform; it runs on a standard K-12 SaaS stack including Finalsite (web), FACTS Family Portal (student information), MackinVision/MackinVIA (library), Procare (childcare management), KidReports (parent engagement), Kindful (donations), Hudl (athletics livestreaming), Helper Helper (service hours), and Skyward (applicant tracking). Academic offerings include 12 AP and honors courses, dual-enrollment pathways via PACC (Saint Mary's University), PSEO, and Connect to College (Minnesota State College Southeast), plus 15 sports (7 co-op), 30+ clubs, and a Winona Health School-Based Health Clinic opened in 2026.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees, supplemented by annual giving (the Cotter Fund), event fundraising (Cotter Auction, Chipping In golf tournament), a SCRIP gift-card program, and endowment distributions from the Catholic Schools Foundation (merged into Cotter in 2023, $6M+ endowment distributing ~$245,000 annually). Management states tuition covers only ~30% of the actual cost to educate a student, with the remaining ~70% funded through charitable contributions. The school also enrolls domestic and international boarding students (~8.6% of total, drawn from 14+ countries through an agent network), adding a globally distributed revenue stream on top of its regional Winona day-student base.

Name

Cotter Schools

Legal name

Cotter Schools

Website

https://cotterschools.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1911

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cotter Schools is a private, independent Catholic K-12 institution in Winona, Minnesota, serving 1,149 students from age six weeks through Grade 12 on a single unified campus, including a boarding program drawing international students from 14+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Catholic Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Preschools (EDACABAF), Faith-Based Nursery & Playgroups (EDACACAK), Nursery School Readiness & Transition Programs (EDACACAL)

Keywords

• Private K-12 education
• Catholic education services
• Boarding school programs
• Early childhood education
• College preparatory education

Headquarters

HQ city

Winona, Minnesota

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from tuition for early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school programs. Tuition accounts for approximately 30% of the total cost to educate a student, with the remaining 70% funded through charitable contributions.
2. Boarding Program: Revenue from domestic and international boarding students including room, board, and supervision services.
3. Annual Giving (The Cotter Fund): Annual fundraising campaign supporting academic initiatives, co-curricular activities, and financial aid.
4. Event Fundraising: Revenue from events including the Cotter Auction (annual gala) and Chipping In for Cotter Schools (golf tournament).
5. SCRIP Program: Fundraising through scrip gift cards where families earn tuition credits when purchasing gift cards for participating retailers.
6. Catholic Schools Foundation Endowment: Endowment distributed approximately $245,000 annually to Cotter Schools from a $6,000,000+ endowment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Cotter Schools operates a unified Catholic K-12 educational program on a single 45-acre campus in Winona, Minnesota, serving infants from 6 weeks old through Grade 12. The school delivers college-preparatory academic instruction, Montessori early childhood education, elementary and junior high programs, plus a residential boarding program for both domestic and international students (representing 8.6% of enrollment from over 14 countries). Auxiliary offerings include 15 interscholastic sports, 30+ extracurricular activities, dual enrollment college-credit pathways (AP, PACC, PSEO, C2C), a school-based health clinic, and faith-based formation through Campus Ministry.

