Sterne School
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Sterne School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sterne School
- Legal name
- Sterne School
- Website
- https://sterneschool.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sterne School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent K-12 Education for Neurodiverse Learners
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Learning Disabilities & Dyslexia Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Dyscalculia/Math Learning Differences Tutoring (EDANAFAE)
Keywords
Where Sterne School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sterne School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition Revenue: Annual tuition for grades 4-12. Lower and Middle School: $50,000; High School: $53,550. Additional $2,000 new student fee. Revenue is recurring annual tuition with approximately 30% of families receiving tuition assistance.
- Tuition Assistance Program: Sterne distributes approximately $1.3 million annually in tuition assistance, with awards ranging from $2,500 to $34,500 and an average award of $22,000. Approximately 30% of students receive some form of financial aid. Also covers non-tuition expenses including athletics and experiential trips.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Lower and Middle School (Grades 4-8) |
| Subscription | Annual | High School (Grades 9-12) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | New Student Fee |
| Subscription | Annual | Tuition Assistance Awards |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Sterne School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sterne School is a co-ed, independent nonprofit day school in San Francisco serving grades 4-12 with a strengths-based approach for neurodiverse learners, including students with dyslexia, ADHD, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, 2e (twice-exceptional), and anxiety. The school operates as three divisions (Lower School grades 4-5, Middle School grades 6-8, High School grades 9-12) and delivers a proprietary embedded dyslexia intervention called Sterne READS, alongside academics, arts, athletics, social-emotional learning, and college counseling, all integrated into a single annual tuition of $50,000-$53,550.
Product overview
Sterne School operates as a single, unified educational institution offering a comprehensive strengths-based program for neurodiverse learners in grades 4-12. The core academic programs are organized into three divisions: Lower School (grades 4-5), Middle School (grades 6-8), and High School (grades 9-12). Central to the offering is Sterne READS, an intensive dyslexia intervention program based on Orton-Gillingham methodology that is embedded within the ELA curriculum rather than pulled out separately. The school provides integrated support services including learning specialists in every classroom, assistive technology (Chromebooks with Learning Ally, text-to-speech, dictation), Social Emotional Learning programming, and college counseling. Beyond academics, the program includes robust arts (film, drama, music, visual arts), athletics (basketball, handball, volleyball, and more), experiential education (Expedition Days, Experiential Week, international travel), and enrichment activities (clubs, after school classes). The school utilizes third-party platforms including Ravenna for admissions, Clarity for tuition assistance, and Finalsite for its web presence.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lower School Program (Grades 4-5) Strengths-based program offering interventions, enrichment, and joyful learning for the youngest learners in grades 4-5. Features small class sizes (6-10 students), skills-based placement, and integrated learning support for foundational literacy and math skills. Targeted at neurodiverse students entering from elementary settings.
- Middle School Program (Grades 6-8) Tailored learning experience based on individual student learning profiles for grades 6-8. Includes standards-based academics, social-emotional learning programming, skill-level placement, and enrichment opportunities with approximately 8-12 students per class.
- High School Program (Grades 9-12) College preparatory curriculum for grades 9-12 with instruction designed by expert faculty, featuring self-reflection, self-advocacy, and leadership opportunities. Includes comprehensive college counseling, block schedule, and semester-long electives. Class sizes range from 10-15 students.
- Sterne READS (Reading Education And Dyslexia Support) An intensive, individualized dyslexia intervention program embedded within the English Language Arts curriculum rather than a pull-out model. Based on the Orton-Gillingham methodology, it includes seven key components: targeted personalized intervention, multi-sensory instruction, daily phonics practice, linking spelling/reading/writing, word study/vocabulary, applying skills to novels, and bypass strategies/assistive technology. Class sizes of 5-8 students.
- College Counseling & Readiness Program Personalized college advising process beginning in freshman year, with a dedicated college counseling team, individualized meetings, and a 100% 'best fit' rate for graduates attending four-year colleges. Graduates have been accepted to more than 300 colleges and universities over the past decade.
- Arts Programs Comprehensive arts offerings including film, drama, music, studio arts, and digital arts. Features a digital film studio, black box theater, music room with recording studio, and annual drama performances and film festivals. Approximately 70% of the student body participates in visual or performing arts classes and programs.
- Athletics Programs Competitive athletics offerings including basketball, handball, volleyball, futsal, table tennis, running, biking, and yoga, along with various clubs. Approximately 65% of students participate in competitive or club sports.
- After School Classes & Activities After school enrichment offerings including cooking, robotics, art, rock band, along with competitive athletics and clubs. Aftercare partnership with Salesian Boys & Girls Club provides supervision until 6:00 PM for students in grades 4-8.
- Experiential Week Annual immersive week-long experiential education program offering off-campus learning opportunities, community service, and cultural immersion.
- Expedition Days Experiential field trips that immerse students in local community culture and learning outside the classroom, connecting academic content with real-world experiences.
- Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Framework Instructional framework implemented schoolwide through partnership with CAST Institute, providing multiple means of engagement, representation, and action/expression to support diverse learners. Faculty receive professional development in UDL frameworks.
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Programming Schoolwide social-emotional learning programming supported by partnerships with The Social Institute (social media/technology navigation), Girls Leadership (gender equity and female empowerment), and Girls on the Run (SEL curriculum and 5K running events for middle school girls).
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% of graduates accepted to college with 'best-fit' rate
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Sterne School
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Sterne School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature3 records
Sterne School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Girls on the RunminorNational program with local chapter providing SEL curriculum and 5K running events for middle school girls.
