INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL

What INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL does

International Christian High School (ICHS) is a private, nonprofit Christian high school located at 5500 Tabor Avenue in North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1968 as Cedar Grove Christian Academy by Cedar Grove Church, the school was the first Christian high school in Philadelphia, developed into a K-12 program by 1972, and adopted its current name in 1998 when the high school sought an independent identity. It moved into its current dedicated facility on Tabor Avenue in 2018 and received accreditation from the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) in Fall 2021 after a two-and-a-half-year process.

ICHS serves approximately 200 students in a multicultural community composed of roughly 70% local Philadelphia families and 30% international students from 8 countries, supported by a 15:1 student-to-teacher ratio and a faculty that includes a PhD in Bible Exposition and multiple master's-degree holders. The academic program covers Bible, English, mathematics, science, social studies, fine arts, physical education, and English language development, augmented by a dual-enrollment partnership with a local university that offers college credit in Physics, Calculus, Statistics, and Christianity & Culture. The school also operates a competitive athletics program through the Penn-Jersey Athletic Association, an ESL program for multilingual learners, an F-1 international student program with host family placement, and an extensive after-school club catalog including robotics (Bot Squad), drama, journalism, and Korean Culture.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition of $12,350 per student per year, supplemented by $350 local and $600 international registration/enrollment deposits, donations and fundraising (e.g., $43,000+ raised at a single annual event to fund scholarships), and Pennsylvania Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) and Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) programs that allow businesses and individuals to redirect up to 90% of state tax liability to ICHS scholarships. Nearly 95% of students receive financial support through these programs, which materially reduces effective family tuition burden and is structurally core to the school's enrollment economics.

Name

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL

Legal name

International Christian High School

Website

https://ichsphila.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

International Christian High School is a nonprofit, ACSI-accredited private Christian high school in North Philadelphia serving approximately 200 students (70% local, 30% international from 8 countries) through a college-prep curriculum, dual-enrollment college credit, ESL, athletics, and a tax-credit-based scholarship model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Christian Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Secondary School Exchange Programs (Academic Year/Semester) (EDAIAHAB)

Keywords

• Private high school education
• Christian secondary education
• College preparatory programs
• International student program
• ESL english language learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Annual tuition of $12,350 per student. Nearly 95% of students receive financial support through Pennsylvania tax credit programs which significantly reduces effective tuition burden for families.
2. Registration and Enrollment Fees: Non-refundable registration fee of $350 for local students and $600 enrollment deposit for international students to secure placement.
3. Donations and Fundraising: One-time and recurring donations from alumni, parents, church friends, foundations, and local businesses. Annual fall fundraiser events generating scholarship funds (e.g., $43,000 raised at 2nd Annual Fall Fundraiser).
4. Pennsylvania Tax Credit Programs: Through OSTC and EITC programs, businesses and individuals can redirect PA tax liability to ICHS scholarships with 90% credit. Example: $3,500 tax liability could generate $3,500 in scholarship funds at $350 cost to donor.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

International Christian High School delivers a Christ-centered college-preparatory high school education for grades 9-12, enrolling approximately 200 students from local Philadelphia families and international F-1 visa students. Core offerings include a general academic curriculum across Bible, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Fine Arts, Physical Education, and English Language Development, supplemented by a Dual Enrollment college credit program, an International Student Program with ESL support, an Athletics program, and after-school clubs.