Product overview

Cotter Schools operates a single, unified Catholic learning community on one campus in Winona, MN, serving infants 6 weeks through Grade 12. The program structure includes Early Childhood programs (Main Square Montessori for ages 16 months-6 years and St. Nicholas Hall for ages 6 weeks-kindergarten), elementary (St. Luke Hall, K-6), junior high (St. Teresa Hall, grades 7-8), and high school (St. Joseph Hall, grades 9-12). Beyond core academics, the school offers an extensive portfolio of programs including Advanced Placement (AP) and dual enrollment options (PACC with Saint Mary's University, PSEO, and Connect to College with MSC Southeast), a Boarding Program for international students (8.6% international), Cotter Athletics (15 sports), over 30 Activities & Clubs, Campus Ministry with service requirements, the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, three Library locations, a School-Based Health Clinic partnership with Winona Health, and the Believe and Read early literacy program. The school uses technology platforms including Finalsite (website), FACTS Family Portal (student information), MackinVision/MackinVIA (library services), and other integrations for operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Main Square Montessori Montessori education program serving children 16 months to 6 years, offering 12-month enrollment with all-day attendance (minimum six hours per day, five days a week). Targeted at families seeking early childhood Montessori methodology within a Catholic education framework.
• St. Nicholas Hall (Early Childhood EduCare & Preschool) Early childhood education center serving infants 6 weeks through entering Kindergarten, including EduCare (licensed childcare), Preschool (3-4 years), and 4K programs. Year-round and school-year calendar options available. Designed for families seeking quality childcare and early childhood education with Catholic values.
• St. Luke Hall (Elementary K-6) Elementary school program for Kindergarten through Grade 6, with weekly Mass, structured curriculum, and after-school care options. School hours 7:45 AM - 2:15 PM with before-school care. Designed for families seeking Catholic elementary education with character development and academic foundations.
• St. Teresa Hall (Junior High Grades 7-8) Junior high program for Grades 7-8 with personalized learning plans, Learning Center support, technology access, community service requirements, and off-campus experiences including Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center trips. Focused on academic transitions, social development, and college preparation foundation.
• St. Joseph Hall (High School Grades 9-12) College-preparatory high school for Grades 9-12 offering interdisciplinary liberal arts curriculum with honors and Advanced Placement courses. Includes AP, PACC, PSEO, and C2C college-credit-earning opportunities. Nearly all graduates attend college with strong outcomes (100% graduation rate, average ACT 23, average SAT 1360).
• Advanced Placement (AP) Program Rigorous college-level courses held at Cotter Schools with AP exams administered in May. Students enrolled in AP courses are required to take exams (costs between $50-60). College placement or credits may be awarded based on scores. Available 22 AP Scholars including 11 AP Scholars with Honor and 9 AP Scholars with Distinction.
• Program for Advanced College Credit (PACC) Dual enrollment program in partnership with Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. Courses held at Cotter Schools and taught by Cotter instructors. Students earning C or better receive college credit at discounted pricing. Designed for high school students seeking college credit while completing secondary education.
• Connect to College (C2C) Program Dual enrollment option through Minnesota State College Southeast. Courses held at Cotter and taught by Cotter instructors with MSC Southeast faculty mentorship. College credit is free to students with Cotter covering required fees. Served 113 students earning college credit.
• Boarding Program (Domestic & International) Residential program for both international and domestic boarding students, including room, board, and supervision services. Students from over 14 countries have attended Cotter, representing approximately 8.6% of enrollment. Includes dorm life and residence life services.
• Believe and Read Program Three-year early literacy program for K-3 students developed in partnership with Groves Literacy Partnerships. Uses a 'train the trainer' model with expert coaches and daily 30-minute phonics-based lessons. Designed to ensure students become fluent readers.
• School-Based Health Clinic Healthcare services partnership with Winona Health located on the Cotter campus (John Nett Recreation Center). Provides treatment for minor illnesses, wellness visits, sports physicals, immunizations, health education, and counseling services. Two Winona Health counselors serve students on campus.
• Cotter Athletics Athletic program offering 15 sports with 7 additional co-op opportunities. More than 70% of students participate in athletics. Includes fall, winter, and spring sports plus co-op sports like dance team, gymnastics, hockey, and wrestling. Game live streaming via Hudl.
• Activities & Clubs Over 30 extracurricular activities including debate, speech team, National Honor Society, Student Council, Campus Ministry, Math Team, Mock Trial, Model Legislature, History Day, and more. 85% of students participate in one or more extracurricular activities.
• Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts (MCA) Arts conservatory affiliated with Cotter Schools offering music lessons, performing arts education, and summer arts camps for various age groups. Operates on the Cotter campus.
