What Akiva School does

Akiva School is a private, nonprofit K-6 Jewish Day School located on the Gordon Jewish Community Center's 42-acre campus in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1954 by Rabbi Zalman Posner, the school serves approximately 100-180 students across Kindergarten through 6th grade with an average class size of 11, drawing families from 9 countries, 5 counties, and 15 zip codes. It operates as the only Jewish Day School within a 150-mile radius, serving a denominationally diverse population including Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Chabad, and unaffiliated families.

The school's core offering is a dual-language curriculum combining General Studies and Judaic Studies with Hebrew immersion, using the Tal Am curriculum for grades 1-4. In 2019, Akiva became the first Jewish Day School in the world and the first elementary school in Tennessee to receive STEAM certification from AdvancED (now Cognia). Its technology infrastructure includes a MakerSpace equipped with 3D printers, CNC routers, and coding robots; a Media Lab with iPads and green screen; and a coding curriculum beginning in kindergarten. The school was selected by Columbia University as one of 12 model institutions demonstrating the positive impact of spirituality on children.

Revenue is generated through tuition ($19,539 per student for 2026-2027, against a true cost exceeding $24,000), ancillary fees ($1,000 deposit, $550 supplies, $325 security, $350 PTFA), and substantial philanthropic support. The development team raises over $600,000 annually, supplemented by Jewish Federation subsidies and 70 legacy donor commitments through the Grinspoon Foundation Life and Legacy program. The school has maintained a balanced budget for five consecutive years and is governed by an independent Board of Directors led by President Saul Solomon. Go-to-market is community-led, leveraging Nashville Jewish community partnerships, word-of-mouth referrals, campus tours, and open houses, with mandatory GJCC membership for all enrolled families.

Name

Akiva School

Legal name

Akiva School

Website

https://akivanashville.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Akiva School is a nonprofit K-6 Jewish Day School in Nashville, Tennessee, offering dual-language Hebrew immersion and STEAM-certified education to Jewish families across the region. Founded in 1954, it operates as the only Jewish Day School within a 150-mile radius on the Gordon Jewish Community Center campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-6 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)

Keywords

• K-6 education
• Jewish day school
• Hebrew immersion
• STEAM curriculum
• Private elementary school

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Primary revenue stream from tuition payments. The true cost of educating a child is over $24,000 per year, with tuition set at $19,539 for 2026-2027, subsidized by donor generosity and Jewish Federation support.
2. Annual Fundraising: The Akiva development team raises over $600,000 every year to provide for scholarships and to cover the full cost of the Akiva experience.
3. Donations and Endowment: Life and Legacy program with 70 community members supporting Akiva through wills, trusts, IRAs, and other charitable giving vehicles.
4. Fees and Other Revenue: Additional fees including $1,000 deposit, $550 supplies and textbooks, $325 security fee, and $350 PTFA fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Akiva School is a private K-6 Jewish Day School in Nashville, Tennessee, delivering a dual-language General Studies and Judaic Studies curriculum with Hebrew immersion. It integrates a certified STEAM program, small class sizes averaging 11 students, and on-campus facilities including MakerSpace, Media Lab, and a Garden. The school is supported by tuition, annual fundraising exceeding $600,000, and Jewish Federation subsidies.

Product overview

Akiva School operates as a K-6 Jewish Day School offering a unified educational program that combines General Studies and Judaic Studies through dual-language Hebrew immersion. The school's core offerings include its comprehensive academic curriculum (Lower School K-4 and Middle School 5-6), the certified STEAM program with dedicated MakerSpace, Media Lab, and Garden facilities, and Hebrew & Judaic Studies using the Tal Am curriculum. Supporting services include the Akiva Swag Store, school uniform program, and campus tour services. The institution also hosts the annual Dreidel Design Challenge as a signature enrichment program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-6 Jewish Day School Education Comprehensive kindergarten through 6th grade academic program combining General Studies and Judaic Studies in a dual-language Hebrew immersion environment, with small class sizes averaging 11 students. Designed for Jewish families seeking values-based whole-child education.
• STEAM Program Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics program integrated across the curriculum, including coding instruction beginning in kindergarten, engineering design processes, and empathy-based problem-solving approaches.
• Hebrew & Judaic Studies Hebrew language literacy program using the Tal Am curriculum for grades 1-4, developing intermediate to advanced Hebrew proficiency alongside Jewish heritage education through Torah study, commentary analysis, and cultural immersion.
• Lower School (K-4) Foundational academic program for kindergarten through fourth grade emphasizing exploratory play, skill-building in language, literacy, math, science, and coding, with full Hebrew immersion through song, dance, and small group centers.
• Middle School (5-6) Middle school program for grades 5-6 focused on leadership development, student government (Knesset), real-world problem solving in math and science, JED Talks presentations, and deepened identity exploration as Jews and Americans.
• Akiva Swag Store Online merchandise store offering Akiva-branded clothing and accessories including t-shirts, hoodies, youth apparel, and accessories, run by the Akiva PTFA.
• School Uniforms School uniform program featuring white and navy collared tops embroidered with the Akiva logo, available through Lands End and directly through the school.
• Campus Tours Guided school tours allowing prospective families to visit the campus, observe classroom instruction, and experience the Akiva learning environment firsthand.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates consistently rank in the top 10% of their high school classes
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gordon Jewish Community Center (GJCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAkiva is located on the GJCC's 42-acre campus, moving there in 1999. All enrolled families must be GJCC members. The school leverages GJCC facilities including swimming pools, and GJCC offers related programs like Planet Kid after-school care.
• Montgomery Bell Academy (MBA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartners with MBA and other local schools (St. Cecilia/Overbrook, Harpeth Hall) to provide shared morning transportation program with over 14 pickup locations around the city. MBA's Greg Farrell coordinates transportation logistics.
• AdvancED (Cognia)minorOthersAkiva received STEAM certification and accreditation from AdvancED, now known as Cognia. In 2018, Akiva was the first Jewish day school to receive STEAM certification from AdvancedED.
• Lands EndminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool uniform provider. Families can order uniforms through Lands End or directly through Akiva School.
• 1st Place SpiritwearminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOperates the Akiva Swag store, providing branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, and accessories. Run by the Akiva PTFA.
• Ess & Fress CateringminorOthersProvides hot lunch service daily from a kosher kitchen, including a salad bar and hot dish, available for purchase.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools: The national network and advocacy organization supporting Jewish day schools across North America. Acts as an ecosystem and resource provider rather than a competitor, but shapes the broader environment in which Akiva operates through shared best practices, accreditation standards, and funding channels.
• Gordon Jewish Community Center: Hosts Akiva on its 42-acre campus and requires all enrolled Akiva families to maintain membership. Functions as an enabling partner and infrastructure provider rather than a competitor, deeply shaping Akiva's distribution model and community reach.
• Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee: Akiva's largest funding partner, providing the subsidies that close the gap between tuition and true cost. Functions as a key ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor, but its funding decisions materially shape Akiva's financial sustainability.

Direct peers

• Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston: A well-established K-8 Jewish day school in Newton, MA with a dual-language and values-based curriculum model highly comparable to Akiva's approach. Larger in scale but with similar educational philosophy, offering a template for Akiva's potential growth path.
• Maimonides School: A prominent K-12 Jewish day school in Brookline, MA known for combining rigorous academic and Judaic studies. While larger and broader in grade span than Akiva, it represents a comparable model of integrated Jewish day education with strong alumni outcomes.
• Akiba-Schechter Jewish Day School: A K-8 Jewish day school in Chicago serving a similar dual-curriculum model with General and Judaic Studies. Comparable in size, mission, and structure to Akiva, making it a strong benchmark for operational and curricular practices at single-site Jewish day schools.
• Jewish Middle School of Nashville: The natural successor school for Akiva's K-6 graduates, this Nashville-based Jewish middle school continues the same community-based Jewish education model. Strong partnership with Akiva (referenced on Akiva's website) and shared leadership alumni make it the most direct comparable for pipeline and curricular alignment.
• Milwaukee Jewish Day School: A K-8 Jewish day school in Milwaukee with a comparable size, dual-curriculum structure, and community-based funding model. Similar in scale to Akiva, making it a useful operational and fundraising benchmark for a single-site regional Jewish day school.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AkivaNashville
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/akiva-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/akivanashville

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Akiva School