Summerville Catholic School

What Summerville Catholic School does

Summerville Catholic School (SCS) is a private, nonprofit Catholic K-8 institution operating in Summerville, South Carolina, within the Diocese of Charleston. Founded in 1984 by Bishop Ernest Unterkoefler with 21 students at St. John the Beloved Church, the school has grown to serve approximately 231 students across preschool through eighth grade, supported by 28-30 faculty and staff members. Its core product is a faith-integrated academic curriculum delivered in small class sizes with Cognia accreditation, including honors pathways in English, Math, and Spanish, NWEA MAP assessment tracking, and inclusive education support for students with learning differences. Ancillary services include the Extended Day Program (6:30 AM - 6:00 PM), Camp Seahawk summer programming, athletics (archery, baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, volleyball), and student clubs (Beta Club, Singing Saints, After School Art, Student Council). The school holds Purple Star School designation for military families.

Revenue is generated through tiered annual tuition ($6,673 parishioner rate, $7,904 Catholic rate, $8,211 military rate, $9,113 non-Catholic rate), registration fees, the Extended Day Program, and a diversified fundraising stack including the Annual Appeal, Capital Improvement Campaign, Envelope Campaign, Erin Kelly Memorial Scholarship Fund, Golf Tournament, Fun Run, SCRIP gift card program (Great Lakes Scrip Center), and auctions. Four supporting Catholic parishes provide financial subsidies ($185,000 in 2023-2024) and serve as referral channels. The go-to-market model is a hybrid of direct enrollment via the FACTS/ParentsWeb portal and community-led promotion through parish communities and parent testimonials.

Operations run on the FACTS (RenWeb) school management platform for enrollment, tuition, and grades, with Bill.com for accounts payable, ClassWallet for South Carolina Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) distribution, and Monda.com for internal forms. A calculated revenue proxy of approximately $1.71M (231 students × $7,405 average tuition) and a cost-to-educate of $9,933 per student imply a structural operating gap of roughly $584,000 that is bridged by donations, parish subsidies, and fundraising. 93 of 231 students received tuition assistance in 2024-2025, and the school partners with Bishop England High School as its primary high school feeder.

Name

Summerville Catholic School

Legal name

Summerville Catholic School

Website

https://summervillecatholic.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Summerville Catholic School is a nonprofit K-8 Catholic school in Summerville, SC, serving approximately 231 students across four supporting parishes, with tiered tuition, Cognia accreditation, Purple Star military family designation, and a diversified fundraising model supplementing tuition revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-8 Catholic Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Preschools (EDACABAF)

Keywords

• Catholic education
• Private K-8 school
• Faith-based learning
• Preschool education
• Extended day care

Headquarters

HQ city

Summerville

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue source from tuition payments. Tuition rates vary by family status (parishioner, Catholic, military, non-Catholic). Registration fees charged based on enrollment timing.
2. Parish Subsidy: Financial support from four supporting parishes. Parish Subsidy of $185,000 received in 2023-2024 fiscal year.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Multiple fundraising campaigns including Annual Appeal, Capital Improvement Campaign, Envelope Campaign, Erin Kelly Memorial Scholarship Fund, Golf Tournament, Fun Run, and SCRIP program. Auction raised over $31,000.
4. SCRIP Program: Scrip fundraising through Great Lakes Scrip Center. Families purchase gift certificates at face value; school earns discount revenue (2-15%) on purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Summerville Catholic School is a private Catholic school that delivers faith-integrated education for students from preschool (K3) through eighth grade at its Summerville, South Carolina campus. Its core offering combines rigorous academics aligned with Diocese of Charleston standards with extracurricular programs including athletics, student clubs, an Extended Day before/after-school care program, and a summer camp (Camp Seahawk). The school sells tuition-based enrollment, generates revenue through parish subsidies and donations, and uses the FACTS (RenWeb) platform for enrollment, tuition, and parent communications.

Product overview

Summerville Catholic School operates as a single unified educational institution offering a comprehensive private Catholic education from preschool (K3) through eighth grade. The core product is the faith-integrated academic program, supported by additional services including the Extended Day Program for before/after-school care, Camp Seahawk summer camp, athletics (archery, baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, volleyball), and student clubs (Beta Club, Singing Saints, After School Art, Student Council). Financial accessibility is supported through the Erin Kelly Memorial Scholarship Fund and various tuition assistance programs. The school also runs fundraising initiatives including SCRIP gift certificate sales, annual appeals, golf tournaments, and fun runs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summerville Catholic School Education Program (K3-8th Grade) Faith-integrated private Catholic education for students from preschool (K3) through eighth grade, featuring small class sizes, personalized attention, rigorous academics aligned with Diocese of Charleston standards, and inclusive education support. Tuition is tiered by family affiliation.
• Extended Day Program (EDP) Before- and after-school child care program providing morning care from 6:30 AM and afternoon care until 6:00 PM, offering a safe and structured environment for students beyond regular school hours for an additional fee.
• Camp Seahawk Summer camp program providing additional engagement opportunities for students during summer months, led by Summer Camp Director Kathryn Farmer.
• Athletics Program Extracurricular athletic program offering archery, baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, and volleyball with participation in Diocese of Charleston tournaments and local league partnerships (YMCA, NASP).
• Student Clubs Extracurricular clubs including Beta Club (service-oriented), Singing Saints choir (grades 3-8), After School Art (K-8), and Student Council.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% 8th Grade Promotion Rate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 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

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bishop England High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCS serves as a feeder school for Bishop England High School. The school offers 8th grade student tours and partners with BEHS admissions team to assist students with high school transition. 7th and 8th grade students are eligible to try out for select BEHS sports teams.
• YMCA (Summerville)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCS partners with the local YMCA for soccer games and tournaments. Teams play all games and tournaments through YMCA leagues.
• St. John the Beloved Catholic ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four supporting parishes. Church members receive parishioner tuition rates. Parish provides financial subsidy and serves as founding parish for SCS.
• St. Theresa the Little Flower Catholic ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four supporting parishes. Church members receive parishioner tuition rates. Parish provides financial subsidy to support school operations.
• St. Philip Benizi Catholic ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four supporting parishes in Moncks Corner. Church members receive parishioner tuition rates. Parish provides financial subsidy to support school operations.
• Immaculate Conception Catholic ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four supporting parishes in Goose Creek. Church members receive parishioner tuition rates. Parish provides financial subsidy to support school operations.
• Great Lakes Scrip CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScrip fundraising partner that purchases gift certificates from retailers at bulk discounts. SCS buys scrip at discount and resells at face value, earning 2-15% revenue on purchases.
• FACTS (RenWeb)coreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party tuition management and school administration platform. Used for enrollment, tuition payments, financial aid assessment (FACTS Grant & Aid), and ParentsWeb grades/communications.
• National Archery in Schools Program (NASP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCS partners with NASP to offer archery to 4th-8th graders. Both Elementary and Middle School teams compete in local and state tournaments.
• Diocese of CharlestoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCS is part of the Diocese of Charleston's Catholic school system. Teachers are certified under Diocese guidelines. Students eligible for Diocesan sports tournaments. School operates under Diocesan education standards.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Porter-Gaud School: Independent K-12 school in Charleston, SC, with Episcopal heritage. Competes in the same regional private school market for Tri-County families seeking faith-informed or traditional private education, though with a different faith tradition.
• Charleston Day School: Independent private K-6 school in Charleston, SC, serving the same Tri-County private school market. Comparable in grade span (lower/middle school) and customer demographic, though non-faith-based and without middle school grades.
• Pinewood Preparatory School: Independent private K-12 school also located in Summerville, SC. Directly competes for the same Tri-County area families seeking private education, though it is non-faith-based and offers a broader grade range through high school.
• Ashley Hall: Independent private K-12 school in Charleston, SC. Competes with Summerville Catholic for families seeking premium private education in the Tri-County area, though it serves a broader geographic market and has a different (non-faith-based) mission orientation.

Direct peers

• Bishop England High School: Catholic high school in the Diocese of Charleston that serves as the primary feeder destination for Summerville Catholic School graduates. Operates within the same diocesan system, shares faith-based mission, and has a direct admissions and athletic partnership, making it the most directly comparable peer for student continuity.

Broad incumbents

• Diocese of Charleston Catholic Schools: The diocesan Catholic school system under which Summerville Catholic School operates. Sets academic standards, handles teacher certification, organizes tournaments, and encompasses multiple Catholic schools across the region with similar missions, curriculum frameworks, and parish-support models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SCSSeahawks
• Facebookfacebook.com/SummervilleCatholicSchool
• Instagraminstagram.com/summervillecatholic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/summerville-catholic-school

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Summerville Catholic School