St Cecelia School

What St Cecelia School does

St. Cecelia Interparochial Catholic School is a private Catholic PK-3 through 8th grade school located in Clearwater, Florida, founded in 1948 and operating under the Diocese of St. Petersburg. It serves approximately 500 students from the Tampa Bay area on a single campus at 1350 Court Street, with average class size of about 25 students and 46 employees. The school is the only private school in Pinellas County authorized as an International Baccalaureate World School, offering the IB Primary Years Programme (ages 3-12) and Middle Years Programme (grades 6-8) integrated with Catholic faith formation. It has earned two National Blue Ribbon School designations (2010 and 2020) from the U.S. Department of Education.

The school's core academic product is the IB-aligned PK-8 curriculum, supplemented by a 1:1 iPad program (school-owned devices for all K-8 students with AppleCare coverage and CIPA-compliant filtering), a STREAM Center for interdisciplinary Science/Technology/Religion/Engineering/Art/Math projects, and special programs in performing arts, athletics, gifted education, Spanish via Florida Virtual School, and Code.org-supplemented middle school design. The technology stack relies on RenWeb/FACTS for student information, Constant Contact for email outreach, PayPal for donations, and third-party adaptive learning platforms (IXL, Carnegie Learning MATHia, BrainPOP). Library collection exceeds 20,000 books. Four supporting parishes (St. Cecelia, St. Catherine of Siena, Light of Christ, St. Brendan) provide institutional backing.

The business model is tuition-driven at $8,940 per student per year, with the actual cost of education stated at $11,623, leaving a $2,683 per-student gap covered by the A.C.T. (Actual Cost Tuition) campaign, alumni giving, event sponsorships (Crusader Gallop, Fun Run), and Home & School Association fundraising. The Mandatory Hours of Service program requires 24 volunteer hours per family annually. Additional revenue comes from a $100 non-refundable application fee, annual iPad device/insurance fees, and paid extended day care (3:30-6:00pm). Distribution is direct enrollment through the on-campus admissions office via school tours and open houses.

Name

St Cecelia School

Legal name

St. Cecelia Interparochial Catholic School

Website

https://st-cecelia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

St. Cecelia Interparochial Catholic School is a Clearwater, Florida-based private Catholic PK-3 through 8th grade school serving approximately 500 Tampa Bay students. It is the only private school in Pinellas County offering the IB Programme and a two-time National Blue Ribbon Award winner.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-8 Catholic Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

Keywords

• Private catholic education
• International baccalaureate programme
• Primary years programme
• Middle years programme
• K-8 faith education

Headquarters

HQ city

Clearwater

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Annual tuition payments from families for student enrollment in PreK-3 through 8th grade programs. Actual cost of education is $11,623 per student; tuition is $8,940, creating a $2,683 per-student funding gap subsidized by donations and fundraising.
2. A.C.T. Campaign Donations: Actual Cost Tuition campaign soliciting donations to bridge the gap between tuition ($8,940) and actual cost of education ($11,623). Donation suggestions range from $250-$2,683 for one student or $500-$5,366 for two students.
3. Application/Registration Fees: Non-refundable $100 application/registration fee per student.
4. iPad Device Rental Fee: Annual rental/device fee for school-owned iPads covering device use, case, and insurance. Fee varies by grade level and device.
5. Event Sponsorships and Alumni Giving: Annual Crusader Gallop and Fun Run event generates sponsorships. Alumni contributions support student programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

St. Cecelia Interparochial Catholic School delivers a PreK-3 through 8th grade private Catholic education grounded in International Baccalaureate frameworks (Primary Years Programme and Middle Years Programme). The school provides inquiry-based academic instruction, faith formation, technology integration via a 1:1 iPad Program, STREAM-based hands-on learning, performing arts, athletics, and supplemental programs such as Spanish language, academic support, and enhanced learning for gifted students. Families pay annual tuition ($8,940 per student) supplemented by donations, application fees, and device rental fees to access the full curriculum.

