CST Academy
CST Academy is a Chicago-based pediatric therapy provider delivering integrated ABA, speech, occupational, physical, and feeding therapy, autism evaluations, and a therapeutic preschool program for children with autism and developmental needs across eight Chicagoland clinic locations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What CST Academy does
CST Academy is a Chicago-based pediatric therapy provider that delivers Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), speech, occupational, physical, and feeding therapy alongside autism diagnostic evaluations and a therapeutic preschool-styled program for children primarily ages 2-6 with autism spectrum disorder and related developmental needs. Founded in 2019, the company operates eight clinic locations across the Chicagoland area (Bucktown, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, Buffalo Grove, Gurnee, Northbrook, Park Ridge, and Wilmette), each designed to function as a multidisciplinary care hub where BCBAs, licensed psychologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and feeding therapists collaborate under one roof with shared treatment goals. The company uses gold-standard clinical tools including the ADOS-2 for autism diagnosis, the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) for early intervention, and a free online M-CHAT screening tool for early identification, emphasizing a neurodiversity-affirming, play-based approach.
CST Academy generates revenue primarily through insurance-reimbursed therapy services (in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, with out-of-network and private-pay options as secondary streams) and pursues a direct-to-consumer go-to-market motion anchored by free BCBA consultations, no-waitlist intake, in-house insurance verification, and a family-centered care model. The company maintains a coordinated multi-brand portfolio, including Chicago ABA Therapy, Chicago Speech Therapy, Chicago Occupational Therapy, Chicago Kids Therapy, and the Goldman Center of Chicago, to capture sub-service search demand. Following a February 2026 majority recapitalization by Golden Bear Partners with debt financing and equity co-investment from Monroe Capital, CST Academy has continued to expand its physical footprint, adding new clinics near Park Ridge and in Gurnee in March 2026. The organization is private, employs between 251-500 staff, and reports over 1,000 five-star Google reviews, positioning it as a leading regional autism and pediatric therapy brand in the Chicago metropolitan area.
CST Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CST Academy
- Legal name
- CST Academy
- Website
- https://cstacademy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- CST Academy is a Chicago-based pediatric therapy provider delivering integrated ABA, speech, occupational, physical, and feeding therapy, autism evaluations, and a therapeutic preschool program for children with autism and developmental needs across eight Chicagoland clinic locations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CST Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pediatric Therapy and Autism Care Services
- NAICS
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- ABA Therapy Providers (School-Based) (EDAKAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Pediatric Rehabilitation & Developmental Therapy Centers (PT/OT/SLP) (HLAFAJAL), Autism Diagnostic & Educational Assessment Services (EDAKAKAA), Autism Early Intervention (Educational) (EDAKAKAB), Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC), Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ)
Keywords
Where CST Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
CST Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Therapy Services Revenue: CST Academy generates revenue through providing pediatric therapy services including ABA therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, feeding therapy, autism evaluations, and therapeutic preschool program. Services are billed through insurance (BCBS PPO) or private pay arrangements.
- Private Pay Services: Families who are out-of-network or prefer private pay can access services at competitive private-pay rates. The organization emphasizes flexible payment options alongside insurance coverage.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO Insurance Coverage |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Private Pay Options |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
CST Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CST Academy provides multidisciplinary pediatric therapy services for children, primarily ages 2-6, with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental needs. The core offering is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy combined with autism diagnostic evaluations, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, feeding therapy, and a therapeutic preschool-styled program, all delivered by coordinated clinical teams at clinic locations across the Chicagoland area. Services are billed through Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) PPO insurance or private-pay arrangements.
Product overview
CST Academy is a pediatric therapy provider offering a unified, multidisciplinary service model centered around autism care for children ages 2-6. The core portfolio consists of seven integrated services: ABA Therapy (the primary intervention), Autism Evaluations (diagnostic assessments using ADOS-2), Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Feeding Therapy, and a Therapeutic Preschool-Styled Program. All services are delivered under one roof with coordinated care teams, enabling seamless transitions from diagnosis to ongoing therapy. The company operates eight clinic locations across the Chicagoland area and has a neurodiversity-affirming philosophy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Chicago ABA Therapy: ABA therapy services under the CST Academy family of companies
- Chicago Occupational Therapy
- Goldman Center of Chicago
- Chicago Kids Therapy
- Chicago Speech Therapy
Products and services
- ABA Therapy Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy program for children ages 2-6 with autism spectrum disorder and related developmental needs. Uses evidence-based, play-based strategies to build communication, social interaction, play, and independence skills through customized treatment plans delivered by board-certified behavior analysts (BCBAs).
