The George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy - Saturday School

What The George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy - Saturday School does

The George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy (GBTLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the Saturday School program in Montgomery County, Maryland. Founded in 1986 by Dr. George B. Thomas Sr. and the Mu Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the "6th Day of Learning" delivers supplemental academic tutoring and enrichment on Saturday mornings to MCPS students. The program operates from 9 physical locations inside Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) high schools plus one virtual option, serving over 3,000 students annually. Core products include grades 1-12 tutoring ($85/year, $40 for FARMS recipients), Pre-K/Kindergarten, SAT/ACT prep, and enrichment tracks in Coding, Cyber Robotics, Cosmetology, and Automotive Concepts ($140-$150/session), plus an adult ESOL program ($10/session) co-delivered with MCAEL.

Revenue is generated primarily through student registration fees, individual donations via PayPal, and an annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser (31st Annual in May 2026 drew 103 golfers). Instruction is delivered by volunteer certified MCPS teachers and paraeducators, with MCPS also providing free bus transportation. Technology is non-proprietary: registration uses Wufoo and STEM courses ride on third-party platforms (CoderZ, Scratch, Boolean Girl). The organization is governed by a 13-member Board of Directors under Executive Director Dr. Lakeisha D. Lashley (appointed from a 27-year MCPS career) and Assistant Executive Director Dr. Cara Grant. Key risks are concentration: geographic dependency on Montgomery County, operational dependency on the MCPS partnership and on volunteer labor, and absence of any disclosed financial buffer.

Name

The George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy - Saturday School

Legal name

George B. Thomas Learning Academy (GBTLA)

Website

https://saturdayschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Short description

GBTLA Saturday School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating nine Saturday-morning tutoring and enrichment centers inside Montgomery County (MD) public schools, serving over 3,000 MCPS students annually with volunteer certified teachers since 1986.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Supplemental K-12 Education

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Extended Learning Time Programs (After-School/Summer Intervention) (EDAJAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

K–12 Core Curriculum Small-Group Tutoring Centers (Math/ELA/Science/Social Studies) (EDANAHAA), Community Center Education Programs (EDAAAFAB)

Keywords

• Supplemental education
• Saturday tutoring
• Academic enrichment
• Test preparation
• Nonprofit youth education

Headquarters

HQ city

Silver Spring

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Student Registration Fees: Saturday School charges annual or per-session registration fees to students (grades K-12, Pre-K, adult literacy, and enrichment programs). Fees vary by program tier (general tutoring vs. enrichment programs like Coding/Robotics, Cosmetology, Automotive). This is the primary revenue stream for program delivery.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the organization raises funds through individual donations (via PayPal), the annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser, raffles, and sponsor contributions. These funds support scholarships for FARMS recipients, learning materials, and program operations.
3. Golf Tournament Fundraiser: The annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser is the organization's flagship fundraising event. Revenue is raised through participant registration fees, sponsor packages, and raffle ticket sales. Proceeds directly fund academic programs, scholarships, and program operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Saturday School provides Saturday supplemental academic instruction to students, including tutoring, enrichment courses, and standardized test preparation. Programs are designed to complement regular school-day learning and serve families seeking additional academic support in the Montgomery County, Maryland area.

