FOREST RIDGE ACADEMY, INC.

What FOREST RIDGE ACADEMY, INC. does

Forest Ridge Academy, Inc. is an ISACS-accredited, independent nonprofit private school headquartered in Schererville, Indiana, founded in 1982. It serves approximately preschool through 8th grade students (ages 3-14) with a 12:1 student-teacher ratio and a workforce of roughly 32 employees. The school draws students from 27+ zip codes across Northwest Indiana, has produced more than 1,100 alumni, and reports a student body that is 51% diverse. Its core offering is a tuition-funded K-8 education supplemented by a 1:1 student device program branded Hugs to Homework.

The school's technology footprint is conventional ed-tech: a 1:1 device program, Google education tools, and an Edlio-powered website and communications platform. It has accumulated externally validated credentials, including ISACS accreditation, Google Certified School status (2016), International Peace Site designation (2016), and EPA Energy Star School certification (2017), and distributes $58,000 annually in high school scholarships.

Revenue is generated through multiple streams: primary tuition, summer programs, childcare services, tutoring, and fundraising events. Tuition recovers approximately 75% of education costs, with the remaining 25% subsidized through charitable giving and donations. The go-to-market is direct-to-family within a defined regional catchment, and customer relationships are long-duration by design (preschool through 8th grade). The business model is structurally nonprofit, with growth funded organically through enrollment, auxiliary services, and fundraising rather than external capital.

Name

FOREST RIDGE ACADEMY, INC.

Legal name

Forest Ridge Academy, Inc.

Website

https://fra.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ISACS-accredited nonprofit independent school in Schererville, Indiana, serving preschool through 8th grade students (ages 3-14). Founded 1982, it employs ~32 staff, draws from 27+ zip codes, and operates a tuition-based model supplemented by charitable giving.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent K-8 Private Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDACABAM

Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools

Education/Early Childhood Education/Preschools & Pre-K Programs

SECONDARYBPAGADAA

Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

Keywords

• Independent private school
• Preschool education
• K-8 education
• After-school programs
• Summer camp programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Schererville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Tuition and fees cover approximately 75% of the average cost of educating each child. The remaining 25% is subsidized through charitable contributions from the school community.
2. Annual Giving: Annual giving campaign where donors support the work of exceptional teachers and demonstrate belief in independent school education value. Includes annual raffle supporting improvement projects with $5,000 grand prize.
3. GivingTuesday/Give4FRA Campaign: Combined fundraising campaign supporting school operations and teacher professional development. Takes place November 27-29 annually.
4. FRA Golf Classic: Annual spring golf tournament supporting school operating expenses with contests, prizes, lunch, dinner, raffles, and auctions.
5. Annual Gala (Dinner for Dreams): Fundraising dinner event with silent and live auctions, dinner, and dancing to support school operating expenses.
6. Yard Signs and Spirit Wear: Birthday and celebration yard signs through Card Yard Magic partnership, and spirit wear store for school merchandise.
7. Summer Programs: Various summer camps and programs for students including creativity camps, academic camps, sports camps, and tutoring. Fees range from $35-$235 per camp session.
8. Summer Tutoring: Individual tutoring at $40/hour and small group tutoring at $25/hour during summer months.
9. Summer Childcare: Summer childcare services with $25 one-time registration fee plus hourly rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Forest Ridge Academy is an ISACS-accredited independent private school delivering preschool through 8th grade education for children ages 3-14 in Schererville, Indiana and surrounding communities. Core academic offerings span Early Childhood (Young Scholars 3/4 year olds and Junior Kindergarten), Lower School (grades 1-2), Intermediate School (grades 3-5), and Middle School (grades 6-8), supplemented by athletics, clubs and academic teams, after-school activities, summer camps, summer tutoring, and a hot lunch program. Tuition and fees fund approximately 75% of operating costs, with the balance covered through charitable giving, annual fundraisers, and events.

