The Crefeld School
The Crefeld School is an independent, gender-inclusive day school in Philadelphia serving grades 7-12 through a progressive, college-preparatory program built on experiential learning, mastery-based Graduation by Exhibitions, and signature facilities including a makerspace and a hot glass studio.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Crefeld School does
The Crefeld School is an independent, gender-inclusive day school serving students in grades 7 through 12, located in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1970 and guided by the Coalition of Essential Schools principles, the school delivers a progressive, college-preparatory program organized around experiential learning, whole-child development, social justice, and student agency. Core instructional architecture includes the Graduation by Exhibition (GBE) system, which requires students to complete twelve mastery-based exhibitions — and up to sixteen for distinction — across formal writing, transition planning, mathematics, research, technology, self-reflection, and citizenship. Distinctive facilities include the CrEF Lab (Creative Engineering Fabrication Lab) makerspace equipped with 3D printers, laser cutters, soldering stations, microcontrollers, Raspberry Pi boards, MIDI controllers, and a green screen, and the Crefeld Glass Studio, a full-service hot glass studio operational since 1995 offering glassblowing, flameworking, and casting. Signature co-curricular programs include a tailored tenth-grade Outward Bound leadership semester, a Cedar House (South Africa) Upper School student exchange for grades 10-12, Spring Mini Courses, service learning, and a Vigorous Activity Period. Emotional and learning support is delivered through three full-time clinicians and dedicated learning specialists, with the school also serving as an accredited graduate training site for Bryn Mawr College and the University of Pennsylvania.
The school's revenue model is anchored in annual tuition — $42,530 (grades 7-8), $46,170 (grades 9-10), and $48,930 (grades 11-12) for the 2026-27 school year — billed annually with first-time ($500) and mid-year ($1,500) enrollment fees, a $3,000 support services fee, and per-course Spring Mini Course fees ranging from $675 to $3,500. Ancillary revenue streams include the Crefeld Glass Studio's public evening/weekend classes, private lessons, studio rentals, and work-shipping fees, plus transcript request services. The school augments this operating revenue through annual fund giving and Pennsylvania EITC and OSTC tax-credit-eligible donations, which can return up to 90% of the contributed amount as a state tax credit to business donors supporting scholarships such as the merit-based Trustees' Scholarship (75% tuition) for incoming seventh graders. Distribution is primarily direct: weekly in-person tours during school hours, open houses, an online application portal, email newsletters, and alumni network referrals. The school currently operates at capacity for grade 11 with a waitlist while continuing to accept applications for grades 7 through 10, indicating demand-side strength within its Philadelphia-region service area.
The Crefeld School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Crefeld School
- Legal name
- The Crefeld School
- Website
- https://crefeld.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Crefeld School is an independent, gender-inclusive day school in Philadelphia serving grades 7-12 through a progressive, college-preparatory program built on experiential learning, mastery-based Graduation by Exhibitions, and signature facilities including a makerspace and a hot glass studio.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Crefeld School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Secondary Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)
Keywords
Where The Crefeld School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Crefeld School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Tuition: The primary revenue stream is tuition paid by families for their children's education. Tuition varies by grade level, with higher tuition for upper school grades. Additional revenue comes from enrollment fees, support services fees, Spring Mini Course fees, and transcript requests.
- Glass Studio Classes and Rentals: The Glass Studio generates revenue through public glassblowing and flameworking classes offered during evenings and weekends, private lessons, studio rentals, and shipping fees for completed glasswork.
- Pennsylvania Tax Credit Programs (EITC/OSTC): The school participates in Pennsylvania's Educational Improvement Tax Credit and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit programs, allowing businesses to receive tax credits for donations up to 90% of the amount donated to support the scholarship program.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Grades 7-8 tuition |
| Subscription | Annual | Grades 9-10 tuition |
| Subscription | Annual | Grades 11-12 tuition |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | First Time Enrollment Fee |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Mid-Year Enrollment Fee |
| Subscription | Annual | Support Services Fee |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Spring Mini Course |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Transcript Request |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Glass Work Shipping |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | South Africa Student Exchange |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Crefeld School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Crefeld School is an independent, gender-inclusive day school serving grades 7-12 in Philadelphia, PA, offering a progressive, college-preparatory education centered on experiential learning, mastery-based assessment (Graduation by Exhibition), and whole-child development. In addition to its academic programs for enrolled students, the school operates the Crefeld Glass Studio, a full-service hot glass studio open to the public, and the CrEF Lab makerspace.
Product overview
The Crefeld School is an independent, gender-inclusive day school serving grades 7-12. It offers a progressive college preparatory program centered on experiential learning. Key programs include The Crefeld Glass Studio (offering glassblowing, flameworking, and casting), CrEF Lab makerspace, and transcript services. The school emphasizes hands-on learning, social justice, and student agency through its Graduation by Exhibition program.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CrEF Lab: Creative Engineering Fabrication Lab - the school's makerspace featuring 3D printers, laser cutter, soldering stations, vinyl cutter, microcontrollers, and technology equipment.
- The Crefeld Glass Studio
Products and services
- Middle School Program (Grades 7-8) A two-year progressive middle school program for students in grades 7-8, featuring experiential learning, social-emotional development, and a Vigorous Activity Period (VAP). Tuition for 2026-27 is $42,530 per year.
- Upper School Program (Grades 9-12) A four-year college-preparatory upper school program for grades 9-12 that culminates in Graduation by Exhibition (mastery-based demonstrations). Includes dedicated college counseling, advisory system, and signature experiential programs. Grades 9-10 tuition is $46,170 per year and grades 11-12 tuition is $48,930 per year for 2026-27.