Product overview

The George B. Thomas Sr. Learning Academy Saturday School is an educational nonprofit organization offering a unified Saturday School program with multiple course offerings. The core program provides academic tutoring and instruction with certified teachers aligned with MCPS curriculum for students Grades K-12. Beyond core tutoring, the program offers specialized enrichment courses including Coding (Grades 3-5), Cyber Robotics using CoderZ (Grades 6-8), SAT/ACT Prep, Pre-K Rising Stars, Kindergarten, Adult Literacy (MCAEL), Cosmetology, Automotive Concepts, and Boolean Girl Coding. All courses are delivered as in-person instruction at nine locations across Montgomery County, MD, with registration managed through external platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Saturday School Tutoring Program Saturday supplemental tutoring for school-age students in Montgomery County, MD, complementing regular classroom instruction.
• Academic Enrichment Courses Saturday enrichment courses for students seeking subject-matter enrichment beyond standard school-day offerings.
• Standardized Test Preparation Saturday test preparation courses to help students prepare for standardized assessments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 3,000 students annually across 9 locations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Minority Scholars Program (MSP)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026MSP is a student-led, county-wide initiative within MCPS founded in 2005 to close the opportunity gap for Black and Brown students. GBTLA collaborates with MSP on educational programming, including virtual presentations at the Wheaton Center that feature MSP Board members. MSP Board Member Corinne Goldsmith presented to the Parent Connect group at the Wheaton Center.
• LEAAP (Lunar Educational Achievement Program)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026GBTLA joined LEAAP for their annual Lunar New Year Banquet, an event celebrating Asian cultures and raising scholarship funds for graduating MCPS students planning to major in education. GBTLA's Executive Director Dr. Lakeisha D. Lashley and Assistant Executive Director Cara Grant attended the banquet.
• Blue Mash Golf CourseminorOthers · 1 January 2026Blue Mash Golf Course in Laytonsville, MD serves as the annual venue for the GBTLA Golf Tournament Fundraiser. The 31st Annual Golf Tournament was held there on May 11, 2026 with 103 golfers, and the 32nd Annual Tournament is scheduled for May 24, 2027.
• Montgomery County Coalition for Adult Literacy (MCAEL)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025MCAEL partners with Saturday School to provide Adult Literacy / ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) courses for adult learners in Montgomery County. The $10/session program is designed for adults seeking English language skills, with Saturday School encouraged for parents of children in the program.
• Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1986Saturday School operates in close partnership with MCPS, using school facilities as center locations, aligning curriculum with MCPS standards, and relying on certified MCPS teachers and paraeducators as volunteer instructors. MCPS also provides free bus transportation for students. This is a foundational, multi-decade collaborative relationship.
• Mu Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, IncorporatedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1986Fraternity brothers from the Mu Nu Chapter co-founded the organization in 1986 with Dr. George B. Thomas Sr., providing the initial volunteer teachers and institutional support to launch the first Saturday School class with 19 students.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Mathnasium: Mathnasium operates franchised math-only learning centers for K-12 students, comparable to GBTLA's math tutoring track and center-based, small-group instructional model.
• Varsity Tutors: Varsity Tutors offers K-12 tutoring, SAT/ACT prep, and enrichment courses, with both online and in-person delivery, overlapping with Saturday School's academic tutoring and standardized test prep services.
• Huntington Learning Center: Huntington Learning Center provides in-center K-12 tutoring, test preparation, and academic skills programs, a close analogue to Saturday School's core tutoring and standardized test preparation services.
• Kumon: Kumon operates a global network of small-group tutoring centers focused on math and reading for K-12 students, directly comparable to GBTLA's core academic tutoring model and small-group, center-based delivery.
• Sylvan Learning: Sylvan Learning runs franchised tutoring centers offering personalized K-12 instruction, test prep, and STEM enrichment, overlapping directly with Saturday School's tutoring, SAT/ACT prep, and coding/robotics offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Reading Partners: Reading Partners is a national literacy nonprofit mobilizing volunteer tutors to deliver K-5 reading intervention in partner schools, directly comparable to GBTLA's volunteer-teacher model and school-based literacy tutoring.
• Junior Achievement USA: Junior Achievement is a national education nonprofit delivering in-school and after-school programming on financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship, comparable to GBTLA's career exploration enrichment tracks and school-based delivery.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Boys & Girls Clubs of America is a large national nonprofit providing after-school academic support, enrichment, and youth development — comparable as a broader youth-serving nonprofit delivering supplemental education in partnership with schools.

Emerging players

• Khan Academy: Khan Academy is a free online learning platform offering K-12 academic content, test prep, and personalized learning — comparable to Saturday School's tutoring and SAT/ACT prep services as a free digital alternative.
• Code.org: Code.org is a nonprofit expanding computer science access in K-12 schools through free curricula and partnerships, an emerging player comparable to GBTLA's coding/cyber robotics enrichment tracks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/saturdayschooltutoring
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-george-b-thomas-sr-learning-academy-saturday-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/saturday_schooltutoring

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 The George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy - Saturday School