- Autism Evaluations
- Speech Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Feeding Therapy
- Therapeutic Preschool-Styled Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,000 five-star Google reviews from families served
Companies that use CST Academy
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
CST Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
CST Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CST Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kadiant: ABA therapy provider with a clinic-based model serving children with autism in multiple regions. Directly comparable in core ABA services, use of BCBAs, and family-centered care approach.
- Acorn Health: Multi-site ABA therapy provider operating clinics across multiple U.S. states with services for children with autism. Closely comparable in clinic-based ABA delivery model, payer mix, and pediatric autism specialization.
- LEARN Behavioral: National network of ABA therapy providers serving children with autism, with center-based and in-home services. Directly comparable in core ABA delivery model, BCBA-driven clinical staffing, and family engagement approach.
- Centria Healthcare: National ABA therapy provider serving children with autism across multiple states, offering in-home and center-based ABA services. Directly comparable in core ABA service delivery and target demographic, with broader geographic footprint.
- Proud Moments ABA Therapy: ABA therapy provider offering center-based and in-home services for children with autism across multiple states. Comparable in core ABA delivery, family-centered approach, and clinic growth strategy.
- Cortica: Integrated pediatric autism care provider combining ABA therapy with medical, developmental, and counseling services under one roof. Highly comparable integrated multidisciplinary model, with a deeper medical-services overlay than CST.
- Autism Learning Partners: ABA therapy provider offering center-based and in-home services for children with autism across multiple states. Closely comparable in core ABA delivery and pediatric autism focus, with broader national reach.
- Caravel Autism Health: Multi-state ABA therapy provider with a strong Midwest footprint including Illinois clinics. Directly comparable in core ABA services, pediatric autism specialization, and clinic-based delivery, with overlap in the Chicago-area market.
- Hopebridge: Multidisciplinary pediatric therapy provider offering ABA, occupational, speech, and feeding therapy under one roof across multiple clinic locations. Operates an integrated care model nearly identical to CST Academy's core value proposition, with a comparable focus on autism diagnoses for children ages 2-6.
Emerging players
- Soar Autism Center: Newer integrated autism center offering ABA, speech, OT, and developmental services in a clinic-based model. Comparable multidisciplinary care model with a focus on early intervention, though smaller in scale and operating in fewer markets than CST.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CST Academy social profiles
Digital presenceCST Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CST Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
CST Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CST 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 CST Academy
What does CST Academy do?
CST Academy provides multidisciplinary pediatric therapy services for children, primarily ages 2-6, with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental needs. The core offering is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy combined with autism diagnostic evaluations, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, feeding therapy, and a therapeutic preschool-styled program, all delivered by coordinated clinical teams at clinic locations across the Chicagoland area. Services are billed through Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) PPO insurance or private-pay arrangements.
Is CST Academy a public or private company?
CST Academy is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was CST Academy founded?
CST Academy was founded in 2019. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is CST Academy based?
CST Academy is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does CST Academy make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Therapy Services Revenue is the primary driver. The others are private Pay Services.
Who are CST Academy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kadiant, Acorn Health, LEARN Behavioral, Centria Healthcare, Proud Moments ABA Therapy, Cortica, Autism Learning Partners, Caravel Autism Health and Hopebridge. Soar Autism Center is listed as an emerging player.
Does CST Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for CST Academy.
What industry is CST Academy in?
CST Academy's product category is Pediatric Therapy and Autism Care Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKAHAC, ABA Therapy Providers (School-Based), with a secondary code of HLAFAJAL, Pediatric Rehabilitation & Developmental Therapy Centers (PT/OT/SLP). Its NAICS code is 62431 and its SIC code is 8000.