SS. Philip & James School

What SS. Philip & James School does

SS. Philip & James School (SSPJ) is a private Catholic primary school operating as a nonprofit under the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, founded on September 7, 1960, and located at 721 E. Lincoln Highway in Exton, Chester County, Pennsylvania. It serves approximately 200 students across a continuous Pre-K 3 through Grade 8 enrollment model with a 12:1 student-to-teacher ratio, drawing families from West Pikeland, Charlestown, East Whiteland, West Whiteland, and Uwchlan townships as well as adjacent parish-boundary zip codes. The school has earned two National Blue Ribbon School designations (1990, 2023) and has been named an Archdiocesan School of Distinguished Instruction every year from 2019 through 2024, with Terra Nova standardized test scores running 30-40% above national averages and a 100% high school acceptance rate.

The academic offering integrates a certified STREAM program (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, Math) with a dedicated STREAM lab, a state-of-the-art science lab (added with Lourdes Hall in 2002), a 1:1 student-to-device program implemented in 2020, and Spanish instruction starting in elementary grades. Core academic services are supplemented by CCIU-supplied reading, math, speech/language, and guidance specialists; CYO athletics across 10+ sports; CARES after-school care (3:00-6:00 p.m.); a hot-lunch program via Great Valley School District Food and Nutrition Services; and 25+ extracurricular activities including band, choir, piano, science fair, Reading Olympics, and chess club. The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) have staffed the school since its founding; Principal Sister Teresa Ballisty, IHM (45+ years in Catholic elementary education, 2023 Terrel H. Bell Award winner) leads a governance structure that includes a Board of Limited Jurisdiction installed in February 2018.

Revenue is generated primarily through tiered recurring tuition (in-parish vs. out-of-parish rates, e.g., $640/month for Pre-K 3 in-parish, $200/student annual deposit, monthly billing through Smart Tuition/FACTS) and supplemented by an Annual Fund, Spring Fundraiser auction, annual Golf Outing, and Pennsylvania EITC/OSTC scholarship pass-throughs via the Foundation for Catholic Education, BLOCS, and TuitionCare (up to $1,000/year per family). Distribution relies on direct enrollment through the RenWeb inquiry portal, on-campus tours, community word-of-mouth, and busing reciprocity with four public school districts (West Chester Area, Great Valley, Downingtown, Coatesville), with no external venture, private equity, or institutional investment indicated.

Name

SS. Philip & James School

Legal name

Saints Philip and James School

Website

https://school.sspj.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SS. Philip & James School is a nonprofit Catholic primary school in Exton, Chester County, PA, serving approximately 200 students from Pre-K 3 through Grade 8 with a 12:1 student-teacher ratio, a certified STREAM curriculum, 1:1 technology, and two-time National Blue Ribbon School recognition under the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Catholic K-8 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), Educational Services (611)

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 industries

Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM), Faith-Based Preschools (EDACABAF)

Keywords

• Catholic primary education
• Private K-8 schooling
• Faith-based education
• STREAM curriculum
• Elementary education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Exton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Primary revenue from tuition payments for Pre-K 3 through 8th grade students. Tuition rates vary by grade level and parish membership status.
2. Annual Fund: Annual Fund campaign supporting teacher professional development, emergency family assistance, and campus maintenance.
3. Spring Fundraiser: Major annual fundraiser event with tickets, sponsorships, and program ads supporting school operations and programs.
4. Golf Outing: Annual golf event with sponsorships raising funds for campus improvements, academic enhancements, and student initiatives.
5. EITC/OSTC Scholarships: Pennsylvania tax credit program allowing businesses to redirect state taxes to scholarship organizations, with families designating SSPJ as recipient.
6. TuitionCare: Program allowing individuals to redirect Pennsylvania state tax credits toward Catholic education tuition reduction grants up to $1,000/year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SS. Philip & James School is a private Catholic parish elementary school providing faith-integrated, college-preparatory education for students from Pre-K 3 through Grade 8. Its core offering is the Pre-K–8 academic program built on the STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) curriculum, supplemented by faith formation (including sacramental preparation and Theology of the Body), CYO athletic competition, fine arts, and wraparound student services such as the CARES after-school care program, daily hot lunch, and transportation.

