St. Cecilia Academy
St. Cecilia Academy is an independent Catholic all-girls college preparatory school (grades 7-12) in Nashville, TN, owned by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation since 1860. It delivers a liberal-arts curriculum with 16 AP courses, 10:1 teacher ratio, and ancillary dance, music, and camp programs funded primarily through tuition, charitable giving, and Tennessee state scholarships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1860
- HeadquartersNashville, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What St. Cecilia Academy does
St. Cecilia Academy is an independent, nonprofit Catholic all-girls college-preparatory school serving grades 7-12, located on an 83-acre Dominican Campus at 4210 Harding Pike in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1860 by Dominican Sisters from Somerset, Ohio, at the request of Bishop James Whelan, the school is the oldest continuously operating private school in Nashville and is owned and operated by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation. The institution delivers a liberal-arts college-preparatory curriculum comprising 16 AP courses, 14 honors courses, distinctive programs (Philosophy, Geometry First, Physics First, Art of Living, Interim), and a Learning Support Program. Class size averages 13 with a 10:1 student-teacher ratio, and the 77% of faculty hold a Master's degree or higher. Faith formation, retreats, daily Mass, and Dominican pillars (prayer, study, community, service) are integrated into academic life; 79% of students are Catholic.
Revenue is generated primarily through annual tuition ($21,450 for junior high, $26,500 for high school, inclusive of a $400 registration fee) plus ancillary programs including St. Cecilia Dance Academy, St. Cecilia Music Conservatory, Camp St. Cecilia, and facility rentals. An Annual Fund and charitable giving from alumnae, parents, and friends covers approximately 6% of the operating budget; the Annual Fund is supplemented by the SCA Golf Classic and Rose Gala event-based fundraising. Need-based financial assistance is provided to 36% of students through the FACTS application process, supplemented by Tennessee's ESA ($9,800/student) and EFS ($7,295 per family) state scholarship programs. Distribution is direct-to-family via an admissions-driven enrollment funnel (Preview Day, Voices of Veritas, Girls' Night Out, campus visits, shadow days, family interviews) plus a regional shuttle partnership with Montgomery Bell Academy. Outcomes are anchored to a 100% college acceptance rate, $19.4M in merit scholarships offered to the Class of 2026, and recognitions including the U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award (1991) and sustained Newman Guide Recommended status (since 2004). Recent strategic moves include 2022 expansion to grades 7-12, a 2023 Philosophy program launch, and 2026 groundbreaking of a 25,000 sq ft Athletic and Wellness Center under a $16M capital campaign.
St. Cecilia Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- St. Cecilia Academy
- Legal name
- St. Cecilia Academy
- Website
- https://stcecilia.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1860
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- St. Cecilia Academy is an independent Catholic all-girls college preparatory school (grades 7-12) in Nashville, TN, owned by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation since 1860. It delivers a liberal-arts curriculum with 16 AP courses, 10:1 teacher ratio, and ancillary dance, music, and camp programs funded primarily through tuition, charitable giving, and Tennessee state scholarships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
St. Cecilia Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Catholic Education (K-12)
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)
Keywords
Where St. Cecilia Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nashville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
St. Cecilia Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition Revenue: Primary revenue stream from tuition payments for junior high (grades 7-8) and high school (grades 9-12) students. Tuition covers curriculum, academic resources, co-curricular activities, meal plan, technology program, customized college counseling, and overnight retreats.
- Annual Fund and Charitable Giving: Donations from alumnae, parents, grandparents, and friends supporting daily operations through the Annual Fund (providing approximately 6% of operating budget), capital campaigns, endowment gifts, and planned giving programs.
- Event-Based Fundraising: Revenue from SCA Golf Classic tournament and Rose Gala events, including sponsorships, ticket sales, and auction donations supporting athletics and general school programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Junior High (Grades 7-8) Annual Tuition |
| Subscription | Annual | High School (Grades 9-12) Annual Tuition |
| Subscription | Annual | St. Cecilia Dance Academy (SCDA) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels13 records
St. Cecilia Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
St. Cecilia Academy is an independent Catholic all-girls college preparatory school for grades 7-12, founded in 1860 by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation. The school delivers a rigorous liberal arts education with 16 AP courses, 14 honors courses, fine arts, athletics, and faith formation on an 83-acre Dominican Campus in Nashville, Tennessee. Beyond core academics, the school operates sub-brand programs including St. Cecilia Dance Academy, St. Cecilia Music Conservatory, and Camp St. Cecilia, serving both enrolled students and members of the broader Nashville community.
