Holy Child Academy, Drexel Hill

What Holy Child Academy, Drexel Hill does

Holy Child Academy (HCA) is an independent, co-educational Catholic school located in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, founded in 1927 and sponsored by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. It serves 173 students from Nursery through Grade 8 with an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio across approximately 38 faculty and a total staff of around 209 (faculty plus auxiliary). HCA operates as the only independent co-educational Catholic elementary school in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and is part of the international Holy Child Network of Schools. The curriculum combines Montessori early childhood programming, traditional K-8 instruction, an Innovation Lab for STEAM education (installed June 2017), and a Next Steps college-preparation program in grades 5-8. Specialized programming includes Orff and Kodaly music instruction, choir and handbell ensembles, band and private music lessons, a no-cut athletics program with 92%+ participation, and a DEIB initiative.

The school generates revenue primarily through annual tuition (ranging from $8,130 for half-day Nursery programs to $19,500 for Grades 5-8), supplemented by 10-week summer camp, the HCA Plus after-school program running 3:15-6 p.m., private music lessons at $1,200 per year, scholarship application fees, and donations including annual fund drives, spring benefit events, and Pennsylvania EITC/OSTC tax credit programs that provide donors a 90% state tax credit. The admissions process is multi-step with rolling admissions after a January 1 priority deadline and includes online application, parent Zoom interviews, teacher recommendations, and student visit days; financial aid is administered through an external partner (Clarity) and is reviewed independently from admissions decisions.

HCA's go-to-market leverages a multi-channel strategy combining its website, organic social (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), event-driven prospecting (personal tours via Calendly, Little Dragons playgroups for ages 0-4, STEAM in Motion nights), and inquiry forms supported by HubSpot CRM. Strategic partnerships include The Outdoor School at College Settlement (5th-6th grade residential outdoor education), Bach to Rock recording studio, and Drexel Swim Club. The 2025-2026 Board of Trustees is led by Chair Christine Viggiano; Dr. Rebecca A. Kellich has served as Head of School since July 2023 following an internal succession from Margaret Fox-Tully. HCA is a nonprofit educational organization with no disclosed revenue figures.

Name

Holy Child Academy, Drexel Hill

Legal name

Holy Child Academy

Website

https://holychildacademy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Holy Child Academy is an independent co-educational Catholic school in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, serving 173 students from Nursery through Grade 8 with an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio, generating revenue through tuition ($8,130-$19,500), summer camp, after-school, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-8 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Early Learning Academies (EDACADAH), Faith-Based Preschools (EDACABAF), Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM), Faith-Based Before/After Care Programs (Early Years) (EDACAHAE)

Keywords

• Private Catholic education
• Elementary school programs
• STEAM education
• Montessori early childhood
• College preparatory programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Drexel Hill

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Primary revenue stream from tuition fees for Nursery through Grade 8. Tuition varies by grade level and program (half-day vs. full-day). Payment plans include one-time, two-time, ten monthly, or seven monthly payments. 1% discount for one-time payment.
2. Summer Camp: Revenue from 10-week summer camp program with half-day and full-day options. Additional revenue from before/after care, field trips, and specialty programs.
3. After-School Program (HCA Plus): After-school enrichment program running 3:15-6 p.m. with early and late pickup options. Rates vary by frequency and pickup time.
4. Private Music Lessons: Private lessons for piano, guitar, strings at $1,200 per year, billed through FACTS account. Rock band at $215-$300 depending on enrollment status.
5. Donations and Fundraising: Annual fund donations, spring benefit events, grandparent association contributions, and Pennsylvania Tax Credit programs (EITC/OSTC) where donors receive 90% tax credit.
6. Scholarship Applications: Application fee of $50 per application. Merit and music scholarships awarded to qualifying students in grades 4-8.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Holy Child Academy is an independent, co-educational Catholic school serving students from Nursery through Grade 8 at its Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania campus. The school delivers core academic instruction with an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio, a Montessori-based early childhood program, a dedicated STEAM Innovation Lab, the Next Steps college-prep curriculum for grades 5-8, and Orff/Kodaly-based music and performing arts. Auxiliary paid offerings include a 10-week summer camp, the HCA Plus after-school enrichment program, private music and band lessons, and the Little Dragons playgroup.

