What Our Sisters' School does

Our Sisters' School (OSS) is a private, nonprofit, tuition-free all-girls middle school founded in 2008 and operating a single campus at 145 Brownell Avenue in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The school serves 72 students per year across grades 5-8 and has produced 216 graduates with a 99.5% secondary school completion rate. Its educational product is built around four Core Values — Excellence, Community, Civic Engagement, and Leadership — delivered through a rigorous academic program supplemented by an interdisciplinary Creative Suite (robotics, 3D printing, digital art, video production) and a Community Partnerships workforce-readiness component. Extended programs include SPARK (a free grades 3-5 STEAM outreach), Summer Programming, and ongoing Graduate Support for alumni.

The school's core technology stack is consumer-grade educational tooling rather than proprietary platforms: robotics kits (Photon, LEGO SPIKE Prime, First Robotics, Sparks robotics dog), 3D design via TinkerCAD, digital art tools such as Procreate, math curricula (IXL, Open Up Math, Maneuvering the Middle, All Things Algebra), Google Classroom for delivery, and Ambient Weather station data collection. Operational technology includes Squarespace (website), Neon CRM and Venmo (donations), Google Analytics and Squarespace Analytics (web traffic), and Meta Pixel (advertising measurement). Partnerships with WHOI, Mass Audubon, Bridgewater State University, Sensata Technologies, Buttonwood Park Zoo, and the New Bedford Whaling Museum supply differentiated real-world STEAM, climate, and civic experiences.

Revenue is generated entirely through philanthropic channels rather than tuition, with sources including an Annual Fund, calendar raffle, Change Challenge, partner Day-of-Service contributions (in-kind), and major donor cultivation managed through Neon CRM. The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven: word-of-mouth referrals from current/former families, community partner referrals, Spanish-language and in-person admissions presentations, open houses, and a family referral program that rewards service credits. With 24 staff and no parent organization, OSS operates as a focused single-site institution whose scale, brand, and local ecosystem are tightly intertwined with the New Bedford community.

Name

Our Sisters' School

Legal name

Our Sisters' School

Website

https://oursistersschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Our Sisters' School is a tuition-free, nonprofit all-girls middle school in New Bedford, Massachusetts, serving 72 students annually in grades 5-8 through a STEAM-integrated curriculum, community partnerships, and graduate support, funded entirely by charitable donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Middle School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Single-Sex (Boys/Girls) Private Schools (EDAJABAK)

Keywords

• Private middle school
• All-girls education
• STEAM curriculum
• Tuition-free education
• College preparatory programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New Bedford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Annual Fund: The school relies heavily on charitable donations and annual fund appeals from families, board members, and community supporters. Full-time teachers achieved 100% participation in annual giving.
2. Tuition-Free Model: The school is explicitly described as tuition-free. Revenue comes from philanthropic sources rather than tuition payments from families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Our Sisters' School is a private, nonprofit, tuition-free middle school for girls in grades 5-8, located in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The school delivers a STEAM-focused, college preparatory education to approximately 72 students per year and is funded entirely through donations, grants, and fundraising rather than tuition. The institution also provides extended graduate support to alumni through secondary school and beyond.

Product overview

Our Sisters' School is a tuition-free, all-girls middle school (grades 5-8) offering a unified educational program centered on four Core Values: Excellence, Community, Civic Engagement, and Leadership. The school's offerings include the core Middle School Education Program supplemented by specialized programs: the Creative Suite (interdisciplinary technology and arts), SPARK (STEAM outreach for younger girls), Community Partnerships (workforce development), Graduate Support, and Summer Programming. The school serves 72 students annually with a track record of 216 graduates and 99.5% secondary school completion rate.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Middle School Education Program (Grades 5-8) A tuition-free, all-girls middle school education program for students in grades 5-8, providing a college preparatory curriculum with a strong STEAM focus. The program serves approximately 72 students per year at the school's New Bedford, Massachusetts campus.
• SPARK Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.5% of graduates complete secondary school
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, regular, occasional and project-based.

