The Sharon Academy

What The Sharon Academy does

The Sharon Academy is a private, independent, non-profit middle and high school located in Sharon, Vermont, serving approximately 145 students across grades 6-12 with a 5:1 student-to-staff ratio. Founded in 1996, the school operates from two adjacent campuses (Middle School at 20 School Street; High School at 205 Academy Drive) and draws students from 12 surrounding Vermont and New Hampshire communities via a Tri-Valley Transit partnership. Its academic model is proficiency-based and centers on experiential learning, most visibly through two signature multi-week Interim programs: the Middle School Circus Interim (juggling, unicycling, acrobatics under professional direction, running annually since 2007) and the High School Musical Interim (a student-produced full-scale theatrical production with student-led committees).

The school's product surface includes academic programs for both divisions, the Exhibition and Capstone research program for juniors and seniors (8-12 page papers and 20-25 minute oral presentations), the Advisory Program providing sustained faculty mentorship, and dedicated well-being curricula (P.A.T.H. for grades 9-12, E.S.P. for middle school). A new Science Technology and Arts (STEAM) building broke ground in June 2024 with classes expected to begin in January 2025, after more than a decade of capital fundraising. Recent strategic activity includes a Transatlantic Classrooms partnership with Finnish schools (2023), reinstatement of U.S. State Department international exchange hosting, a Fulbright Distinguished Award for a middle school teacher, and a 2026 launch of the student-produced TSA Voices video series.

The Sharon Academy generates revenue through annual tuition (exact figures not publicly disclosed), donations and annual fund giving, capital campaign contributions for facility projects, grants from regional foundations, and community fundraising events such as Phoenix Phest. Financial aid is available through The Pat Woodin Scholarship. Governance rests with a Board of Trustees, with day-to-day operations led by Head of School Mary Newman. The school marked its 30th anniversary in 2026 and reported that 92% of graduates pursue secondary degrees.

Name

The Sharon Academy

Legal name

The Sharon Academy

Website

https://sharonacademy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Sharon Academy is a private, independent non-profit middle and high school in Sharon, Vermont serving approximately 145 students in grades 6-12, distinguished by signature experiential Interim programs (Circus and Musical), a 5:1 student-to-staff ratio, and proficiency-based learning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent K-12 Private Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Montessori/Waldorf/Classical/Expeditionary (Pedagogical Models) (EDAJACAL)

Keywords

• Private middle school
• Private high school
• Independent secondary education
• Experiential learning programs
• Proficiency-based education

Headquarters

HQ city

Sharon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Private school tuition for middle and high school students; enrollment process includes tuition information and The Pat Woodin Scholarship for financial support
2. Donations and Fundraising: Annual fund donations, stock or securities gifts, employer matching programs, and planned giving through estate planning. Phoenix Phest community events include puzzle sales and silent auctions as fundraising mechanisms
3. STEAM Building Construction: Over a decade of fundraising by board members, staff, and donors culminating in construction of new Science Technology and Arts building

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Sharon Academy is a nonprofit independent middle and high school (grades 6-12) located in Sharon, Vermont, selling tuition-based private education to approximately 145 students. Its core academic program is differentiated by signature multi-week Interim experiences—the Middle School Circus Interim and the High School Musical Interim—along with year-long Exhibition and Capstone research projects, an Advisory mentorship program, and well-being curricula (P.A.T.H. and E.S.P.). Supporting services include athletics, bus transportation, and college and career planning.

Product overview

The Sharon Academy is a Vermont-based independent middle and high school serving approximately 145 students in grades 6-12. The institution operates as a unified educational program with distinct but interconnected divisions: the Middle School (grades 6-8) and High School (grades 9-12). Core academic programs are enhanced by signature experiential components including the Circus Interim (middle school) and Musical Interim (high school), both multi-week immersive productions that exemplify the school's deeper learning philosophy. Supporting programs include Exhibitions & Capstones for upperclassmen, an Advisory Program providing sustained student-mentor relationships, comprehensive Well-being Programs (P.A.T.H. and E.S.P.), and various community traditions. The school also offers transportation services and recently launched a storytelling video series called TSA Voices. Together these offerings create a proficiency-based educational experience emphasizing independent thinking, community building, and real-world skill development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Middle School Program Middle school education for grades 6-8 featuring the Circus Interim, Science Fair, Hulbert Outdoor Leadership Program, E.S.P. wellness curriculum, and community-building activities; designed for students ages 11-14 seeking small classes and experiential learning.
• High School Program High school education for grades 9-12 featuring the Musical Interim, Exhibitions & Capstones, College & Career Planning, proficiency-based teaching, and 21st-century skills curriculum; designed for students ages 14-18 preparing for college and careers.
• Circus Interim Multi-week immersive experience for middle school students teaching circus skills such as juggling, unicycling, and acrobatics under professional direction, culminating in student-produced carnival and circus performances emphasizing teamwork, collaboration, creativity, and perseverance.
• Musical Interim Two-week immersive high school program in which students produce a full-scale musical, managing all aspects from set design to choreography through student-led committees with minimal adult intervention, embodying the school's deeper learning philosophy.
• Exhibitions & Capstones Year-long research and presentation projects for high school juniors and seniors. Exhibitions require an 8-12 page written thesis paper with a 20-25 minute oral presentation; Capstones offer flexible creative or interdisciplinary exploration with faculty mentorship.
• Advisory Program Small-group relationship-centered program pairing every student with a dedicated faculty mentor throughout middle and high school, including bi-weekly meetings, team-building activities, academic progress tracking, and student-led family conferences twice yearly.
• Well-being Programs (P.A.T.H. and E.S.P.) Comprehensive wellness programming including P.A.T.H. (Pursuing Awareness, Thoughtful relationships, and Health) for grades 9-12 focusing on mindfulness, emotion regulation, research skills, and post-secondary planning; and E.S.P. (Emotional, Social, Physical) for middle school with rotating modules on yoga, archery, and team-building.
• Bus Transportation Daily bus transportation service provided in partnership with Tri-Valley Transit, serving students from 11 towns including Bethel, Chelsea, Hanover NH, Randolph, Rochester, and South Royalton.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% of graduates pursue secondary degrees
• +2 more outcomes

