What Star Academy Boston does

Star Academy Boston is a private independent day school founded in 2018 by Larisa Bankovsky and Margarita Druker, serving students from Preschool through 12th Grade across two Massachusetts campuses in Wellesley (PK-12, opened September 2021) and Watertown (PK-4, opened 2018). The school reports 476 enrolled students supported by 77 faculty members, producing a 6:1 student-faculty ratio and a 1:1 faculty advising model. The core product is a college-preparatory curriculum with Advanced Placement courses, a bilingual Russian-English preschool track, and specialized offerings in robotics, fencing, martial arts, and an incoming upper-school AI tools elective. The school is currently producing its first graduating class (Class of 2026), with reported acceptances to Johns Hopkins, Boston University, NYU, UC San Diego, UMass, and others.

The revenue model is tuition-driven, with K-12 tuition set at $25,500 per year for 2025-2026 and flexible annual, semi-annual, or monthly billing. Preschool tuition is structured monthly at $800 to $2,550 depending on attendance frequency (1 to 5 days per week). Supplementary recurring revenue streams include after-school care ($175-$875/month), activity lessons ($200-$250/month), and summer camps ($1,600-$1,900 per two-week session). Distribution is direct via the admissions office, requiring inquiry forms, campus tours (in-person or virtual), interviews, placement exams, and transcript reviews. The school is SEVIS-accredited and authorized to issue F-1 visas for international students, representing a secondary distribution channel.

The institution is governed by co-founders Bankovsky and Druker with a leadership team that includes heads of academic affairs, admissions, and individual academic departments. Star Academy holds NEASC accreditation earned in February 2025, CIS membership since September 2023, and AISNE membership. Strategic partnerships signed in 2025 with Regis College (transferable college-credit chemistry) and Babson College (athletic facility access) form the top of an emerging ecosystem. The school is privately held with no disclosed external institutional investors, operating in a single U.S. state with two physical campuses.

Name

Star Academy Boston

Legal name

Star Academy

Website

https://staracademyboston.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Star Academy Boston is a private independent day school founded in 2018, serving 476 PreK-12 students across Wellesley and Watertown campuses in Massachusetts with a 6:1 student-faculty ratio and tuition-based college-preparatory curriculum.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellesley

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition - Lower, Middle, Upper School: Annual tuition for grades K-12 with flexible payment options including annual, semi-annual, and monthly plans
2. Preschool Tuition: Monthly tuition for preschool program ranging from 1-5 days per week, ranging from $800/month to $2,550/month
3. Summer Camp Programs: Summer Academy programs including Discovery (K-5) at $1,600 per 2-week session and STEM Program (6-12) at $1,900 per 2-week session
4. After School Care: Monthly after school care services ranging from $175 to $875 per month based on frequency of attendance
5. Activity Lessons: Semi-private lessons at $200/month and private lessons at $250/month for various activities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Star Academy Boston is an independent day school delivering college-preparatory education from Preschool through 12th Grade across two Massachusetts campuses. The school sells tuition-based enrollment in grade-level programs (Preschool, Lower School K-5, Middle School 6-8, Upper School 9-12) and supplementary fee-based services including Summer Academy, After School Care, activity lessons, college counseling, and SAT testing.

