Newman Catholic School

What Newman Catholic School does

Newman Catholic School is a private, nonprofit Catholic educational institution located in Mason City, Iowa, operating a comprehensive birth-through-grade-12 program on a single campus. Founded circa 1960-1961, the school offers early childhood care (children 6 weeks to 12 years), preschool programs (Early 3s, Older 3s, 4-5 year-olds), transitional kindergarten through 12th-grade Catholic education, and a Community Program organizing grades 6-12 into four saint-named house communities for faith formation. Extracurricular offerings span over 14 athletic teams, fine arts (choral, instrumental, visual), and 6+ clubs with near-universal student participation. The school is licensed by Iowa DHS with a 4-Star QRS childcare rating and operates under the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

The core technology stack consists of third-party educational SaaS platforms—PowerSchool for student information, IXL for personalized learning, Follett Destiny for library management, Procare for childcare registration, FACTS Management for scholarship processing, and Odyssey for Iowa ESA administration. Newman Catholic School does not develop proprietary technology; its differentiation rests on faith-based programming, community integration with North Iowa parishes, and brand recognition (ranked best school in North Iowa by Niche; Top 10 Best Private High Schools in Iowa).

Revenue mechanics rely on a hybrid of tuition ($8,500/student), Iowa ESA funding ($7,826/student under the Students First Act), STO scholarships ($225,000+ annually), local scholarships ($100,000+), Foundation endowment distributions, annual appeals ($150,000 goal), SCRIP gift card rebates, gala proceeds, and other fundraising. A $2,500-per-student gap between tuition and the $11,000 true cost to educate is bridged through charitable giving. The institution operates as a nonprofit with no parent company, no venture or private equity ownership, and is governed by a Board of Education alongside a separately governed Newman Catholic Foundation.

Name

Newman Catholic School

Legal name

Newman Catholic Schools

Website

https://newmancatholic.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Newman Catholic School is a private, nonprofit K-12 Catholic school in Mason City, Iowa, offering early childhood through 12th-grade education, faith formation programs, and childcare services to families across the North Iowa region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

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 industry

Faith-Based Preschools (EDACABAF)

Keywords

• K-12 Catholic education
• Private school education
• Childcare services
• Preschool education
• Extracurricular education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Mason City, IA

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: The primary revenue stream comes from student tuition. For 2024-2025, tuition is $8,500 while the true cost to educate is $11,000, creating a $2,500 gap per student that is bridged through fundraising and donations.
2. Foundation Donations and Endowments: The Newman Catholic Foundation manages endowments and accepts various forms of charitable giving including cash gifts, bequests, memorial gifts, appreciated securities, charitable remainder trusts, life insurance, and real estate donations. The Foundation distributes earnings from endowment investments to support educational, pastoral, and ministry needs.
3. Annual Appeal: Annual fundraising campaign targeting $150,000 to support the school budget, keeping classrooms vibrant, teachers equipped, and students supported.
4. Gala Fundraiser: Annual casino-themed gala 'A Knight of Luck and Luxury' serves as a major fundraising event bringing together parents, grandparents, alumni, parishioners, faculty, businesses, and community supporters for one evening of fundraising.
5. SCRIP Program (RaiseRight): Gift card program through RaiseRight where families purchase gift cards for everyday shopping (groceries, gas, clothing, coffee, dining) and a percentage (up to 20%) is returned to the school. This generates over $1,000 per year for the school.
6. Childcare and Preschool Fees: Childcare services for children 6 weeks to 12 years and preschool programs (Early 3s, Older 3s, 4-5 year old) generate revenue through weekly tuition and fees.
7. STO Scholarships Administered: The school receives and distributes STO (Student Tuition Organization) scholarships totaling over $225,000 to qualifying families, as well as over $100,000 in local scholarships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Newman Catholic School provides Catholic education from early childhood through 12th grade on a single Mason City campus, including childcare, preschool, transitional kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school programs. Its educational experience also includes academic instruction, faith formation, service requirements, student support, athletics, fine arts, clubs, and an international student program.