Product overview
St. Cecilia Academy is an independent, Catholic all-girls college preparatory school (grades 7-12) founded in 1860 by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia. The institution operates as a unified educational institution offering core academic programs alongside complementary programs including St. Cecilia Dance Academy, St. Cecilia Music Conservatory, Camp St. Cecilia, and comprehensive athletics. Key program offerings include Learning Support Program, College Counseling (supporting $19.4M in scholarships for Class of 2026), distinctive curricula (Philosophy, Geometry First, Physics First, Art of Living, Interim), and faith formation programs. The school is undergoing expansion with a new 25,000 sq ft Athletic and Wellness Center (2026) and maintains accreditation through Cognia, NCEA, and TAIS with Newman Guide Recommended status. Financial services include tuition management via FACTS and participation in Tennessee ESA/EFS programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ballet Buddies: Interactive dance program for young girls from 18 months to 36 months with their parent or caregiver.
- Women's Book Club
- The Harp School
Products and services
- St. Cecilia Academy (Grades 7-12 College Preparatory Education) Independent Catholic all-girls college preparatory school educating young women in grades 7-12. Rooted in Dominican tradition since 1860, offering rigorous academic curriculum with 16 AP and 14 honors courses, fine arts, athletics, and faith formation programs. Located on 83-acre Dominican Campus in Nashville, TN. Annual tuition: $21,450 junior high; $26,500 high school.
- St. Cecilia Dance Academy (SCDA) After-school and Saturday dance program for girls from 18 months to adult. Offers training in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre dance, contemporary, hip hop, and more. Includes Ballet Buddies program for ages 18-36 months with parent/caregiver. Tuition: $820/year or $410/semester. 10% sibling/multiple class discount available.
- St. Cecilia Music Conservatory Music education program offering private lessons, Chamber Ensemble, Chorus, and conservatory instruction. Includes The Harp School as a sub-program focused on harp education.
- Camp St. Cecilia Summer camp program offering youth programming for girls during summer months.
- College Counseling Program Comprehensive four-year college counseling program supporting students to discover best-fit colleges. Includes PSAT prep, individual counseling, college fairs, essay workshops, and financial aid nights. Class of 2026 received $19.4 million in merit scholarships across 116 colleges in 36 states.
- Learning Support Program Academic support program for students with diagnosed mild learning differences, psycho-social stressors, and physical disabilities. Provides enhanced academic support while maintaining full integration into the college preparatory curriculum. Led by a Learning Specialist.
- Philosophy Program Four one-semester philosophy courses: Philosophy of the Human Person, Ethics, Bioethics, and Philosophy Seminar. Explores Aristotelian-Thomistic tradition through readings, discussions, and creative projects.
- Athletics Program 14 interscholastic sports offerings including basketball, bowling, cheerleading, cross country, golf, lacrosse, riflery, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. 67% of students participate. Competes via TSSAA Division II Class A.
- Faith and Service Program Comprehensive faith formation including weekly Mass, daily prayer, retreats, Confirmation preparation, and 60-hour service requirement. Service program progresses through grades with SHIELD project for seniors. Includes Sodality, Mercy Nights, Adoration, and mission trips.
- Visual and Performing Arts (VAP) Program Multi-disciplinary survey course for freshmen incorporating dance, drama, speech, music, and visual art. Students must complete two fine arts credits. Facilities include dance studio, two art studios, darkroom, and 500-seat theater.
- Theater Program Four productions annually: fall Broadway musical and spring play (high school), fall play and spring junior musical (junior high). Award-winning program including Forensics competition and master's speech and drama classes.
- Financial Assistance and Scholarship Program Need-based financial assistance through FACTS application. 36% of students receive financial aid. Tennessee ESA program provides $9,800 per eligible student. Education Freedom Scholarship provides $7,295 to 81 SCA families. Over 30 named scholarships available.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% college acceptance rate for the Class of 2025
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use St. Cecilia Academy
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
St. Cecilia Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
St. Cecilia Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Montgomery Bell AcademyminorMontgomery Bell Academy offers shuttle bus routes for families of MBA, St. Cecilia, Overbrook, Akiva, and Harpeth Hall in Davidson and Williamson counties. Routes include LaVergne-Antioch-Brentwood and Franklin/Hillsboro Rd. Buses operate every school morning including exam weeks.
- State of Tennessee - ESA ProgramcoreEducation Savings Account (ESA) state-funded scholarship program for eligible families. Provided $9,800 per student to eligible SCA families in 2025-2026.
- State of Tennessee - EFS ProgramcoreEducation Freedom Scholarship (EFS) expanding access to independent school education. Awarded $7,295 to 81 SCA families in 2025-2026.