Product overview

Star Academy Boston is an independent day school serving PreK through 12th Grade with two campuses in Wellesley and Watertown, Massachusetts. The institution offers a unified educational platform comprising grade-level programs (Preschool, Lower School K-5, Middle School 6-8, and Upper School 9-12), supplemented by support services (Advisory, College Counseling), seasonal programs (Summer Academy), extended care (After School Care), and extracurricular activities (Clubs, Athletics). The school emphasizes personalized learning, academic excellence, and holistic development, with notable offerings including AP courses, robotics, AI education, and competitive programs in math, science, and business.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Preschool Program Specialized preschool curriculum for children ages 2.75 to 5 with play-based learning and bilingual (Russian and English) support. Operates daily 8:00 AM to 5:45 PM with tiered monthly pricing from $800 to $2,550.
• Lower School Program (K-5) Elementary education program for Grades K-5 developing essential skills in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies while fostering creativity and critical thinking through personalized learning.
• Middle School Program (Grades 6-8) Program for Grades 6-8 emphasizing personalized, challenging academic learning while nurturing independence, responsibility, and self-esteem. Covers English, math, science, social studies, and diverse electives.
• Upper School Program (Grades 9-12) College-preparatory program for Grades 9-12 with Advanced Placement (AP) courses, SAT preparation, and diverse electives. Features faculty with advanced degrees and individualized instruction, with 30% of teachers holding doctoral degrees.
• Summer Academy Summer educational camp in the Greater Boston area at the Wellesley Campus. Features Discovery Program (Grades K-5) at $1,600 per 2-week session and STEM Program (Grades 6-12) at $1,900 per 2-week session. Includes SEVIS-accredited I-20 issuance for international students.
• After School Care
• Advisory Program Faculty advisor pairing program providing personalized 1:1 guidance for academic challenges, goal setting, college and career exploration, and social-emotional skill development.
• College Counseling Comprehensive college preparation including resume building, application support, SAT/ACT preparation, college site visits, and partnership programs connecting students with college alumni for guidance.
• Clubs and Activities Wide array of thematic clubs including Literary Magazine, Book Club, Math Team, Environmental Club, Forensics Club, DECA, Debate Club, Model UN, Robotics Club, Chess, Fencing, and Dance.
• Physical Education and Athletics Sports program featuring fencing, martial arts, and general physical education. Includes access to professional fencing hall and partnership with Babson College Athletic Complex for expanded facilities.
• SAT Testing Center On-campus SAT center providing students the convenience of taking the SAT exam within their school environment.
• Applications of AI Tools Elective Upper School elective course teaching students to use generative AI tools including language models like ChatGPT for creative writing, research, design, and problem-solving. Students develop critical thinking skills to navigate an AI-shaped world.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6:1 student-faculty ratio enables individualized attention
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Regis CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Academic partnership beginning 2025 where Upper School students study Chemistry on the Regis College campus with classes taught by Regis faculty. Students access fully equipped university laboratories and earn official college credits transferable to future universities. This collaboration provides authentic college environment experience for smoother transition from high school to higher education.
• Babson CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Partnership allowing Middle and Upper School students to use the Babson College Athletic Complex for Physical Education classes. Students gain access to fully equipped gyms, training areas, and sports facilities designed to support athletic activities. This collaboration reflects commitment to providing world-class facilities for student health and well-being.
• St. Catherine's Moorlands SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025International partnership agreement signed with St. Catherine's Moorlands School in Buenos Aires, Argentina, fostering cross-cultural educational exchange between the two institutions.
• Council of International Schools (CIS)minorOthers · 1 September 2023Member since September 2023. CIS is a respected global organization focused on improving international education and fostering global perspective. Membership signifies that the school meets high standards in teaching, management, student well-being, and global awareness.
• Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE)minorOthersProud member of AISNE, signifying commitment to maintaining highest standards of educational excellence and continuous improvement in independent school education.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Belmont Day School: PreK-8 independent day school in Belmont, MA offering personalized learning with a 6:1 student-faculty ratio. Direct competitor in the same metro area with similar small-class-size philosophy and family-oriented culture.
• Newton Country Day School: Newton, MA-based independent Catholic day school for girls (grades K-9), affiliated with the Society of the Sacred Heart. Overlaps with Star Academy's holistic education model, premium tuition, and Boston-area college-prep positioning.
• Meadowbrook School: Weston, MA independent day school serving grades K-8 with progressive pedagogy and small class sizes. Direct competitor in the same western-suburban Boston market segment.
• The Rivers School: Independent day school in Weston, MA serving grades 6-12 with strong college-prep and AP offerings. Competitor for Star Academy's Upper School students, particularly given shared emphasis on individualized instruction and advanced degrees among faculty.
• International School of Boston: Independent day school in Cambridge, MA serving PreK-12 with French/English bilingual programs. Comparable international, multicultural, and language-immersion positioning to Star Academy's bilingual Russian-English preschool.
• Dexter Southfield School: Brookline, MA independent day school serving PreK-12 with strong STEM and athletics programs. Comparable full-span offering with Boston-area family demographic.
• Brimmer and May School: Newton, MA independent day school serving PreK-12 with emphasis on individualized learning and small class sizes. Closest peer in span (PreK-12) and direct geographic overlap with Star Academy's Wellesley/Watertown campuses.
• Buckingham Browne & Nichols School (BB&N): Cambridge-based independent day school serving PreK-9 with a strong college-prep focus. Comparable in academic positioning, target demographic of Greater Boston families, and similar premium tuition range; BB&N is a far older and more established competitor.

Regional players

• Gann Academy: Jewish independent day school in Waltham, MA serving grades 9-12. Comparable Greater Boston location, college-prep mission, and AP offerings; competes for the same Upper School Jewish and non-Jewish families seeking rigorous secondary education.

Emerging players

• Russian School of Mathematics: After-school math enrichment program with strong Russian-heritage roots across U.S. communities. Partial overlap with Star Academy's bilingual Russian heritage preschool and Russian-origin faculty base, though RSM is a supplementary program rather than full-day school.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/staracademyboston
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/staracademyboston

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Star Academy Boston