Spartanburg Day School

What Spartanburg Day School does

Spartanburg Day School (SDS) is a private, non-profit independent school founded in 1957 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It operates on a single 1701 Skylyn Drive campus and delivers continuous education from preschool (age 2) through 12th grade. The school enrolls approximately 595 students, employs 159 staff, and holds a $38 million endowment. SDS is nationally accredited by SAIS (Southern Association of Independent Schools) and AdvancED (now Cognia), and is SEVIS-certified to enroll international students on F-1 visas. It is described as the only school in the Upstate of South Carolina offering continuous 2K through 12th grade education on one campus.

The school's core academic product is organized into four divisions (Preschool, Lower School K-4, Middle School 5-8, Upper School 9-12), with an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme in the lower grades and a 23-course Advanced Placement catalog in the Upper School. Reported outcomes include a 100% college acceptance rate, with Class of 2024 students earning $5.18M in combined scholarships averaging $167,000 per student; 78% of Upper School students take at least one AP exam and 76% pass. Supplementary programs include the VISTAS individualized academic support program, 37 athletic teams across 12 sports, comprehensive visual and performing arts, college counseling beginning freshman year, Special Studies Week (experiential learning including international travel), and Extended Day childcare for ages 2 through 8th grade. Technology integration includes a 1:1 device program (iPads in first grade transitioning to laptops by third grade), SchoolAdmin for enrollment, and FACTS for tuition management.

SDS's revenue model is tuition-based, with annual tuition ranging from $10,495 for the youngest preschoolers to $24,951 for grades 10-12 (2026-27 academic year). Approximately 50% of K-12 students receive need-based financial aid with an average 2025 award of $7,908, processed through FACTS. Secondary revenue streams include Extended Day fees ($1,400/semester or $32/day drop-in), donations through the Griffin Fund and endowment, and merit-based scholarships. The school recruits through direct admissions (campus tours, an online application portal, and admissions events) and through agency partnerships for international students. Customer segments include local Upstate South Carolina families, international students from 8+ countries (Brazil, China, Germany, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, Vietnam), expatriate families, and scholarship-eligible families.

Name

Spartanburg Day School

Legal name

Spartanburg Day School

Website

https://spartanburgdayschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Spartanburg Day School is a private, non-profit independent school in Spartanburg, South Carolina, serving approximately 595 students from preschool through 12th grade on a single campus with a $38M endowment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM)

Keywords

• Private school education
• College preparatory
• K-12 education
• Early childhood programs
• Advanced placement courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Spartanburg

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Primary revenue stream from tuition payments for preschool through 12th grade education. Tuition varies by grade level, with preschool programs ranging from $10,495-$13,827 and K-12 programs ranging from $17,664-$24,951 annually.
2. Extended Day Program Fees: After-school childcare and activity fees including semester registration at $1,400 and drop-in rate of $32/day for kindergarten through 8th grade.
3. VISTAS Academic Support: Additional fee-based academic support program providing individualized instruction for students needing assistance beyond regular classroom instruction.
4. Donations and Gifts: The Griffin Fund and other gift programs supported by alumni, parents and friends provide supplementary funding for the educational experience.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Spartanburg Day School is an independent, nonprofit private day school that delivers continuous early-childhood through 12th-grade education on a single integrated campus in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Its core offering is a college-preparatory curriculum anchored by 23 Advanced Placement courses, the IB Primary Years Programme in the Lower School, a 37-team athletics program, fine arts, and an international student program. The school operates with roughly 595 students and 159 employees and supplements tuition revenue with a $38 million endowment to support scholarships and operations.