Product overview

St. Cecelia Interparochial Catholic School offers a comprehensive PK3-8 educational program built on an International Baccalaureate framework integrated with Catholic faith-based values. The school operates two IB programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for ages 3-12 and the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for grades 6-8, both designed to develop globally-minded students through inquiry-based learning. Core academic programs include Pre-Kindergarten (3 and 4-year-old programs), Kindergarten through 8th Grade with core subjects (Religion, Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies), and special classes including STREAM, Performing Arts, Spanish, and Physical Education. Technology-enhanced learning is supported through a 1:1 iPad Program for K-8 students. The school provides extended day care, academic support services, enhanced/gifted learning opportunities, and a competitive athletics program. The school has earned National Blue Ribbon recognition (2010, 2020) and is the only private school in Pinellas County offering the IB Programme.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) Inquiry-based educational programme for students aged 3-12 (PreK through 5th grade) that develops the whole child through transdisciplinary learning, fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and meaningful action aligned with Catholic values.
• International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) Challenging educational programme for students aged 11-16 (grades 6-8) that connects academic learning to real-world issues while developing critical thinking, communication, and research skills through an IB framework.
• Pre-Kindergarten Program (3-Year-Old and 4-Year-Old) Faith-based preschool programs for 3 and 4-year-olds integrating spiritual formation, early literacy, math concepts, Spanish exposure, and weekly STREAM Center visits with flexible full-day, half-day, and extended care options.
• Kindergarten Through 8th Grade Academic Program Comprehensive academic curriculum spanning kindergarten through 8th grade with core subjects (Religion, Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies), special classes, and IB framework integration for grades 6-8.
• STREAM Program Interdisciplinary educational approach combining Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics through hands-on projects in the STREAM Center, available weekly for PreK-5 students and during technology wheel for grades 6-8.
• 1:1 iPad Program School-owned device program providing each student with a personal iPad for classroom and home use (K-8), with insurance coverage, internet filtering (CIPA compliant), and content monitoring during school hours. Devices stay at school for K-1 and may be taken home for grades 2-8.
• Athletics Program Competitive sports program offering volleyball (fall), flag football (fall), basketball (winter), soccer (winter), baseball (spring), cheerleading, lacrosse, and tennis with seasonal team participation for students.
• Extended Day Care After-school care program operating 3:30-6:00pm, providing supervision and enrichment activities for students beyond regular school hours.
• Performing Arts Program Comprehensive arts education including visual arts, theater/drama, music, creative movement, choreography, script writing, public speaking, and annual Christmas and Spring Performing Arts Productions for grades 2-8.
• Spanish Language Program (K-8) World language instruction delivered through Florida Virtual School (FLVS) for grades K-8, covering reading, writing, listening, speaking, and cultural exploration with licensed instructor support.
• Enhanced Learning Program (Gifted Education) Pull-out gifted education program for grades 1-5 following NAGC and Florida Frameworks standards, featuring inquiry-based exploration, field trips, student-led conferences, and independent/collaborative product creation.
• Library Services School library within the STREAM Center containing over 20,000 books including fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, AR-leveled materials, coding books, and Battle of the Books competition participation for grades 3-8.
• 1:1 iPad Program with Annual Rental/Device Fee Annual rental/device fee for school-owned iPads covering device use, protective case, and AppleCare insurance. Varies by grade level and device type with $49 per-incident fee for screen breaks or water damage (first two incidents only).

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of parents report feeling deeply connected to their child's education
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• St. Cecelia Catholic ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary supporting parish of the interparochial school. Located at 820 Jasmine Way, Clearwater, FL 33756. Provides ongoing institutional support and alignment with Catholic mission.
• St. Catherine of Siena Catholic ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting parish of the interparochial school. Located at 1955 S. Belcher Road, Clearwater, FL 33764. Part of the four-parish network supporting the school.
• Light of Christ Catholic ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting parish of the interparochial school. Located at 2176 Marilyn Street, Clearwater, FL 33765. Contributes to the interparochial school's parish community network.
• St. Brendan Catholic ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting parish of the interparochial school. Located at 245 Dory Passage, Clearwater, FL 33767. One of four parishes that comprise the interparochial school network.
• Diocese of St. PetersburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool operates under the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Hosts annual Battle of the Books competition for the diocese.
• United Nations (Sustainable Development Goals)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFifth Grade PYP Exhibition project based on UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Students investigate real-world issues aligned with global development targets.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• St. Petersburg Catholic High School: Private Catholic high school in St. Petersburg, FL. Competes for Pinellas County Catholic families graduating from St. Cecelia and other Catholic K-8 schools in the diocese.
• Clearwater Central Catholic High School: Private Catholic high school in Clearwater, FL serving grades 9-12. Feeder/competitor relationship for St. Cecelia graduates and competes for Catholic families in the same Clearwater community.
• Jesuit High School: Private Catholic all-boys high school in Tampa, FL with rigorous college-prep curriculum. Competes for Tampa Bay Catholic families seeking secondary education and represents a downstream competitor for St. Cecelia graduates.
• Tampa Catholic High School: Private Catholic high school in Tampa, FL serving grades 9-12. Competes for Tampa Bay Catholic families at the secondary level and shares diocesan affiliation with St. Cecelia.

Direct peers

• Academy of the Holy Names: Private Catholic school in Tampa, FL serving PreK-3 through 12th grade with rigorous academics and faith-based mission. Closest geographic and mission-aligned peer to St. Cecelia in the Tampa Bay Catholic K-8 market.
• Shorecrest Preparatory School: Independent private school in St. Petersburg, FL serving PreK-3 through 12th grade. Direct competitor for Tampa Bay families seeking premium private education with comprehensive programming.
• Admiral Farragut Academy: Private K-12 school in St. Petersburg, FL with boarding option and rigorous college-prep curriculum. Competes for academically-oriented families in the same Pinellas County market.
• Berkeley Preparatory School: Independent K-12 preparatory school in Tampa, FL offering IB Diploma Programme in upper school. Comparable private school competitor in the Tampa Bay area with similar academic rigor and tuition profile.

Broad incumbents

• Palm Harbor University High School: Public high school in Palm Harbor, FL offering IB Diploma Programme. Provides free IB alternative to private Catholic education, creating pricing pressure for Tampa Bay families evaluating IB options.

Others

• FACTS (Renaissance) Tuition Management: Tuition management and school administrative software provider used by St. Cecelia (RenWeb/FACTS). Industry peer in the operational infrastructure that supports private Catholic schools.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StCeceliaSchool
• Instagraminstagram.com/stceceliaschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st-cecelia-school

Compliance3 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 St Cecelia School