- Harpeth Valley Athletic Conference (HVAC)coreMiddle school athletics conference for St. Cecilia Academy's middle school sports programs.
- Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA)coreTSSAA Division II Class A athletic association for high school sports. St. Cecilia Academy competes at the high school level through this association.
- FACTS ManagementcoreThird-party financial assessment partner for tuition management and financial assistance applications. Manages payment plans, FACTS financial aid applications, and enrollment deposits.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights7 records
St. Cecilia Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Harpeth Hall School: Nashville-based independent college-prep school for girls in grades 5-12. Most direct geographic competitor to St. Cecilia Academy — also non-Catholic, also all-girls, competing for the same Nashville-area college-prep families and even sharing a shuttle bus route partnership with MBA.
- University School of Nashville: Independent non-sectarian K-12 college-prep school in Nashville with strong academic reputation. Competes with St. Cecilia for academically-focused Nashville families seeking college-prep rigor, though USN is coed and non-faith-based.
- Overbrook Catholic School: Preschool-3 through 6th-grade coed Catholic school sharing the same Dominican Campus and Dominican Sisters governance. Operationally a sister institution under the same parent organization and serves as SCA's primary K-6 feeder school.
- Aquinas College: Catholic liberal arts college on the same Dominican Campus, sharing faculty, governance, and physical infrastructure with St. Cecilia Academy. Sister institution under the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation providing natural post-secondary pathway for SCA graduates.
- Father Ryan High School: Nashville's other major Catholic coed college-prep high school and a direct diocesan Catholic-school competitor. Families seeking Catholic college-prep in Nashville typically compare Father Ryan and St. Cecilia as the primary options.
- Madeira School: Independent all-girls college-prep boarding/day school (grades 9-12) in McLean, Virginia. Operates a similar all-girls college-prep model with strong STEM emphasis and signature co-curricular programs — comparable positioning as a national leader in single-sex secondary education.
- The Agnes Irwin School: Independent all-girls PK-12 college-prep school near Philadelphia. Comparable in mission, single-sex positioning, college-prep rigor, and alumnae-network-driven development model to St. Cecilia Academy.
- Convent of the Sacred Heart: Network of Catholic independent all-girls college-prep schools (PK-12) across multiple U.S. cities with Sacred Heart mission. Comparable Catholic, single-sex, college-prep positioning; comparable size and programming scope to St. Cecilia.
Regional players
- Montgomery Bell Academy: Nashville's premier all-boys college-prep school (grades 7-12). While not a direct competitor due to single-sex focus, MBA is the closest peer institution in the same metro and partners with SCA on transportation — families often consider both within the same private-school decision.
Emerging players
- Currey Ingram Academy: Independent K-12 school near Nashville serving students with learning differences. While not a direct competitor for typical students, it competes for a portion of Nashville families seeking premium private education and is a benchmark for differentiated academic programming in the metro.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
St. Cecilia Academy social profiles
Digital presenceSt. Cecilia Academy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
St. Cecilia Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
St. Cecilia Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
St. Cecilia Academy subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
St. Cecilia Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
St. Cecilia Academy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about St. Cecilia Academy
What does St. Cecilia Academy do?
St. Cecilia Academy is an independent Catholic all-girls college preparatory school for grades 7-12, founded in 1860 by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation. The school delivers a rigorous liberal arts education with 16 AP courses, 14 honors courses, fine arts, athletics, and faith formation on an 83-acre Dominican Campus in Nashville, Tennessee. Beyond core academics, the school operates sub-brand programs including St. Cecilia Dance Academy, St. Cecilia Music Conservatory, and Camp St. Cecilia, serving both enrolled students and members of the broader Nashville community.
Is St. Cecilia Academy a public or private company?
St. Cecilia Academy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was St. Cecilia Academy founded?
St. Cecilia Academy was founded in 1860.
Where is St. Cecilia Academy based?
St. Cecilia Academy is headquartered in Nashville, United States, in the North America region.
How does St. Cecilia Academy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition Revenue is the primary driver. The others are annual Fund and Charitable Giving and event-Based Fundraising.
Who are St. Cecilia Academy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Harpeth Hall School, University School of Nashville, Overbrook Catholic School, Aquinas College, Father Ryan High School, Madeira School, The Agnes Irwin School and Convent of the Sacred Heart. Montgomery Bell Academy is listed as a regional player. Currey Ingram Academy is listed as an emerging player.
Does St. Cecilia Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for St. Cecilia Academy.
What industry is St. Cecilia Academy in?
St. Cecilia Academy's product category is Private Catholic Education (K-12). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJABAC, Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.