The Downtown School

What The Downtown School does

The Downtown School is an independent, non-profit college preparatory high school serving grades 9-12 in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2018 as a division of Lakeside School (EIN 91-0564971), the school operates from a single campus at 160 John Street in Seattle's Lower Queen Anne neighborhood and employs approximately 23 staff. Its core offering is an integrated college preparatory program built around the proprietary "City as Campus" educational philosophy, which uses the Seattle metropolitan area as an extended learning laboratory through formal partnerships with over 25 Seattle organizations including Pacific Science Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, KEXP, Gage Academy of Art, Seattle Children's Research Institute, the University of Washington (via QuarkNet), and the Reacting to the Past academic consortium.

The school's product portfolio includes the core academic program, a four-year College Counseling Program centered on social-emotional learning and post-secondary planning, the annual Star Party public astronomy event, needs-based Financial Aid, and a pilot after-school extracurricular program launching in 2025-26. Students participate in independent "Immersive Projects" earning academic credit for pursuits in physics research, sailing, aerial drone photography, and musical composition. Faculty include specialists such as a History Teacher serving on the Reacting to the Past Editorial Board and a Calculus Teacher experimenting with AI-powered personalized learning.

DTS generates revenue through tuition (amounts not publicly disclosed), an Annual Fund giving campaign, and the Party with a Purpose fundraising event supporting financial aid. Admissions are processed through the Ravenna Hub platform with regional outreach across the Seattle metropolitan area. The school reports college placement outcomes at 200+ institutions including Ivy League and selective liberal arts colleges across classes of 2021-2024. AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, FlintAI) are used in limited, assistive capacities for faculty curriculum drafting, feedback analysis, partnership research, and student project work.

Name

The Downtown School

Legal name

The Downtown School

Website

https://downtownschoolseattle.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Downtown School is an independent, non-profit college preparatory high school for grades 9-12 in Seattle, founded in 2018 as a division of Lakeside School. It delivers a "City as Campus" experiential learning model through 25+ Seattle institutional partnerships, funded by tuition, an Annual Fund, and fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

Keywords

• Private high school
• College preparatory education
• Experiential learning program
• Independent school education
• Secondary education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition: As an independent private high school, The Downtown School charges tuition to cover a portion of educational costs. Tuition does not fully cover all expenses required to provide the educational experience.
2. Annual Fund: Annual fundraising campaign that supports professional development, City as Campus explorations, and enrichment programs. Relies on donations in addition to tuition.
3. Party with a Purpose: Annual celebration event that supports needs-based Financial Aid at The Downtown School. Fundraising event bringing together community and partners.
4. Financial Aid: Need-based financial aid supported by donations and fundraising events, enabling access for students regardless of financial circumstances.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Downtown School is an independent, non-profit private high school serving grades 9–12 in Seattle, offering a college-preparatory education built around a "City as Campus" experiential learning model. Founded in 2018 as a division of Lakeside School, it enrolls students directly through the Ravenna Hub and supplements tuition revenue with an Annual Fund and donations to support financial aid.

Product overview

The Downtown School is an independent high school in Seattle offering a college-preparatory education for grades 9-12. The school's core product is its integrated educational program, which combines rigorous academics with experiential learning through its distinctive 'City as Campus' approach. Key offerings include the core educational curriculum, a four-year College Counseling Program, and the City as Campus experiential learning initiative that leverages partnerships with Seattle organizations. Supporting programs include the annual Star Party astronomy event, needs-based Financial Aid, and Immersive Projects for independent student research. The school operates as a division of Lakeside School.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Downtown School High School Program (Grades 9–12) College-preparatory independent high school education for grades 9–12, delivered through a "City as Campus" experiential learning model that uses the greater Seattle area as the primary instructional setting. Targeted at families seeking a small, urban, hands-on alternative to traditional campus-bound independent schools.
• City as Campus Experiential Learning Program Pedagogical program that leverages Seattle's urban environment as the primary learning environment, integrating off-campus experiences, immersive projects, and community service into the high school curriculum. Designed for enrolled students and their families.
• College Counseling Services College counseling services provided to enrolled students to support college selection, application, and admission processes. Targeted at the school's grade 9–12 students and their families.
• Financial Aid Program Sliding-scale financial aid program funded by the Annual Fund and charitable donations to broaden access to The Downtown School for families across income levels.