Product overview

International Christian High School offers a comprehensive Christ-centered educational program as a single unified high school with multiple integrated components. The core academic program consists of general courses across Bible, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Fine Arts, Physical Education, and English Language Development. Additional offerings include a Dual Enrollment program for college credit, an International Student Program with F-1 visa support, an Athletics Program competing in multiple sports, and various After-School Clubs. The school also provides financial support through its PA Tax Credit Scholarship Program. Together, these components create a complete educational ecosystem serving approximately 200 students with a multicultural community of both local and international students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Academic Curriculum Comprehensive college-preparatory high school curriculum covering Bible, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Fine Arts, Physical Education, and English Language Development, designed from a Biblical worldview for students in grades 9-12.
• Dual Enrollment Program College credit program through a local university partnership that enables high school students to earn college credit in Physics, Calculus, Statistics, Christianity & Culture, and Bible courses while still enrolled at ICHS.
• English Language Development (ESL) Program Comprehensive English as a Second Language program using culturally responsive teaching methods to develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills for international students and multilingual learners.
• Athletics Program Competitive sports program competing in the Penn-Jersey Athletic Association, including co-ed soccer, girls volleyball, boys volleyball, girls basketball, boys basketball, cheerleading, and girls flag football.
• After-School Clubs Extracurricular activity programs including home economics, board game club, ping-pong and badminton, Titan Times journalism/yearbook, Nintendo Switch club, Korean Culture club, Student Ambassadors, Bot Squad robotics, Drama Club, and Titans Together community service.
• International Student Program Comprehensive F-1 visa student program accepting international students in grades 9-12, featuring host family placement, SEVIS enrollment, virtual Zoom interviews, document submission, and I-20 issuance for visa processing.
• PA Tax Credit Scholarship Program Financial assistance program through Pennsylvania's Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) and Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) programs, enabling businesses and individuals to redirect their PA tax dollars to student scholarships at ICHS with 90% credit.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 95% of students receive financial support through tax credits
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Local University (Unnamed)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual enrollment partnership enabling ICHS students to earn college credit while in high school. Courses include Physics, Calculus, Statistics, and Christianity & Culture offered through the local university.
• FACTS Grant & AidcoreTechnology or IntegrationFinancial aid management system used for processing tuition payment plans and financial aid applications. Students and families use FACTS to apply for financial aid and set up customized tuition payment schedules.
• FlynnO'Hara UniformsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPhiladelphia-based school uniform supplier providing uniforms and gym wear. Family-owned company servicing over 1500 schools across the US. ICHS partners exclusively with FlynnO'Hara for student uniforms.
• RightNow MediaminorOthersExtensive library of faith-based videos accessible to students, faculty, and families. Provides supplementary spiritual content for chapel and classroom use.
• Penn-Jersey Athletic AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAthletic league in which ICHS Titans compete, including co-ed soccer, girls volleyball, boys volleyball, girls basketball, boys basketball, cheerleading, and girls flag football.
• Black Rock Retreat CenterminorOthersLancaster County retreat center hosting annual overnight trips for ICHS students focusing on team building, spiritual formation, and outdoor education.
• Cedar Grove ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal founding church of the school in 1968. The church established the school as Cedar Grove Christian Academy, which later became Independent Christian High School in 1998.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Shipley School: Private college-prep school in Bryn Mawr, PA, serving pre-K through 12. Competes with ICHS for Philadelphia-region families seeking rigorous private college-preparatory education.
• Germantown Friends School: Private Quaker school in Philadelphia serving K-12. Operates in the same Philadelphia private school market as ICHS with a similar values-driven, college-prep orientation.
• Friends' Central School: Private Quaker pre-K through 12 school in Wynnewood, PA, serving the greater Philadelphia area. It is a direct competitor in the private high school market serving Philadelphia-area families seeking alternative, values-based education.
• George School: Private Quaker boarding and day school in Newtown, PA, serving grades 9-12 with significant international enrollment. Comparable to ICHS in serving a multicultural student body and offering college-prep education in the Philadelphia region.
• Devon Preparatory School: Private Catholic college-prep school for boys in grades 6-12 in Devon, PA. Comparable as a Philadelphia-area faith-based private high school competing for similar value-oriented families.
• Holy Ghost Preparatory School: Private Catholic college-prep school for young men in grades 9-12 in Bensalem, PA. Comparable as a Philadelphia-area faith-based private secondary school competing for similar student demographics.
• Perkiomen School: Private college-prep boarding and day school in Pennsburg, PA, serving grades 6-12 with a notable international student population. Comparable to ICHS as a Philadelphia-region private school with international student recruitment and small-class college-prep focus.
• Westtown School: Private Quaker boarding and day school in West Chester, PA, serving grades preK-12 with a significant international student population. Comparable to ICHS given its values-based college-prep model, international student recruitment, and Philadelphia-area market.
• Merion Mercy Academy: Private Catholic all-girls college-prep high school in Merion, PA. Competes with ICHS in the greater Philadelphia private high school market serving families who prioritize faith-based secondary education.
• Academy of Notre Dame: Private Catholic all-girls college-prep school serving grades 6-12 in Villanova, PA. Comparable to ICHS as a religious-affiliated private school serving Philadelphia-area families seeking values-based secondary education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/ICHSPhila
• Facebookfacebook.com/ICHSPHILA
• Instagraminstagram.com/ichs_phila
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/international-christian-high-school

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL