What Visitation School does

Visitation School is a private, nonprofit Catholic school operating on a 65-acre campus at 2455 Visitation Drive in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, founded in 1873 by the Sisters of the Visitation of Holy Mary. It educates co-educational students in Montessori Pre-K through grade 5 and all-girls students in grades 6-12, holding the unique position of being the only all-girls middle and high school in Minnesota. The institution operates under Salesian Spirituality guided by Saints Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal, delivering a college-preparatory curriculum with world languages (French, Spanish, Chinese) starting in preschool, robust performing and studio arts, athletics, and service-learning programs on a campus featuring a STEM center, a 520-seat theater, a ballet studio, art suites, and athletic fields.

The school's core technology consists of a one-to-one device program and standard educational administration platforms, including Blackbaud Tuition Management for billing, School and Student Services (SSS) for financial aid assessment, and One School House consortium membership. Revenue is generated primarily through tiered annual tuition ($17,300 for Pre-K to $30,000 for Upper School), with billing available across multiple payment cadences. More than $2.5 million in need-based financial grants were committed for the 2025-26 school year, supporting nearly 40% of enrolled families. Ancillary revenue streams include a Child Care Center for children 6 weeks to 5 years, the M-5 Extended Day Program, summer camps and school, The Peddler school store, and transportation services.

The school is governed by a Board of Trustees with active alumnae and parents' association representation and holds accreditations from ISACS, NAEYC, and memberships in NAIS, NCEA, MAIS, the Global Education Benchmark Group, and Spoleto Study Abroad. In 2025, Dr. Jennifer Bigelow was appointed Head of School, succeeding Rene Gavic, and a comprehensive strategic planning process completed in 2021-22 (led by Ian Symmonds & Associates) is now guiding the implementation of a new five-day, eight-period block schedule for Middle and Upper Schools effective 2026-27.

Name

Visitation School

Legal name

Convent of the Visitation School

Website

https://visitation.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1873

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Visitation School is a private Catholic K-12 school in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, founded in 1873 by the Sisters of the Visitation of Holy Mary. It educates co-ed students in Montessori Pre-K through grade 5 and all-girls students in grades 6-12, serving Twin Cities families through tuition, financial grants, and ancillary programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Education

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Child Care Services (62441)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Preschools (EDACABAF), Montessori Early Learning Academies (EDACADAA), School-Age Wraparound Childcare Centers (Holiday/Break Care) (EDACAAAL), Faith-Based Before/After Care Programs (Early Years) (EDACAHAE)

Keywords

• Private K-12 education
• Catholic school education
• All-girls secondary education
• Montessori early learning
• College preparatory school

Headquarters

HQ city

Mendota Heights

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Primary revenue stream from tuition fees across four academic divisions. Montessori Pre-K costs $17,300, Lower School (K-5) is $20,900, Middle School (6-8) is $24,800, and Upper School (9-12) is $30,000. Tuition includes lunch, books, yearbook, and technology.
2. Financial Grants Program: Need-based financial grants awarded to families demonstrating financial need. More than $2.5 million committed for 2025-26 school year. Nearly 40% of enrolled families receive financial grants. Uses School and Student Service (SSS) for equitable distribution.
3. Child Care Center: Child care services for children 6 weeks to 5 years, providing additional revenue stream separate from K-12 tuition.
4. Summer Programs: Summer camp and summer school programs generating revenue during summer months.
5. School Store (The Peddler): School store selling uniforms and merchandise to students and families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Visitation School is a private Catholic school providing education from Montessori Pre-K through grade 12, structured across four academic divisions: Montessori Pre-K (33 months to 5 years), coeducational Lower School (K-5), all-girls Middle School (6-8), and all-girls Upper School (9-12). The school delivers college preparatory academics grounded in Salesian Spirituality, supplemented by performing and visual arts, athletics, college counseling, childcare services, summer programs, and a school store.