Product overview

Holy Child Academy is an independent, Catholic school (founded 1927) offering a comprehensive private school education from Nursery through Eighth Grade. The school employs Montessori methodology in its Early Childhood program and maintains an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Core programs include the Innovation Lab for STEAM education, the Next Steps preparation program for middle school students, a robust Music and Performing Arts program (using Orff and Kodaly methods, with Choir, Band, and Private Music Lessons), athletics with no-cut participation, and a DEIB program. Auxiliary offerings include HCA Summer Camp (10-week themed summer program), HCA Plus after-school enrichment, Little Dragons playgroup, and the Outdoor School at College Settlement. The school also offers Merit and Music scholarships for students in grades 4-8. All programs are grounded in the educational ideals of Cornelia Connelly and the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Holy Child Academy Core Program (Nursery through Grade 8) Independent Catholic school program for boys and girls of all faiths from Nursery through Grade 8 with an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio, Montessori early childhood foundation, STEAM Innovation Lab, Next Steps college preparation, and Orff/Kodaly music and performing arts.
• HCA Summer Camp Ten-week themed summer camp program from June through August for children ages 2-12, offering Little Dragons camp for Nursery 2/3 and traditional camp for Pre-K through Grade 6, with half-day and full-day options and before/after care.
• HCA Plus (After-School Program)
• Private Music Lessons
• Band Lessons Program
• Little Dragons Playgroup
• Merit Scholarship
• Music Scholarship

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates attend elite high schools including Academy of Notre Dame, Agnes Irwin, Episcopal Academy, Haverford School, and Shipley School
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Holy Child Network of SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCA is part of an international network of schools sponsored by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, including 9 schools in the US (Cornelia Connelly Center NYC, Cornelia Connelly School Anaheim, Connelly School of the Holy Child Potomac, Holy Child Academy Drexel Hill, Holy Child Academy Old Westbury, Holy Child School at Rosemont, Mayfield Junior School Pasadena, Mayfield Senior School Pasadena, Oak Knoll School Summit, School of the Holy Child Rye) plus schools in Africa (Ghana, Nigeria) and Europe (Ireland, England, France).
• Outdoor School at College SettlementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFifth and Sixth Graders spend two days camping at College Settlement in Horsham, PA on 235 acres. Students participate in group challenges, team building, outdoor science lessons, and environmental education aligned with science curriculum.
• Bach to RockminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCA rock band recorded at Bach to Rock studio in Warminster, where students received guidance from skilled instructors and used state-of-the-art equipment to record songs.
• Drexel Swim ClubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSummer camp students in 2nd grade and above travel to Drexel Swim Club by bus on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons for swimming activities. Lifeguards on duty with counselor supervision.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Academy of Notre Dame de Namur: Catholic PreK-12 school in Villanova, PA — a key destination for HCA graduates and a comparable faith-based feeder in the same regional market.
• Episcopal Academy: Independent PreK-12 school in Newtown Square, PA; comparable in serving Main Line/Delaware County families and is a top-tier high school placement destination for HCA graduates.
• The Shipley School: Independent PreK-12 school in Bryn Mawr, PA serving the same geographic market; a frequent high school destination for Holy Child Academy graduates.
• Friends' Central School: Independent PreK-12 school in Wynnewood, PA — same Main Line/Delaware County catchment, comparable tuition tier, and progressive pedagogy profile.
• Agnes Irwin School: Independent PreK-12 school in Rosemont, PA — same regional feeder market and a leading high school placement destination cited in HCA's alumni outcomes.

Direct peers

• St. Aloysius Academy: Catholic K-8 school in Bryn Mawr, PA serving a similar Main Line/Delaware County feeder market with comparable tuition and faith-based curriculum.
• Country Day School of the Sacred Heart: Independent faith-based school in Bryn Mawr, PA offering PreK-Grade 12; directly comparable in mission and catchment area to Holy Child Academy for the K-8 grades.
• Holy Child School at Rosemont: Sister school within the Holy Child Network of Schools in Rosemont, PA — same SHCJ sponsorship, similar faith-based co-ed K-8 model and Montessori-influenced early childhood program in the same Main Line/Delaware County market.
• Waldron Mercy Academy: Catholic K-8 school in Merion, PA, also serving families on Philadelphia's Main Line — directly comparable independent Catholic primary school competing for the same demographic.

Emerging players

• Montessori Country School: Montessori early childhood/elementary program serving Delaware County-area families; directly competes with HCA's Montessori-based Early Childhood Division.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC0B_405WNEfQqgKMZwVEaUA
• Facebookfacebook.com/HCADrexelHill
• Instagraminstagram.com/hcadrexelhill/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/holy-child-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Holy Child Academy, Drexel Hill