Product overview

Newman Catholic School is a comprehensive early childhood through twelfth-grade Catholic educational institution located in Mason City, Iowa. The school operates a unified portfolio of educational products and services centered around its core K-12 Catholic education program, complemented by childcare services (6 weeks to 12 years), preschool programs (Early 3s, Older 3s, 4-5 year olds), and transitional kindergarten. The institution extends its educational mission through extensive extracurricular programming including over 14 athletic teams, fine arts (choral, instrumental, visual arts), and various clubs. A distinctive Community Program organizes students in grades 6-12 into saint-named houses for daily faith formation. Financial support is provided through the Newman Catholic Foundation, which manages endowment funds, annual appeals, the scrip gift card program, STO scholarships, and coordinates with Iowa's Education Savings Accounts administered through Odyssey. The school also serves international students through a dedicated enrollment pathway.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Newman Catholic Childcare Childcare program for children from 6 weeks to 12 years old, providing care, development activities, and before- and after-school and summer programs. The center operates five days per week from 6:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Newman Catholic Preschool Preschool program for children ages 3-5 with Early 3s, Older 3s, and 4-5 year-old class options. Its developmentally appropriate curriculum emphasizes responsibility, social skills, healthy habits, early literacy, and kindergarten readiness.
• Transitional Kindergarten through 12th Grade Education Catholic education from transitional kindergarten through high school graduation on one campus, combining Catholic faith and teachings with academic preparation, service learning, extracurricular opportunities, and college-readiness support.
• International Student Program Enrollment program for international secondary students seeking an American Catholic high-school experience, including curriculum, advisory support for college readiness, English-language support, F-1 processing, and access to fine arts, athletics, and clubs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 100% student participation in at least one extracurricular activity
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Iowa DHS (Department of Human Services)coreOthersNewman Childcare and Preschool is licensed by Iowa DHS and maintains a 4 Star QRS (Quality Rating System) rating, meeting state standards for childcare quality.
• Federal Food ProgramminorOthersChildcare center follows Federal Food Program guidelines for nutritious meals and snacks, ensuring children receive healthy food during care hours.
• FACTS ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFACTS Management processes scholarship applications for STO and local Newman scholarships, ensuring confidential need-based distribution of over $325,000 annually to families.
• Odyssey (ESA Program Administrator)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOdyssey manages the Students First Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) for Iowa, providing $7,826 per student to eligible families attending Newman Catholic School under the state's Students First Act.
• Parishes of North IowacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNewman Catholic serves the parishes of North Iowa, with parishes providing financial and spiritual support to the school and its students.
• FIRE NE IowacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school with FIRE NE Iowa Foundation, requiring active participation on the ignite inclusion committee and semi-annual/annual progress reporting.
• Central Rivers AEAminorOthersSubstitute teaching license requirements and professional development coordinated through Central Rivers Area Education Agency.
• Diocese of DubuquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic school system operating under the Archdiocese of Dubuque, with Diocesan Guidelines for Socially Responsible Investing governing Foundation investments.
• Mason City SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative sharing agreements for bowling, girls wrestling, hockey, rugby, soccer, swimming, tennis, and trapshooting, allowing Newman students to participate in activities not offered by the school.
• Archdiocese of Dubuque (International Student Processing)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProcesses and sends Form I-20 for international students accepted to Newman Catholic, handling F-1 visa documentation.
• RaiseRightcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorScrip gift card program through RaiseRight enables families to earn up to 20% back for the school when purchasing gift cards for everyday shopping.
• International Placement AgenciesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNewman Catholic accepts international students individually and through international placement agencies for student recruitment.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• KinderCare Learning Centers: Large national childcare and preschool chain. Direct competitor for Newman's infant-through-age-12 childcare program in the regional market, competing on hours, curriculum, and convenience rather than faith-based mission.
• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: National for-profit childcare and early education provider. Comparable to Newman's childcare and preschool arm as an institutional competitor for working-parent childcare demand, though operating at vastly greater scale and without the faith-based positioning.

Direct peers

• Holy Family Catholic Schools: Catholic schools in Dubuque, Iowa operating under the same Archdiocese of Dubuque as Newman. Directly comparable in governance structure, Diocesan investment guidelines, and faith-based PK-12 programming.
• Xavier Catholic Schools: Catholic PK-12 system in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Comparable diocesan Catholic school with preschool through high school on connected campuses, similar tuition aid/STO structure, and broad extracurricular offerings.
• Bishop Garrigan Catholic Schools: Catholic K-12 in Algona, Iowa (North Iowa region). Strong geographic and demographic peer — small rural Catholic school system with similar tuition scale, foundation fundraising, and reliance on scholarships/ESA funding.
• Kuemper Catholic Schools: Catholic K-12 system in Carroll, Iowa. Closely mirrors Newman's rural-Iowa Catholic K-12 model, including tuition, foundation, scholarship programs, and broad extracurricular athletics and fine arts programming.
• Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools: Catholic PK-12 system in Sioux City, Iowa under the Diocese of Sioux City. Directly comparable to Newman as a diocesan-affiliated Catholic K-12 with preschool, athletics, fine arts, and foundation-driven fundraising in a similar Midwest market.

Broad incumbents

• Mason City Community School District: The local public school district serving the same Mason City catchment. Sets the price benchmark ($0 direct tuition) against which Newman must justify its $8,500 tuition and is the primary competitive incumbent for K-12 families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/NewmanKnights
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCB2sKStCWoUuQlfmGaAfxBw
• Facebookfacebook.com/NewmanKnights
• Instagraminstagram.com/newmancatholic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/newmanknights

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Newman Catholic School