Colégio Santa Maria Minas - Unidade Nova Suiça

What Colégio Santa Maria Minas - Unidade Nova Suiça does

Colégio Santa Maria Minas (CSM Minas) operates a network of 13 private Catholic K-12 school units across the Belo Horizonte metropolitan region in Minas Gerais, Brazil, including the Unidade Nova Suíça subject of this profile. Founded in 1903, it is the oldest private educational institution in Belo Horizonte and is operated by Sociedade Mineira de Cultura, a CEBAS-certified nonprofit charitable entity affiliated with the Arquidiocese de Belo Horizonte. The network delivers education from Maternal III (early childhood) through Ensino Médio (high school), structured around a humanist-Christian formation model addressing cognitive, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. It comprises 9 regular units and 4 social units (Medianeira, Ribeirão das Neves, Conjunto Taquaril, Jardim Vitória) serving underserved communities.

The academic portfolio centers on a BNCC-aligned basic education curriculum and includes differentiated programs such as the Programa de Investigação Científica (scientific research program with annual science fair and Hackathon de Iniciação Científica), the Caminhos do Conhecimento field-based learning track, and supplementary offerings including PILI (Intensive English), Rota Olímpica (academic olympiad preparation), MiniONU (Model United Nations simulation), SMMEC extracurriculars, and Torneio Santa Maria Minas. Religious formation is delivered through Catequese programs for First Communion and Confirmation. Technical infrastructure includes an online school management system (login portals for students, parents, teachers, and staff integrated with PUC Minas platforms), an Agenda Edu mobile application, and a facial recognition access control system deployed at the Coração Eucarístico unit.

Revenue is generated through recurring annual tuition fees (subscription model) with pricing varying by grade level and unit location; the network also operates scholarship programs including Destaque Estudantil (up to 50% merit-based), Bolsa Irmãos (sibling discounts), Bolsa Assistencial (means-tested social assistance), and a 50% PUC Minas alumni undergraduate scholarship. Marketing and enrollment are sales-led (visit scheduling, direct unit contact) supplemented by a community-led motion leveraging Catholic identity, parish referrals, and social responsibility campaigns. The network holds UNESCO Associated Schools Network membership (since 1953) and Times Higher Education international certification, and operates in mutual strategic partnership with PUC Minas, the Arquidiocese de Belo Horizonte, ANEC, and Sociedade Mineira de Cultura. The Nova Suíça unit is one of nine regular units in the network and is staffed at approximately 75 employees.

Name

Colégio Santa Maria Minas - Unidade Nova Suiça

Legal name

Colégio Santa Maria Minas

Website

https://santamaria.pucminas.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1903

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Colégio Santa Maria Minas is a 13-unit private Catholic K-12 school network in the Belo Horizonte metro, founded in 1903, serving students from early childhood through high school with deep integration into PUC Minas and the Arquidiocese de Belo Horizonte ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Private Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Boarding Schools (EDAJABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Charter School Networks (Multi-Site) (EDAJACAC)

Keywords

• Private Catholic education
• K-12 education
• Catholic school network
• Basic education services
• Catholic formation

Headquarters

HQ city

Belo Horizonte

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and School Fees: Primary revenue from tuition fees charged to enrolled students from Maternal III through Ensino Médio. Pricing varies by grade level and unit location.
2. Academic Merit Programs: Destaque Estudantil program offers scholarships of up to 50% for academically distinguished students from 5th year Elementary to 3rd year High School.
3. University Scholarship Partnerships: Alumni who completed all three years of Ensino Médio receive 50% scholarship for undergraduate programs at PUC Minas.
4. Bolsas Assistenciais: Social assistance scholarships provided to students with financial need, supported by charitable campaigns.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Colégio Santa Maria Minas operates as a Catholic K-12 private school network in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, offering continuous education from early childhood (Maternal III) through high school (Ensino Médio). The offering integrates Catholic values and faith formation with academic instruction and provides curricular articulation with PUC Minas for the higher-education transition.

