Schweizerische Alpine Mittelschule Davos (SAMD)

What Schweizerische Alpine Mittelschule Davos (SAMD) does

Schweizerische Alpine Mittelschule Davos (SAMD) is a Swiss foundation-owned secondary and boarding school located in Davos, Graubünden, at 1,560 meters above sea level. Founded in 1878 and operated as a foundation under the municipality of Davos, SAMD combines four educational tracks under one roof: a Gymnasium (university-preparatory high school granting the Swiss Matura), a Handelsmittelschule (intermediate business school granting the Vocational Matura and EFZ federal certificate), a cantonal-approved primary class for grades 5-6, and a boarding school (Internat). The institution serves approximately 220 pupils drawn from the Davos, Upper Prättigau, and Albula Valley regions as day students, supplemented by boarding students from across Switzerland and internationally. Specialized programs include SAMDplus (talent development for gifted students), SAMDhealth (allergy management in cooperation with Hochgebirgsklinik Davos and the aha! foundation - the only Swiss school authorized to display the Swiss Allergy Centre quality seal), Kinderuni-Davos (children's university), and an extensive extracurricular Specials program built around the alpine Davos environment.

The school's revenue model is straightforward fee-for-service tuition. Boarding single-room annual fees are CHF 41,155 and double-room CHF 36,535; primary day students pay CHF 24,200 annually plus supplemental boarding fees where applicable; alumni membership is a separate subscription at CHF 50/year (regular) or CHF 20/year (student). The go-to-market is direct enrollment: daylight students via cantonal admission examination (or internal examination for non-canton students), and boarders via application/taster weeks. Marketing is conducted through the school's website, LinkedIn and Meta ads, on-campus taster days, and the 500-member SAMDalumni network. Operating governance is overseen by a foundation board with a President, Vice-President, and approximately 13 additional members; operational leadership is provided by Rektor Severin Gerber, Vice-Principal Barbara Hofmänner, Vice-Principal Anita Pargätzi, and Boarding School Director Gundolf Bauer.

Operationally, SAMD has approximately 50-60 staff across teaching, administration, healthcare, IT, kitchen, and boarding house functions. The school maintains ISO/SGS quality certifications (Master level since 2018) and a Label MINT STEM certification. There is no venture capital, private equity, or public ownership: SAMD is a municipal foundation entity, with capital reinvestment supported by alumni contributions (e.g., CHF 50,000 from SAMDalumni toward boarding school renovation). This ownership structure, combined with non-disclosed financials, makes SAMD a community-controlled educational institution rather than a venture-scale enterprise.

Name

Schweizerische Alpine Mittelschule Davos (SAMD)

Legal name

Schweizerische Alpine Mittelschule Davos

Website

https://samd.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SAMD is a Swiss foundation-owned secondary school and boarding school in Davos, combining Gymnasium, Handelsmittelschule, primary class, and Internat under one roof to serve approximately 220 pupils from the local region and internationally, with specialized programs in allergy management and talent development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Davos

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Boarding School Fees: Annual boarding school fees provide accommodation, meals (three main meals plus up to three extra food services daily), supervision, and care. Revenue is recurring annually per student.
2. School Tuition: Annual school fees for primary and secondary education including lunch supervision for day students.
3. SAMDalumni Membership: Annual alumni association membership fees: CHF 50 per year for regular members, CHF 20 per year for students. First year free.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SAMD is a Swiss educational foundation that combines a Gymnasium (high school), Handelsmittelschule (intermediate business school), Primarschule (primary school), and an Internat (boarding school) under one roof in Davos at 1,560 meters above sea level. It delivers Swiss Matura and Vocational Matura with EFZ certification to roughly 220 pupils, plus the SAMDplus talent development program, the SAMDhealth allergy management program, a media library, and a wide range of extracurricular Specials.

Product overview

SAMD is a Swiss educational institution combining a high school (Gymnasium), intermediate business school (Handelsmittelschule), primary school (Primarschule), and boarding school under one roof. The institution serves approximately 220 students, offering Swiss Matura and Vocational Matura certificates. Additional offerings include SAMDplus talent development program, SAMDhealth allergy management, and diverse extracurricular activities. The school is located in Davos at 1560 meters elevation and emphasizes holistic education with alpine sports and cultural activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SAMDplus: Talent Development Program for gifted students with SAMDplus junior (classes 7-9) and SAMDplus senior (classes 10-12)
• Kinderuni-Davos

Quantifiable outcome

• Matura certificate holders can attend any Swiss university or Federal Institute of Technology without examination
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Hochgebirgsklinik Davos (HGK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Cooperation partner in the SAMDhealth program created in 2016. The Hochgebirgsklinik Davos provides medical expertise and support for students with chronic diseases and allergic disorders, enabling SAMD to offer optimal framework conditions for their education.
• aha! Foundation (Swiss Allergy Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partner in SAMDhealth program for allergic disorder management. The foundation provides expertise and the quality seal that makes SAMD the only school in Switzerland authorized to display the Swiss Allergy Centre quality mark.
• SMDalumnicoreOthersAlumni association with 500 registered members including former pupils, former and current employees, and school/foundation board members. Provides annual financial contributions (CHF 50,000 for boarding school renovations) and organizes events including annual meetings.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TASIS The American School in Switzerland: Founded American-curriculum boarding school in Lugano/Montagnola. Comparable to SAMD in Swiss boarding-school model, secondary curriculum plus advanced programs, and international student focus.
• Institut auf dem Rosenberg: Elite Swiss private boarding school in St. Gallen combining secondary curriculum with strong boarding program. Comparable to SAMD in focus on premium Swiss boarding, international students, and enrichment/leadership programming.
• College du Leman: International day-and-boarding school in Versoix near Geneva. Comparable to SAMD in Swiss secondary-boarding model, mixed local and international students, and full academic pathway through Matura/IB.
• Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz: Swiss Alpine private boarding school in Graubünden offering secondary education with boarding. Closely comparable to SAMD in geography (also Alpine), Swiss Matura offering, international boarding clientele, and premium tier positioning.
• Institut Montana (Schweizerische Schule) auf dem Zugerberg: Swiss private boarding school on Mount Zugerberg. Comparable to SAMD in Swiss Alpine boarding model, secondary curriculum leading to Matura, and integrated boarding/school/activities offering.
• Aiglon College: Swiss international boarding school in Chesières-Villars offering secondary education to Swiss and international students. Comparable to SAMD in boarding model, secondary curriculum (IGCSE/IB), international recruitment, and premium Alpine-region positioning.
• Brillantmont International School: Swiss private boarding school in Lausanne offering secondary education to international and Swiss students. Comparable to SAMD in boarding model, small institution size, and family-style residential environment.

Emerging players

• Ecole d'Humanité: Smaller Swiss Alpine boarding school in Hasliberg. Comparable to SAMD in Alpine boarding environment, holistic education philosophy, and small-scale Swiss secondary education, though with a distinctly alternative pedagogy.

Broad incumbents

• Le Rosey: One of the most established Swiss private boarding schools (Rolle, Vaud), operating at the very top of the premium Swiss boarding tier. Comparable to SAMD in boarding-school model, Matura-track academics, and international student base, though at much larger scale.

Regional players

• John F. Kennedy International School: Long-running American international school in Saanen/Gstaad area. Comparable to SAMD in Swiss private boarding school model, secondary curriculum, and premium Alpine-region international recruitment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schweizerische-alpine-mittelschule-davos

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 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 Schweizerische Alpine Mittelschule Davos (SAMD)