• Sensata TechnologiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Day of Service with employee volunteers providing physical improvements to school facilities including new benches, garden beds, weather station installation, and staff lounge renovation.
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for data-driven art and climate education. Students analyze real-world scientific data sets from WHOI and create watercolor pieces inspired by artist Jill Pelto integrating climate and conservation data.
• Mass AuduboncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate Democracy Project focusing on civic and climate literacy education. Students identify local climate justice issues and design civic action projects. Includes field trips and outdoor learning experiences.
• Bridgewater State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular STEAM field trips and lab experiences. Students participate in labs focused on wind energy, water sustainability, medical science, and cybersecurity. Also GIS Day activities for 8th graders.
• Project AdventureregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerChallenge by Choice experience with fun, hands-on programming focused on teamwork, communication, perseverance, and building confidence and growth mindsets. Includes all-school and family sessions.
• Community Boating CenterregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability-focused hands-on learning experiences combining maritime education with environmental stewardship.
• The Black Whale RestaurantregularStrategic or Co-development Partner7th and 8th grade community partnership providing real-world work experience including greeting guests, seating, menu preparation, and wait staff support. Builds career readiness and provides community service.
• New Bedford Research and RoboticsregularStrategic or Co-development Partner7th grade introduction to 3D printing and robotics with hands-on engineering challenges and competitions.
• Rehearsal for LifeoccasionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoston-based program delivering all-school assemblies exploring challenges of peer pressure, social media, and growing up. Aligns with OSS Community Core Values.
• United Way of Greater New BedfordregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerHunger Heroes food assistance program. Students participate in food drops and packing events, helping package 1,000+ meals for families in need.
• Round the Bend FarmregularStrategic or Co-development Partner6th grade field trips to working farm learning about sustainable agriculture, Wampanoag history, service learning, and environmental practices.
• New Bedford Whaling MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular partner for field trips and student showcase exhibitions. 6th grade studies history of New Bedford in 1800s with museum integration.
• Buttonwood Park ZooregularStrategic or Co-development Partner5th grade winter programming at zoo. Students observe animals, participate in art exhibitions displayed publicly at zoo facility.
• Women's Foundation of Massachusettsproject-basedStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to design inaugural Economic Empowerment Award. Students created award designs with 3D printing for Make Her Mark event.
• First Citizens' Federal Credit Unionproject-basedGTM or Marketing PartnerOSS students featured in credit union commercial that will air regionally.
• YWCA Southeastern MassachusettsregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts Fair Housing listening sessions and Young Women's Leadership Conference for OSS students.
• Jill PeltocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist and science communicator who creates data-driven artwork. Works with students to integrate real climate and conservation data into watercolor pieces.
• Judith KalaoraregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiving historian and actress who works with 8th graders on women's suffrage play performance, bringing history to life through theatrical performances.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Girls Inc. National nonprofit delivering girls' empowerment programming with focus on leadership, academic achievement, and life skills — directly comparable mission and demographic focus to OSS.
• Young Women's Leadership Schools: Network of all-girls public schools serving grades 7-12 with a mission to empower young women through leadership development and college preparation — closely aligned with OSS's girls' empowerment and college-readiness focus.

Others

• Prep for Prep: New York-based nonprofit identifying and preparing high-achieving students of color for placement in independent schools; comparable pipeline-to-college-readiness mission for underserved youth.
• A Better Chance: National nonprofit placing high-achieving students of color into independent and public schools — comparable mission of expanding access to rigorous education for underrepresented youth.

Broad incumbents

• KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program): Large national charter school network serving underserved students with college-prep focus; comparable in mission to close opportunity gaps and nonprofit funding model, though co-educational and much larger scale.
• Uncommon Schools: Nonprofit charter management organization operating college-preparatory schools in underserved communities — comparable nonprofit mission and college-readiness outcomes focus, at significantly larger scale.
• Cristo Rey Network: Network of Catholic, college-preparatory high schools serving underserved youth through work-study integrated model; comparable nonprofit mission serving underrepresented families.

Emerging players

• Breakthrough Collaborative: National network of pre-college programs preparing underrepresented students for success in selective high schools and colleges; comparable mission of building college pathways for first-generation students.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oursistersschool

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Our Sisters' School