St. Thomas More Catholic School

What St. Thomas More Catholic School does

Saint Thomas More Catholic School is a non-profit Jesuit Catholic school and parish operating on Summit Avenue in Saint Paul, Minnesota since 1904, and the only Jesuit elementary school in Minnesota. The organization serves families with children from preschool through 8th grade with a liberal arts curriculum grounded in Ignatian spirituality, reporting that 90% of graduates test into honors-level high school courses. The school operates as a unified parish-school ecosystem under the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, with approximately 25% of students being non-Catholic.

The core product is a preschool-through-8th-grade Catholic education, augmented by extended day care, summer programming, the Summit Saints athletics program (volleyball, soccer, basketball, swim, ski, baseball, softball, track and field), and extracurriculars including robotics, choir, scouts, and educational trips. The school integrates specialist instruction in music, art, physical education, Spanish (via Language Sprout for grades 4-8), and reading intervention using Orton-Gillingham methods, with a partnership with Groves Academy for students with dyslexia and ADHD. Technology infrastructure consists of standard Chromebooks and iPads with a 1:1 Chromebook program in middle school.

Revenue is generated through tuition ($7,077 K-8 for 2025-26, plus a $200 non-refundable registration fee) and supplemented by parish subsidies, donations, annual fundraisers, raffles, auctions, and capital campaigns — the total cost per student exceeds $8,000, meaning parish generosity effectively subsidizes operations. The go-to-market is community-led: school tours, shadow days, ambassador families, Open House events, and a Facebook/social media presence drive enrollment through the FACTS online registration system. The organization employs approximately 447 staff including teachers, preschool teachers, specialists, and parish personnel, led by Principal Patrick Lofton, Ed.S. and Pastor Fr. RJ Fichtinger, S.J.

Name

St. Thomas More Catholic School

Legal name

Church of Saint Thomas More

Website

https://morecommunity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1904

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

St. Thomas More is a non-profit Jesuit Catholic school and parish in Saint Paul, Minnesota, serving preschool through 8th grade with Ignatian spirituality-based liberal arts education and 90% graduate honors placement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-8 Catholic Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Preschools (EDACABAF)

Keywords

• Catholic elementary education
• Jesuit primary school
• Preschool education
• Private K-8 school
• Faith-based education

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

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 and Fees: Primary revenue stream from tuition payments. Kindergarten through 8th-grade tuition is $7,077 for 2025-26 school year. Preschool has separate pricing based on program options. Additional fees include $200 non-refundable registration fee.
2. Parish Subsidies and Donations: The school receives support from the parish and development initiatives. Parish generosity helps keep education costs below actual per-student cost of over $8,000.
3. Fundraising and Annual Appeals: Annual fundraisers, raffle tickets, auction events, and capital campaigns. Families are expected to participate in annual fundraisers.
4. Financial Aid: Need-based financial aid offered through TADS. Aid is provided as grants that never need to be repaid.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Saint Thomas More Catholic School delivers preschool-through-8th-grade Jesuit Catholic education on its Summit Avenue campus in Saint Paul, MN, combining a liberal arts academic curriculum with Ignatian spiritual formation, specialist classes, athletics, and enrichment programs. The school's core paid offerings are its K-8 academic program ($7,077 tuition for 2025-26), its NAEYC-accredited preschool, and ancillary fee-based services such as extended-day care, summer programming, and the Summit Saints athletics program.

Product overview

Saint Thomas More Catholic School is the only Jesuit elementary school in Minnesota, offering a unified preschool-8th grade liberal arts education on Summit Avenue in Saint Paul. The school combines its core Catholic educational program with enrichment offerings including extended day care, summer programming, athletics (Summit Saints), and extracurricular activities such as robotics, music, and educational trips. The school welcomes families of all backgrounds, with approximately 25% of students being non-Catholic.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Catholic Elementary Education (Preschool-8th Grade)

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of graduates test into honors level courses in high school
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• InterFaith BuilderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn inter-denominational coalition of 10 Twin Cities faith communities collaborating on Habitat for Humanity projects. STM has participated for over 20 years. Participating churches include Macalester Plymouth United Church of Christ, Gloria Dei Lutheran, Holy Spirit Catholic, Olivet Congregational, St. Anthony Park Lutheran, St. Paul United Church of Christ, Temple of Aaron, and Saint Thomas More.
• Habitat for Humanity Twin CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to address affordable housing crisis in Twin Cities. Builds, repairs, and sells homes to families with affordable mortgages while connecting them to community through neighborhood revitalization projects.
• Catholic Schools Center of ExcellencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA generous supporter of educational excellence in Catholic elementary schools. Supports STM's mission of educational quality.
• Archdiocese of Saint Paul and MinneapoliscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSTM is part of the Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, which promotes and proclaims the Gospel through vibrant parish communities, quality Catholic education, and outreach to the poor and marginalized.
• Family Recovery Resource Experts (FRrē)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides ongoing parent education on site regarding raising children and nurturing family bonds in an increasingly complex world.
• Hovland ConservatoryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNonprofit organization specializing in year-round piano lessons, available for private lessons on-site at Saint Thomas More.
• Hill-Murray Pioneer PathwaysminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOffers band and orchestra instruction on site for students starting in third grade.
• Language SproutminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA St. Paul-based nonprofit providing Spanish instruction to students in grades 4 through 8.
• University of St. Thomas School of EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school for placement of student teachers. As many as six student teachers will be assigned to Saint Thomas More per term.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Breck School: Elite independent PK-12 school in Golden Valley, MN. Comparable as a top-tier Twin Cities private school competing for academically ambitious families willing to pay premium tuition.
• Hill-Murray School: Catholic PK-12 school in Maplewood, MN. Directly comparable as a Catholic institution in the Twin Cities; STM partners with its Hill-Murray Pioneer Pathways program for band/orchestra instruction.
• Providence Academy: Catholic K-12 school in Plymouth, MN. Comparable as another Archdiocese-affiliated Catholic school in the Twin Cities competing for similar faith-oriented families.
• Convent of the Visitation School: Independent Catholic private school serving preschool through Grade 12 in Mendota Heights, MN. Directly comparable as a Twin Cities Catholic school competing for the same faith-oriented, academically focused families.
• The Blake School: Independent PK-12 school with multiple Twin Cities campuses. Comparable as a premier private school alternative for families evaluating STM and other top-tier private options.
• St. Paul Academy and Summit School: Independent PK-12 school located on Summit Avenue in St. Paul, MN — physically adjacent and operating in the same neighborhood market. Direct competitor for walk-to-school families and high-achieving students.
• Mounds Park Academy: Independent PK-12 school in Maplewood, MN. Comparable Twin Cities private school competing for academically focused families seeking liberal arts and small-class environments.

Emerging players

• Groves Academy: Minnesota school specializing in students with dyslexia, ADHD, and learning differences. Strategic partner providing on-site services to STM students, with overlapping student populations and shared Orton-Gillingham methodology.

Others

• University of St. Thomas School of Education: Twin Cities institution partnering with STM as a student-teacher placement site (up to 6 student teachers per term). Adjacent ecosystem participant that supports STM's talent pipeline and academic credibility.

Broad incumbents

• Jesuit High School (Portland, OR): Jesuit secondary school in a different Jesuit province. Comparable for sharing the Ignatian tradition and pedagogy that STM introduces at the elementary level; illustrates the broader Jesuit educational network STM families feed into.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_-d9JwSFFKv3UC_rfwiNPA
• Facebookfacebook.com/StThomasMoreStPaul
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st.-thomas-more-catholic-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 St. Thomas More Catholic School