Product overview

Forest Ridge Academy is an ISACS-accredited independent school offering preschool through eighth grade education. The school operates as a unified educational institution with multiple academic programs across developmental stages: Early Childhood (preschool through kindergarten with Young Scholars and Junior Kindergarten tracks), Lower School (grades 1-2), Intermediate School (grades 3-5), and Middle School (grades 6-8). Beyond academics, the school provides a comprehensive portfolio of programs including Athletics, Clubs and Academic Teams, After School Activities, Summer Programs, and Lunch Services. The school also maintains active fundraising initiatives including Annual Giving, GivingTuesday/Give4FRA, Gala events, and Golf Classic tournaments, alongside an Alumni Association supporting the nearly 1,100 graduates since 1982.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Childhood Program (Preschool through Kindergarten)
• Lower School Program (Grades 1-2)
• Intermediate School Program (Grades 3-5)
• Middle School Program (Grades 6-8)
• Summer Programs
• Summer Tutoring
• Summer Childcare
• Athletics Program
• Clubs and Academic Teams
• After School Adventures
• Lunch Program
• Alumni Association

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates have received $58,000 in high school scholarships
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Just a Dash Catering ServicecoreOthersJust a Dash Catering Service partners with Forest Ridge Academy to provide healthy, balanced school lunches. Whole grain and fresh or fresh frozen products are provided whenever possible. Students can enjoy school lunch five days a week, ordered online through EZ School Apps.
• EZ School AppscoreTechnology or IntegrationEZ School Apps provides the online platform for Forest Ridge Academy's hot lunch ordering system. Parents order school lunches through this platform.
• EdliocoreTechnology or IntegrationEdlio powers the Forest Ridge Academy school website with content management, parent portal (Gradelink), event calendars, news feeds, and email communications.
• Card Yard MagicminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal company providing birthday and celebration yard signs exclusively for FRA. Offers discount to FRA families and makes a donation back to the school for each purchase.
• ISACScoreOthersIndependent Schools Association of the Central States provides accreditation services to Forest Ridge Academy, confirming educational quality and standards compliance.
• IDOEcoreOthersIndiana Department of Education regulatory oversight and compliance for Forest Ridge Academy as a private school in Indiana.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Bethany Christian Schools: Indiana-based faith-affiliated PK-12 school. Comparable as a smaller-scale Indiana independent school serving a similar regional family demographic, though faith-based orientation differs.

Direct peers

• Cincinnati Country Day School: Cincinnati-based independent PK-12 school with ISACS accreditation. Directly comparable in terms of regional Midwestern independent school positioning, college-preparatory curriculum, and similar tuition-subsidy economics.
• Lake Ridge Academy: Ohio-based independent K-12 school with similar small-class-size and college-preparatory focus. Comparable Midwest independent school with analogous revenue model combining tuition and annual giving.
• University Liggett School: Detroit-area independent PK-12 school with ISACS accreditation and century-long history. Comparable Midwest independent school model with similar tuition-funded operating model and broad extra-curricular programming.
• Park Tudor School: Indianapolis-based independent school serving PK-12 with ISACS accreditation. Closest Indiana-based comparable in scale and academic positioning, drawing from a similar Midwest professional family demographic.
• Stanley Clark School: South Bend, Indiana independent K-8 school with ISACS accreditation. Very close peer in terms of grade span (K-8 only, like FRA), Indiana location, and small-class-size independent school model.
• Morgan Park Academy: Chicago-based independent PK-12 school with ISACS accreditation and long operating history. Comparable in mission emphasis on global awareness, leadership, and small class sizes.

Broad incumbents

• Francis W. Parker School: Prominent Chicago independent PK-12 school with progressive education focus. Comparable in mission values and ISACS accreditation, though larger and more established than FRA.
• Chicago Lab School: University of Chicago-affiliated independent PK-12 school. Comparable in selective admissions and college-prep outcomes, though larger and tied to a research university.
• The Latin School of Chicago: Larger Chicago independent PK-12 school with ISACS accreditation. Larger and more established Midwest independent that competes with FRA for premium private school families in the greater Chicago/Northwest Indiana region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/forestridgeacademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/forestridgeacademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forest-ridge-academy-inc.

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 FOREST RIDGE ACADEMY, INC.