- Crefeld Glass Studio Public Classes A full-service hot glass studio offering public glassblowing, flameworking, and casting classes, plus private lessons and studio rentals, to teenagers and adults from the greater Philadelphia community during evenings and weekends. Studio also serves as the school's arts department facility during school hours.
- Official Transcript Request Service Official transcript ordering service for alumni, with standard orders at $7 per transcript (completed within 7 business days) and rush orders at $25 per transcript (completed within 2 business days).
- Spring Mini Courses Elective short-term courses offered second semester with fees ranging from $675 to $3,500 per course. Financial aid is available. Topics vary and include hands-on, experiential offerings that complement the regular curriculum.
Companies that use The Crefeld School
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Crefeld School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
The Crefeld School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Cedar House (South Africa)minorLongstanding partnership with Cedar House, a progressive independent high school in Kenilworth, Cape Town, South Africa. Enables student travel abroad for exchange experiences where Crefeld students travel to South Africa and Cedar House students travel to the United States, staying with host families. Open to Upper School students in grades 10-12.
- Outward Bound PhiladelphiaminorUnique relationship developed to design a program specifically for Crefeld's tenth grade class. Students spend Wednesday afternoons (for one semester) with Outward Bound staff developing leadership skills alongside two Crefeld teachers. Outward Bound provides experience-based outdoor leadership programs focused on building leadership, self-esteem, and self-reliance.
- Bryn Mawr College and University of PennsylvaniaminorAccredited training site for area master's level graduate programs in Social Work and Counseling Psychology. Traditionally hosts five interns each year from these institutions to complete their clinical training at Crefeld.
- School District of PhiladelphiaminorProvides SEPTA Student Fare Cards for students residing in Philadelphia who live more than 1.5 miles from school. Public school districts within 10 miles are required by law to provide transportation services to Crefeld.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Crefeld School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Shipley School: A PreK-12 independent day school on Philadelphia's Main Line with a college-preparatory, progressive-leaning curriculum. Comparable to Crefeld on grade span, college-prep focus, premium Philadelphia-region tuition, and emphasis on whole-child education.
- Germantown Friends School: A Quaker-affiliated, progressive independent day school serving PreK-12 in Philadelphia. Comparable on experiential/progressive curriculum, Quaker-influenced values similar to Crefeld's Coalition of Essential Schools ethos, and overlapping Philadelphia family market.
- Penn Charter School: A PreK-12 Quaker independent day school in Philadelphia. Comparable on progressive values, college-preparatory academics, Philadelphia geography, and the family demographic Crefeld targets for grades 7-12.
- The Park School of Baltimore: A PreK-12 progressive independent day school in Baltimore. Comparable to Crefeld on progressive/experiential pedagogy, mastery-based assessment, small size, and emphasis on whole-child development.
- The Agnes Irwin School: A PreK-12 all-girls independent day school on Philadelphia's Main Line. Comparable to Crefeld on independent day school model, premium tuition, college-preparatory curriculum, and Philadelphia-region family market.
- Springside Chestnut Hill Academy: A PreK-12 independent day school also located in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia, directly adjacent to Crefeld. Highly comparable on geography, grade span, and college-prep focus.
- Friends' Central School: A progressive, Quaker-affiliated independent day school in the Philadelphia region serving Nursery through Grade 12. Directly comparable to Crefeld on geography (overlap in Philadelphia catchment), progressive pedagogy, and grade 7-12 college-prep positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Sidwell Friends School: A prestigious PreK-12 Quaker-affiliated independent day school in Washington, D.C. Comparable to Crefeld on progressive Quaker-influenced values, college-prep outcomes, and premium independent school positioning, though serving a different (and much larger) market.
Others
- Coalition of Essential Schools network schools: Crefeld explicitly follows Coalition of Essential Schools principles; peer progressive schools in this network (e.g., Big Picture, Met schools) share Crefeld's experiential, mastery-based approach and represent the closest philosophical peer set even where geography differs.
Emerging players
- The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology (The Lab School): An innovative urban public/independent school network emphasizing project-based and mastery-oriented learning. Comparable to Crefeld on non-traditional pedagogy and demonstration of mastery, though operates in a different funding/structural model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Crefeld School social profiles
Digital presenceThe Crefeld School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Crefeld School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
The Crefeld School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Crefeld School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Crefeld School
What does The Crefeld School do?
The Crefeld School is an independent, gender-inclusive day school serving grades 7-12 in Philadelphia, PA, offering a progressive, college-preparatory education centered on experiential learning, mastery-based assessment (Graduation by Exhibition), and whole-child development. In addition to its academic programs for enrolled students, the school operates the Crefeld Glass Studio, a full-service hot glass studio open to the public, and the CrEF Lab makerspace.
Is The Crefeld School a public or private company?
The Crefeld School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Crefeld School founded?
The Crefeld School was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Crefeld School based?
The Crefeld School is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Crefeld School make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition is the primary driver. The others are glass Studio Classes and Rentals and pennsylvania Tax Credit Programs (EITC/OSTC).
Who are The Crefeld School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Shipley School, Germantown Friends School, Penn Charter School, The Park School of Baltimore, The Agnes Irwin School, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy and Friends' Central School. Sidwell Friends School is listed as a broad incumbent. Coalition of Essential Schools network schools is listed as an others. The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology (The Lab School) is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Crefeld School have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Crefeld School.
What industry is The Crefeld School in?
The Crefeld School's product category is Private Secondary Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJABAA, Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools. Its NAICS code is 611110 and its SIC code is 8200.