Product overview

Colégio Santa Maria Minas is a private Catholic educational institution network operating as a unified K-12 school system with multiple units in Belo Horizonte and surrounding regions. The core offering is comprehensive Basic Education (Educação Infantil through Ensino Médio) emphasizing humanist-Christian formation, academic excellence, and integral student development. The portfolio includes supplementary programs such as the Scientific Research Program, intensive English courses (PILI), Olympic preparation (Rota Olímpica), Model UN, and extracurricular activities (SMMEC). Religious formation is delivered through catechesis programs (Eucaristia e Crisma) and pastoral connection initiatives. Financial support programs include merit-based scholarships. Social solidarity campaigns extend the school's community engagement. All programs are coordinated under the Arquidiocese de Belo Horizonte educational ecosystem, with institutional programs like 'Caminhos do Conhecimento' providing field-based learning experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Programa de Investigação Científica: Scientific Research Initiation Program for high school students, with annual Science Fair exhibition
• SMMEC
• PILI
• Rota Olímpica
• Torneio Santa Maria Minas
• MiniONU Santa Maria Minas

Products and services

• Educação Infantil - Maternal III (Early Childhood Education)
• Ensino Fundamental I e II (Elementary Education)
• Ensino Médio (High School Education)

Named customers3 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, minor and moderate.

• UNESCO - RedePEA (UNESCO Associated Schools Network)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1953CSM Minas is a member of the UNESCO Associated Schools Network, connecting it to 12,000 schools in 183 countries. The partnership supports global education initiatives, international exchange opportunities, and alignment with UNESCO's four pillars of education: learning to know, to do, to be, and to live together.
• PUC Minas - Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas GeraiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeep academic partnership providing university resources, laboratory access, faculty development, and student pathways. PUC Minas is part of the same Arquidiocese de Belo Horizonte ecosystem. The partnership includes alumni scholarships (50% for graduates), joint scientific research programs, hackathon initiatives, and university campus visits for high school students.
• Arquidiocese de Belo HorizontecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school operates as an archdiocesan institution under the Arquidiocese de Belo Horizonte, integrating Catholic pastoral values into education. This includes religious formation, sacramental preparation (Eucharist, Confirmation), pastoral activities, and alignment with archdiocesan social campaigns and initiatives.
• Sociedade Mineira de Cultura (SMC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school is operated by Sociedade Mineira de Cultura, a charitable educational entity holding CEBAS (Certificado de Entidade Beneficente de Assistência Social) certification. SMC manages the entire network of 13 school units.
• Instituto LinkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for the Pé no Chão Campaign, a shoe donation initiative. Instituto Link handles logistics and delivery of collected donations to communities in need in the Belo Horizonte metro area and North Minas Gerais.
• ANEC - Associação Nacional de Educação Católica do BrasilmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association of Catholic education institutions. CSM Minas participates in ANEC events, formation programs, and national Catholic education initiatives including the annual International Day of Catholic Education.
• Projeto Providência - Arquidiocese de Belo HorizonteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial project supported by the school's milk donation campaigns and charitable initiatives, serving vulnerable families in the Belo Horizonte region.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Colégio Madre Alix: Private Catholic K-12 school in Minas Gerais with similar educational philosophy and pastoral approach, regionally comparable to CSM Minas within the same state.

Others

• Cultura Inglesa: Brazilian English language instruction network comparable to CSM Minas's PILI (Intensive English Language Program); relevant ecosystem player in language education add-on services.
• PUC Minas: Higher education partner institution that provides university pathways, laboratory access, and alumni scholarships to CSM Minas; comparable as part of the same educational ecosystem and archdiocesan network.

Direct peers

• Colégio Objetivo: Major private K-12 school network across Brazil with standardized curriculum and university preparation focus, comparable in network scale and educational programming.
• Colégio Bandeirantes: Established private K-12 school in São Paulo with strong academic reputation and comprehensive program offerings, comparable in scale and premium positioning to CSM Minas.
• Colégio São Bento: Historic Catholic K-12 institution in Brazil with strong religious formation and academic excellence, comparable to CSM Minas in heritage brand positioning and Catholic identity.
• Colégio Positivo: Large private K-12 school network in southern Brazil with technology-driven education and comprehensive program offerings, comparable in multi-unit scale and educational breadth.
• Colégio Santo Américo: Private Catholic K-12 school in São Paulo with international curriculum and strong university preparation, comparable in premium positioning and educational philosophy.
• Colégio Marista: Rede de Colégios Marista operates a multi-site network of Catholic K-12 schools across Brazil, making it the most direct comparable to CSM Minas in terms of religious identity, multi-unit structure, and educational mission.
• Colégio Notre Dame: Private Catholic K-12 school network with similar pastoral formation approach and academic programming, comparable to CSM Minas in target market and educational philosophy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/colegiosantamariaminas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/col%C3%A9gio-santa-maria-minas---unidade-nova-sui%C3%A7a

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries13 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 Colégio Santa Maria Minas - Unidade Nova Suiça