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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Chandler Music HallminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Venue partner for high school musical productions. TSA's High School Musical Interim performs at Chandler Theater in Randolph for public audiences.
• Finnish National Agency for Education (Opetushallitus)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Yearlong collaborative program between TSA and Finnish schools (Sibelius-lukio) where students work together on social action projects addressing UN Sustainable Development Goals including climate change and social inequity. Includes digital exchanges and reciprocal student travel for cultural immersion.
• Transatlantic Classrooms ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Program sponsored by Finnish Ministry of Education and US Embassy in Finland. One of 20 international collaborations selected for funding to facilitate student exchange between TSA and Finnish partner schools. TSA was one of few collaborations granted funds for student travel.
• Beyond the Page (Middlebury College)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Teaching artists from Middlebury College's Beyond the Page program work with TSA students on embodied language exercises and theater workshops. Professional actors lead students through workshops on Romeo and Juliet and justice themes.
• Tri-Valley TransitminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2023Transportation partner providing bus service to TSA students from 12 surrounding Vermont and New Hampshire communities including Bethel, Chelsea, Hanover, Pittsfield, Randolph, Rochester, South Royalton, Stockbridge, Strafford, Thetford, and Tunbridge.
• US State Department FLEX ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Future Leaders Exchange program enabling international exchange students from former Soviet countries. Hosted Mariam Gurchumelia from Georgia for 2023-24 school year with full scholarship.
• US State Department Kennedy-Lugar YES ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Youth Exchange and Study program established post-9/11 to foster understanding with primarily Muslim countries. Hosted Aleyna Aydogan from Turkey for 2023-24 school year with full scholarship.
• Fallon Abel (Fulbright Scholar)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023TSA Middle School teacher awarded Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching grant to research how schools can better support teen mental health and social-emotional wellness. Used research to develop Fostering Hope program with Finnish teachers.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• St. Johnsbury Academy: Historic independent school in St. Johnsbury, Vermont serving grades 9-12 with both day and boarding students. Operates as a tuition-charging independent school in Vermont with a much larger, broader portfolio than TSA.
• Burr and Burton Academy: Larger independent high school in Manchester, Vermont serving roughly 800 students. Comparable as a Vermont independent school competing for tuition-paying families, but at substantially greater scale and broader curricular scope.

Direct peers

• Long Trail School: Independent middle and high school in Dorset, Vermont serving roughly 100 students with a 6:1 student-teacher ratio and emphasis on experiential, expeditionary learning. Closely comparable in size, geography, and pedagogy to TSA.
• Putney School: Independent progressive boarding and day school in Putney, Vermont emphasizing experiential learning, arts, and student-driven projects. Highly comparable to TSA's progressive pedagogy, though larger and more boarding-focused.
• Compass School: Small independent school in Thetford, Vermont serving grades 7-12 with a similarly small enrollment, proficiency-based learning, and emphasis on individualized student-driven projects. Closest comparable in scale, region, and progressive pedagogical model.
• The Mountain School of Milton Academy: Semester-based experiential program in Vershire, Vermont with strong experiential learning, farm-based curriculum, and small cohort. Comparable to TSA's Interim model in emphasizing hands-on immersive learning and small community.

Regional players

• Green Mountain Valley School: Independent day and boarding school in Waitsfield, Vermont with strong focus on skiing/snowboarding and athletics. Comparable as a Vermont independent specialty school, but with a much narrower sports-centric identity.
• Thetford Academy: Nearby Vermont secondary school serving a similar geographic catchment including students from the same towns TSA serves. Operates a public/private hybrid model with broad curricular offerings, competing for the same rural Vermont families.
• Lyndon Institute: Independent high school in Lyndon Center, Vermont offering a broader curricular and vocational/technical portfolio. Competes for students across central and northern Vermont at a similar tuition tier.

Emerging players

• Rock Point School: Small independent private school in Burlington, Vermont serving adolescents with a focus on social-emotional learning and project-based academics. Comparable to TSA's advisory and P.A.T.H./E.S.P. wellness programs and small-school model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC3LXGYuZulrPzWOJoLhZoTw
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheSharonAcademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/thesharonacademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/the-sharon-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 The Sharon Academy