• Campus Ministry Faith formation program empowering students to be disciples of Jesus Christ. Includes service requirements (10-20 hours per year depending on grade), service trips, all-school Masses, Friday morning Masses, reconciliation services, and National Catholic Youth Conference participation. Students contribute 11,000+ service hours annually to 100+ community organizations.
• Cotter Libraries Three library locations serving students from early childhood through high school. Libraries provide age-appropriate collections, engaging learning spaces, and resources supporting classroom instruction, independent reading, and research via MackinVision catalog and MackinVIA e-resource platform.
• Post Secondary Education Option (PSEO) State program available to juniors and seniors meeting eligibility requirements. Students take college courses at participating institutions while completing required Cotter courses.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% graduation rate
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Winona HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide healthcare services directly to students through the Winona Health School-Based Clinic located on the Cotter campus (second floor of John Nett Recreation Center). Clinic offers treatment for minor illnesses and injuries, wellness visits, preventive care, sports physicals, immunizations, and health education. Two Winona Health counselors serve students on campus.
• Groves Literacy PartnershipscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for the 'Believe and Read' program - a three-year phonics-based literacy initiative for kindergarten through second grade. Expert coaches from Groves Literacy Partnerships work with Cotter teachers using a 'train the trainer' model to deliver reading instruction.
• Catholic Schools Center of Excellence (CSCOE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 'Believe and Read' literacy program alongside Groves Literacy Partnerships, supporting early reading education at Cotter Schools.
• Saint Mary's University of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through the Program for Advanced College Credit (PACC) where students concurrently enrolled at Saint Mary's University earn college credit at discounted rates while taking courses at Cotter Schools taught by Cotter instructors.
• Minnesota State College SoutheastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through the Connect to College (C2C) program - a dual enrollment option where students concurrently enrolled in MSC Southeast take courses at Cotter taught by Cotter instructors with mentorship from MSC Southeast faculty. College credit is free to students.
• AdvancEd/CogniacoreOthersAccreditation body providing accreditation and consultative services. AdvancEd/Cognia represents over 23,000 schools and districts in 30 states and 65 countries serving nearly 15 million students.
• Minnesota Conservatory for the ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeparate but affiliated arts institution on the Cotter campus offering music and performing arts education. Listed separately in navigation but operates in proximity to Cotter campus.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Shattuck-St. Mary's: Boarding and day college-prep school in Faribault, Minnesota. Directly comparable to Cotter on the boarding-program dimension, serving both domestic and international residential students.
• Benilde-St. Margaret's: Catholic K-12 school in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, with similar college-preparatory academics, athletics, and Catholic-identity positioning. Operates at a similar Twin Cities/Minnesota regional scale.
• Saint John's Preparatory School: Catholic, Benedictine boarding and day school in Collegeville, Minnesota. Comparable in Catholic mission, college-prep academics, and the boarding-program component that Cotter also offers.
• Minnehaha Academy: Private Christian K-12 school in Minneapolis. Comparable in private faith-based K-12 structure, college-prep academics, and extracurricular/athletic breadth in the Minnesota market.
• Lourdes High School: Catholic college-preparatory high school in Rochester, Minnesota, serving a similar regional Catholic-community market in southeast Minnesota. Comparable in faith-based mission, college-prep focus, and student-body scale to Cotter.
• De La Salle High School: Catholic, Lasallian college-prep high school in the Twin Cities. Comparable in Catholic college-preparatory mission, AP/dual-enrollment offerings, and co-curricular breadth.
• Providence Academy: Catholic K-12 school in Plymouth, Minnesota, serving families seeking classical liberal arts and faith-based education. Comparable in mission, single-campus model, and college-prep outcomes.

Emerging players

• Chesterton Academy: Network of Catholic classical high schools. Comparable in Catholic identity and college-prep mission, though operating as a network of smaller, classical-model schools rather than a single-campus institution.

Regional players

• Holy Family Catholic High School: Catholic high school in the Twin Cities metro serving families in the western suburbs. Comparable in Catholic college-preparatory mission and Minnesota market dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• The Blake School: Premier independent K-12 school in the Twin Cities. Comparable in college-preparatory mission, AP offerings, and athletic/extracurricular depth, though secular and at a significantly larger scale and price point.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/cotterschools
• Facebookfacebook.com/cotterschools
• Instagraminstagram.com/cotterschools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cotter-schools

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries6 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 Cotter Schools