Product overview

Visitation School is a private Catholic school in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, founded in 1873 by the Sisters of the Visitation of Holy Mary. The school offers a comprehensive educational portfolio structured across multiple divisions: Montessori Pre-K for children ages 33 months to 5 years, coeducational Lower School (K-5), all-girls Middle School (6-8), and all-girls Upper School (9-12). The school provides childcare services including the Visitation Child Care Center (6 weeks to 5 years) and M-5 Extended Day Program. Beyond core academics, the portfolio includes performing arts (VISTA Productions theater, Ballet, Choral, Instrumental, Studio Arts), athletics (Blazer Athletics across fall/winter/spring seasons), college counseling, student support services, and auxiliary services (Lunch Program, Bus Transportation, The Peddler School Store). The school is the only all-girls middle and high school in Minnesota and educates students from Montessori Pre-K through grade 5 in a coed environment, then transitions to single-gender education in grades 6-12. Visitation is permeated by Salesian Spirituality guided by the founders St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal, with a mission philosophy of 'Non Scholae, Sed Vitae' (Not for School, but for Life).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lower School (Grades K-5)

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% of enrolled families receive financial grants, demonstrating accessibility commitment
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and regional.

• Ian Symmonds & AssociatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2021Strategic planning consultancy firm engaged to lead the 2021-22 strategic planning process for the school.
• Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS)coreOthersAccreditation partner ensuring academic standards and continuous improvement. ISACS accreditation requirements guide the school's strategic plan and educational programs.
• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)coreOthersNational membership organization for independent schools providing resources, advocacy, and professional development.
• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)coreOthersAccreditation and membership for early childhood education programs, supporting the Montessori Pre-K program quality standards.
• Minnesota Association of Independent Schools (MAIS)regionalOthersState-level membership organization for independent schools in Minnesota.
• National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)coreOthersNational organization supporting Catholic education with advocacy and professional resources aligned with Salesian Catholic identity.
• Global Education Benchmark GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting global education programming and international learning opportunities for students.
• Spoleto Study AbroadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy abroad program partner providing international educational experiences for Upper School students.
• School and Student Services (SSS)coreTechnology or IntegrationFinancial aid assessment platform used for determining equitable financial grant awards based on standardized need calculations.
• Blackbaud Tuition ManagementcoreTechnology or IntegrationTuition management and payment processing platform for handling annual, semi-annual, quarterly, and monthly payment plans.
• Catholic Services Appeal FoundationminorOthersExternal tuition assistance funding available to families for K-12 education.
• Aim Higher FoundationminorOthersExternal tuition assistance funding available to families for K-8 education.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Academy of Holy Angels: Catholic co-educational high school in Richfield, MN serving the Twin Cities with a college preparatory mission. Comparable as a faith-based, independent secondary school competing for similar families in the same metro area.
• Convent of the Sacred Heart: Independent Catholic school in St. Paul, MN with an all-girls lower, middle, and upper school, sharing both faith-based mission and single-gender secondary education in the Twin Cities market.
• Cretin-Derham Hall: Catholic co-educational college preparatory school in St. Paul serving grades 9-12 with a similar Salesian/Lasallian heritage. Directly comparable as a Catholic independent secondary competitor in the Twin Cities.
• Benilde-St. Margaret's School: Catholic co-educational school in St. Louis Park, MN serving grades 7-12 with college preparatory programming. Comparable as another Catholic secondary option in the Twin Cities drawing from overlapping applicant pools.
• Totino-Grace High School: Catholic co-educational college preparatory high school in Fridley, MN. Comparable as a Catholic secondary option in the Twin Cities drawing on the same metro applicant pool.
• Hill-Murray School: Catholic co-educational K-12 school in Maplewood, MN. Comparable as a faith-based independent K-12 competitor with similar tuition pricing and academic positioning in the Twin Cities.
• Trinity School at River Ridge: Lutheran PreK-12 classical school in Eagan, MN. Comparable as a faith-based, full-continuum private K-12 school in the Twin Cities competing for similar mission-driven families.

Broad incumbents

• The Blake School: Large, well-established independent (non-Catholic) PreK-12 school in Minneapolis serving the Twin Cities. Comparable as a top-tier private K-12 competitor with similar tuition tier and rigorous college preparatory focus.
• Breck School: Independent Episcopal PreK-12 school in Golden Valley, MN. Comparable as a long-established private K-12 competitor in the Twin Cities with a similarly broad academic and extracurricular portfolio.
• Minnehaha Academy: Christian (non-Catholic) independent PreK-12 school in Minneapolis. Comparable as a faith-affiliated, full-grade private K-12 competitor in the Twin Cities market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/VisitationSchool
• Facebookfacebook.com/visitationschool
• Instagraminstagram.com/visitationschoolmn

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 Visitation School