Product overview

SS. Philip and James School operates as a comprehensive Catholic educational institution offering a unified portfolio of services spanning core academic instruction (Pre-K 3 through Grade 8), faith formation, extracurricular activities, and family engagement. The core education program is enhanced by the certified STREAM program (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, Math), CYO athletics, CARES after-school care, hot lunch services, and academic support specialists. The FACTS Family Portal serves as the primary digital platform for family engagement, enrollment management, and tuition administration. The school serves approximately 200 students with a 12:1 student-to-teacher ratio and holds Middle States accreditation through 2030.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pre-K 3 Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Terra Nova test scores exceed national averages by 30-40%
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCIU provides on-site academic support including Reading Specialist, Math Specialist, Speech and Language Teacher, and Guidance Counselor. Services are provided during the school day at no cost to parents.
• Great Valley School District Food and Nutrition ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides daily hot lunch program for students starting in Kindergarten. Lunch items are selected from monthly menu calendar.
• West Chester Area School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides school nurse four days per week and busing services for students residing in the district. Also provides health forms and policies through WCASD.
• Downingtown School DistrictminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides busing services for students residing in the Downingtown School District.
• Coatesville School DistrictminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLimited busing coverage for students residing in the Coatesville School District.
• Foundation for Catholic EducationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDesignated scholarship organization for EITC program. Families can designate SSPJ to receive scholarship funds from this organization.
• Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools (BLOCS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDesignated scholarship organization for EITC program. Qualifying businesses can redirect state taxes to BLOCS with SSPJ as recipient.
• TuitionCarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProgram allowing individuals and families to redirect Pennsylvania state tax credits toward Catholic education, providing up to $1,000 tuition reduction grant annually.
• Archdiocese of PhiladelphiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOversees Catholic education curriculum guidelines, provides School of Distinguished Instruction recognition, and coordinates Safe Environment training programs.
• Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIHM Sisters have staffed and provided leadership for the school since its founding in 1960. Current principal Sister Teresa Ballisty, IHM leads the school.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves17 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• St. Patrick School: A Catholic parish elementary school in Malvern, PA within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, directly comparable to SSPJ in geography, parish-affiliated governance, and PreK-8 offering.
• Mother Teresa Regional Catholic School: A regional Catholic elementary school in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, comparable to SSPJ as a PreK-8 faith-based institution serving suburban families with similar tuition and CYO athletics structure.
• Holy Family Catholic School: A faith-based Catholic K-8 school in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia area, comparable to SSPJ as a parish-affiliated elementary school serving a similar suburban Pennsylvania market with comparable tuition, religious curriculum, and parent demographic.
• Country Day School of the Sacred Heart: An independent Catholic PreK-8 school in the Philadelphia suburbs, comparable to SSPJ in faith-based identity, grade span, and family demographic, though operating under a different religious order and archdiocese.
• St. Norbert School: A Catholic K-8 parish school in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, directly comparable to SSPJ in mission, grade span, faith integration, and suburban family target market.
• Aquinas Academy: An independent Catholic school in the greater Pittsburgh area offering PreK-8 with classical curriculum, comparable to SSPJ in mission, grade span, and faith-based academic positioning.

Others

• Archdiocese of Philadelphia Office of Catholic Education: Governing body overseeing all Archdiocese of Philadelphia Catholic schools including SSPJ. Relevant as the parent ecosystem that sets curriculum, accreditation, and EITC/OSTC frameworks SSPJ operates within.

Broad incumbents

• Malvern Preparatory School: A larger Augustinian Catholic school in Malvern, PA serving grades 6-12 in the same Archdiocese. Comparable to SSPJ as a Catholic educational option in Chester County but operates at secondary level with a much broader institutional footprint.
• Villa Maria Academy: A Catholic K-12 school in Malvern, PA within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, comparable to SSPJ in Catholic identity and Chester County market but broader in grade span and size.

Regional players

• Westtown School: A Quaker PreK-12 independent school in West Chester, PA, comparable to SSPJ as a private, faith-rooted PreK-12 alternative in Chester County serving similar suburban Philadelphia families, though non-Catholic and much larger.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sspjexton
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ss.-philip-&-james-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 SS. Philip & James School