Quantifiable outcome

• DTS students accepted at 200+ colleges and universities including Ivy League and elite institutions
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KEXPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKEXP serves as a City as Campus partner and venue for school events including Party with a Purpose. DTS students perform at KEXP and use the space for Moth Radio Hour-style monologues during intensives.
• Pacific Science CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner for the annual Star Party event where DTS astronomy students present talks to the public. Pacific Science Center also hosts DTS robotics programs, maker space activities, and planetarium shows for students.
• Gage Academy of ArtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity as Campus partner providing studio-based art classes for DTS students as part of their experiential learning curriculum.
• iFly (Tukwila)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity as Campus partner where students experience indoor skydiving to learn physics concepts including Newton's Laws, air resistance, and fluid dynamics.
• Seattle Bouldering ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfter-school extracurricular partner for bouldering activities. Part of pilot program launching in 2025-26 with plans for full launch in 2026-27.
• Reacting to the Past ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDTS is an official partner with the Reacting Consortium. A DTS teacher serves on the Reacting Editorial Board, and DTS students participate in curriculum development by playtesting games being developed for high schools.
• Blue OriginminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner at the annual Star Party event. Blue Origin engineers and scientists participate in the event, engaging with students and the public.
• Seattle Astronomical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner at the annual Star Party event, providing expertise and telescope viewing opportunities for attendees.
• Seattle Universal Math MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner at the annual Star Party event, providing interactive math activities alongside space-themed programming.
• Disc NorthwestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for after-school Ultimate Frisbee program as part of the City as Campus extracurricular initiative.
• Cornish College of the ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for theater, acting, and improv programming as part of after-school extracurricular activities.
• Seattle Children's TheaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for theater programming as part of after-school extracurricular activities.
• MoPOP (Museum of Pop Culture)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for music and creative programs as part of after-school City as Campus activities.
• Vera ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for music programming as part of after-school City as Campus activities.
• Pratt Art CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for visual arts programming as part of after-school City as Campus extracurricular activities.
• Seattle Children's Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity as Campus partner where students conduct medical labs and research experiences, including simulating genetic tests for leukemia.
• Burke MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity as Campus partner for Focus Day explorations of natural history.
• SANCA (School of NASCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity as Campus partner for climbing activities where students learn physics and challenge themselves through aerial arts.
• CYC Community SailingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity as Campus partner for sailing experiences as part of experiential learning.
• QuarkNet (UW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with University of Washington physics department through QuarkNet program. Students analyze CERN ATLAS detector data and participate in particle physics research days at UW labs.
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity as Campus partner where 9th graders tour campus, perform lab simulations, and hear presentations on scientific research.
• University of Washington Special CollectionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents access primary source materials for historical research projects, including exploring materials related to Erik Larson's research for The Devil in the White City.
• NASA Solar System AmbassadorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner at the annual Star Party event, providing space education and engagement activities.
• Steam 4 SpaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner at the annual Star Party event, engaging students and public in space-related activities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Charles Wright Academy: Charles Wright Academy is an independent K-12 school in Tacoma serving the greater Puget Sound region. It is directly comparable because it competes for college-bound families in the broader Seattle/Tacoma metro with a similar college-prep and community-focused offering.
• University Prep: University Prep is an independent K-12 school in north Seattle known for academically rigorous college preparation. It is directly comparable because it competes for the same ambitious Seattle families with a strong college-counseling program and selective admissions.
• The Northwest School: The Northwest School is an independent 6-12 school in downtown Seattle known for progressive, urban, intellectually rigorous education. It is directly comparable because it shares DTS's downtown-Seattle footprint, college-prep focus, and experiential/urban-learning ethos.
• The Bush School: The Bush School is an independent K-12 school in Seattle with a progressive, inquiry-based educational philosophy. It is directly comparable because it competes for the same college-prep Seattle families with a similarly small-school, values-driven approach.
• Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences (SAAS): SAAS is an independent 6-12 school in Seattle with a strong college-prep curriculum and arts/sciences emphasis. It is directly comparable because it serves the same downtown-Seattle college-prep families with a similar size and curricular rigor profile.
• Eastside Preparatory School: Eastside Prep is an independent 6-12 school on Seattle's Eastside (Kirkland) with a progressive, seminar-style approach. It is directly comparable because it targets the same college-prep demographic with a small-school, discussion-based model.
• Annie Wright School: Annie Wright School is an independent K-12 school in Tacoma with boarding and day programs. It is directly comparable because it serves the same Pacific Northwest college-prep market with rigorous academics and a tight small-school community.
• Seattle Preparatory School: Seattle Prep is an independent Catholic 9-12 school in Seattle with a long-standing college-prep reputation. It is directly comparable because it competes for college-bound Seattle students at the same grade levels with rigorous academics and a tight community.

Broad incumbents

• Lakeside School: Lakeside School is the parent organization of The Downtown School and one of Seattle's most established independent K-12 schools. It is directly comparable because it shares governance, infrastructure, and brand umbrella with DTS while operating a much larger and longer-established college-prep program at the same location.

Regional players

• Overlake School: Overlake School is an independent 5-12 school on Seattle's Eastside (Redmond). It is directly comparable because it competes for the same Seattle-metro college-prep families with a similarly progressive, college-focused curriculum.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/dtschoolseattle

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles37 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 The Downtown School