Product overview

Spartanburg Day School is an independent private school offering a continuous 2K through 12th grade education on one campus. The school operates as a unified educational platform with distinct division programs (Preschool, Lower School, Middle School, Upper School) that share the same mission and community. Core offerings include rigorous academic programs with 23 AP courses, the VISTAS academic support program for students needing additional assistance, comprehensive fine arts (visual arts, performing arts, band), athletics (37 teams across 12 sports), college counseling, and character education. The school also offers specialized programs including an International Student Program with ESOL services, Extended Day childcare, merit and fine arts scholarships, and experiential learning through Special Studies Week. The educational experience is enhanced by IB Primary Years Programme curriculum in the lower grades and a mentorship program in the upper school.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lower School (Early Childhood through Grade 5) Primary-school program for young learners on the Spartanburg Day School campus, implementing the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme alongside foundational literacy, numeracy, and enrichment activities. Designed for families seeking a continuous, single-campus private school pathway beginning in early childhood.
• Middle School (Grades 6–8) Intermediate program for grades 6–8 that bridges the Lower and Upper School experience, offering core academic subjects, exploratory electives, and introductory athletics. Serves families who want their adolescents to continue within the Spartanburg Day School single-campus K-12 pathway.
• Upper School (Grades 9–12) College-preparatory high school program featuring 23 Advanced Placement courses, honors tracks, college counseling, fine arts, and competitive athletics (37 teams). Targeted at college-bound students and families seeking a rigorous private secondary credential leading to university admission.
• International Student Program Program admitting international students into the Spartanburg Day School K-12 pathway, providing college-preparatory academics, English-language support, and residential or host-family arrangements. Designed for overseas families seeking a U.S. private school diploma and pathway to American universities.
• Athletics Program Co-curricular program offering 37 interscholastic athletic teams across Lower, Middle, and Upper School divisions. Available to enrolled students as part of the school's broader physical-education and character-development offering.
• Fine Arts Program Visual and performing arts curriculum integrated across grade levels, including studio art, music, and theater coursework. Offered to enrolled students to fulfill the school's broader college-preparatory and enrichment mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% college acceptance rate with students attending 16 colleges/universities across 7 states
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Charlotte Country Day School: Independent, nonsectarian day school in Charlotte, NC serving age 2 through Grade 12 with AP curriculum and college-prep focus. Closest geographic and structural comparable to Spartanburg Day School's 2K–12 day-school model.
• Savannah Country Day School: Independent nonsectarian day school in Savannah, GA, serving preschool through Grade 12 with AP courses, fine arts, and athletics. Comparable age range, governance, and program mix.
• Heathwood Hall Episcopal School: Independent K–12 day school in Columbia, SC, with college-prep curriculum, AP offerings, and athletics. Same South Carolina market and comparable tuition/financial aid dynamics.
• Hammond School: Independent, nonsectarian day school in Columbia, SC, serving 2-year-olds through Grade 12. Matches Spartanburg Day School's continuous 2K–12 single-campus structure and academic program profile.
• Porter-Gaud School: Independent Episcopal day school in Charleston, SC, serving 1-year-olds through Grade 12 with college-prep academics and athletics. Comparable size, age span, and South Carolina independent-school segment.
• Augusta Preparatory Day School: Independent day school in Augusta, GA, serving age 3 through Grade 12 with AP curriculum and college-prep focus. Comparable size and continuous-grade structure.
• Trinity Collegiate School: Independent day school in Darlington, SC, serving grades 5–12 with college-prep curriculum and athletic programs. South Carolina peer with similar regional positioning.
• Baylor School: Independent day and boarding school in Chattanooga, TN, serving grades 6–12 with college-prep academics, AP curriculum, and robust athletics. Comparable tuition-driven model and athletic breadth.

Broad incumbents

• The Westminster Schools: Larger, prestigious independent day school in Atlanta, GA, serving pre-K through Grade 12 with rigorous AP/IB curriculum. Significantly larger scale and broader resource base than SDS but same product category.
• Woodward Academy: Large independent day school in College Park, GA, serving pre-K through Grade 12 with extensive AP offerings and athletics. Same operational category but at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SpartanburgDay
• YouTubeyoutube.com/SpartanburgDaySchool
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpartanburgDaySchool
• Instagraminstagram.com/spartanburgday

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Spartanburg Day School