- UCSF Dyslexia CentercoreProud partner of the UCSF Dyslexia Center. The school collaborates with UCSF on research and best practices for dyslexia intervention, including the Dyslexia Phenotype Project and Math Neuroscience and Education Program.
- UCSF Dyslexia Phenotype ProjectcorePartnership with UCSF for research on dyslexia, contributing to scientific-neuro research on how the brain learns to read.
- UCSF Math Neuroscience and Education ProgramcorePartnership with UCSF for research and best practices in math education for students with learning differences.
- CAST Institute (Universal Design for Learning)corePartnership with CAST Institute for Universal Design for Learning (UDL) training and implementation. Faculty receive professional development in UDL frameworks.
- Rotary Club of San Francisco ChinatowncoreCommunity partnership focused on connecting Sterne with Chinatown neighbors. Rotary helped facilitate Sterne's involvement in the community including Chinese New Year parade, neighborhood events, and service opportunities.
- Girls LeadershipminorOakland-based nonprofit providing professional development workshops on gender equity and female empowerment. Conducted 'Bravespace Groundwork' training for faculty and staff.
- The Social InstituteminorSEL education partner providing resources on navigating social media and technology in positive ways for students.
- Resource Group 175 (RG175)coreNational consulting firm specializing in independent school leadership transitions. Engaged to conduct Head of School search process. Steve Morris serves as lead search consultant.
- ClaritycoreOnline platform for tuition assistance applications. Streamlines financial aid process with IRS verification integration, mobile-friendly application, and 30-minute completion time.
- Mission EnrollmentminorPartner hosting financial aid family webinars and providing support for tuition assistance application process.
- RavennacoreAdmissions platform used for inquiry forms, applications, teacher recommendations, and scheduling. Guides families through the complete admissions process.
- Salesian Boys & Girls ClubminorAftercare partnership providing supervision until 6:00 PM for students in grades 4-8 at the North Beach location.
- Eye to EyeminorNationwide mentoring program. Sterne Language Arts teacher serves as Diplomat, connecting students with mentorship opportunities.
- Ocean Exploration TrustminorSterne Science teacher is a Science Communication Fellow with the Ocean Exploration Trust.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sterne School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Stanbridge Academy: Independent K-12 day school in San Mateo serving students with mild-to-moderate learning differences; overlapping leadership alumni (Matt Poynter, Melissa Myers) and similar integrated-support model make it the closest direct competitor.
- Chartwell School: Independent school in Seaside, CA for grades 1-12 serving students with language-based learning differences including dyslexia; comparable small class sizes and Orton-Gillingham-based curriculum.
- Charles Armstrong School: Belmont, CA school serving grades 2-8 with dyslexia and language-based learning differences; similar strengths-based mission, small classes, and integrated academic therapy across the school day.
- Sand Hill School: Palo Alto-based school for grades 2-8 focused on students with dyslexia, ADHD, and executive function challenges; adjacent Bay Area geography with comparable mission and integrated intervention model.
- Westmark School: Encino, CA grades 2-12 school for students with LD, ADHD, and dyslexia; similar integrated support model, small class sizes, and specialty college-prep curriculum.
- The Lab School of Washington: DC-based independent school for grades 1-12 serving students with LD and ADHD; comparable pedagogy, individualized instruction, and integrated arts/science programs.
- Shelton School: Texas-based independent school (K-12) purpose-built for students with learning differences including dyslexia; one of the largest and best-known specialty LD schools in the U.S. with a very similar integrated-services model.
- Currey Ingram Academy: Nashville, TN K-12 school for students with LD, ADHD, and dyslexia; comparable strengths-based approach, small class sizes, and college counseling outcomes.
- Helix School: San Francisco independent school for K-8 students with language-based learning differences, including dyslexia; shares the same city geography and narrowly targeted student population as Sterne.
- Bayhill High School: Bay Area high school serving students with learning disabilities; comparable specialty high-school proposition with small classes and college-prep focus for neurodiverse learners.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights8 records
Customer concentration
Sterne School social profiles
Digital presenceSterne School compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Sterne School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sterne School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Sterne School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sterne School 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 Sterne School
What does Sterne School do?
Sterne School is a co-ed, independent nonprofit day school in San Francisco serving grades 4-12 with a strengths-based approach for neurodiverse learners, including students with dyslexia, ADHD, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, 2e (twice-exceptional), and anxiety. The school operates as three divisions (Lower School grades 4-5, Middle School grades 6-8, High School grades 9-12) and delivers a proprietary embedded dyslexia intervention called Sterne READS, alongside academics, arts, athletics, social-emotional learning, and college counseling, all integrated into a single annual tuition of $50,000-$53,550.
Is Sterne School a public or private company?
Sterne School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Sterne School founded?
Sterne School was founded in 1976.
Where is Sterne School based?
Sterne School is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sterne School make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Tuition Revenue is the primary driver. The others are tuition Assistance Program.
Who are Sterne School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Stanbridge Academy, Chartwell School, Charles Armstrong School, Sand Hill School, Westmark School, The Lab School of Washington, Shelton School, Currey Ingram Academy, Helix School and Bayhill High School.
Does Sterne School have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sterne School.
What industry is Sterne School in?
Sterne School's product category is Independent K-12 Education for Neurodiverse Learners. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKAAAB, Learning Disabilities & Dyslexia Schools & Programs, with a secondary code of EDANAFAE, Dyscalculia/Math Learning Differences Tutoring. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.