The City School
The City School is a private, non-profit Christian PreK-12 school in Philadelphia operating two campuses (Fairmount and Poplar) with ~300 students, a need-blind financial aid model, 100% college acceptance, and triple accreditation (Middle States, ACSI, StreetSchool Network).
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The City School does
The City School is a private, non-profit Christian school serving approximately 300 students across two Philadelphia campuses: the Fairmount Lower School (PreK-5) and the Poplar Upper School (6-12). Founded in 1978 through predecessor institutions and rebranded under its current name in 2013, the school delivers college-preparatory education with a Christian worldview, posting a stated 100% college acceptance rate and student-teacher ratios of 10:1 (elementary) and 15:1 (upper school). It is triple-accredited by the Middle States Association, ACSI, and the StreetSchool Network.
The school operates a need-blind, financial-aid-supported tuition model. Published tuition for the 2026-2027 academic year is $11,757, with the majority of the 300+ enrolled students receiving aid; some families pay as low as $100 per month. Revenue is generated from tuition (after aid adjustments), Extended Day care fees, uniform sales (pass-through), and donations through capital campaigns including "Let There Be Light" and "Reimagine." The school is supported by 40+ visible staff across both campuses and has undergone several structural mergers, including the 2014 Philadelphia Mennonite High School merger and the 2024 consolidation of the Spruce Hill campus into Fairmount.
The business model is a classic B2C independent school model with high customer diversification (individual families, no enterprise/government concentration), but with a significant affordability constraint: the heavy reliance on financial aid limits revenue per student and creates dependence on fundraising. The school has no PE/VC ownership or external funding rounds; it is governed as a faith-based nonprofit. Recent strategic activity has focused on physical footprint optimization (2024 consolidation) and enrollment funnel modernization (new CRM, 2026-2027 admissions open).
The City School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The City School
- Legal name
- The City School
- Website
- https://www.cityschool.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- The City School is a private, non-profit Christian PreK-12 school in Philadelphia operating two campuses (Fairmount and Poplar) with ~300 students, a need-blind financial aid model, 100% college acceptance, and triple accreditation (Middle States, ACSI, StreetSchool Network).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The City School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private K-12 Christian Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)
Keywords
Where The City School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The City School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Annual tuition of $11,757 with payment plans (10 or 11 monthly installments). Additional fees include enrollment fees ($150-$300), extended day care ($5/hour), and financial aid application fee ($30). Multi-child discounts available ($1,000-$2,000 per additional child).
- Uniform Sales: Partnership with Flynn & O'Hara uniform provider and Squad Locker TCS Gear store for uniform and spirit wear purchases
- Donations and Charitable Giving: Let There Be Light General Fund, Paving the Way Brick Campaign, LUX URBI DAY, Annual Fund, Reimagine Campaign, and various designated donations. Accepts one-time and recurring donations via Kindful platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Tuition 2026-2027 |
| Subscription | Annual | Multi-Child Discount |
| Subscription | Annual | Early Payment Discount |
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | New Student Enrollment Fee |
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Re-enrollment Fee |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Extended Day (Before/After Care) |
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Financial Aid Application Fee |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
The City School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The City School is a private Christian school providing Pre-K through Grade 12 college-preparatory education across two Philadelphia campuses (Fairmount Lower School for PreK-5 and Poplar Upper School for grades 6-12). The school delivers core academic instruction grounded in a Christian worldview, complemented by arts (visual arts, music, drama), athletics, biblical counseling, college guidance, and student leadership programs, with need-based financial aid enabling accessibility across socioeconomic backgrounds.
Product overview
The City School is a Pre-K to Grade 12 private Christian school with two campuses: Lower School/Fairmount (PreK-5) and Upper School/Poplar (6-12). The school provides a college-preparatory curriculum grounded in Christian principles, supplemented by comprehensive arts programs (visual arts, music, drama), athletics (flag football, volleyball, basketball, track & field), and student leadership development. Student support services include Biblical counseling, college guidance with 100% college acceptance, and need-based financial aid. Admissions include shadow day programs and open house events. The school operates on a 2026-2027 tuition rate of $11,757 with various payment plans and discounts available.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lower School / Fairmount Campus Education (PreK-5) Pre-K through Grade 5 elementary campus at 860 N. 24th Street, Philadelphia, PA serving students from Philadelphia and the greater Delaware Valley. Curriculum is driven by academic excellence with a Christian worldview, incorporating responsive classroom philosophy, arts integration, and small class sizes (10:1) for individualized attention. Capacity of 142 students. Merged with Spruce Hill Campus in 2024 to become unified Lower School.
- Upper School / Poplar Campus Education (Grades 6-12) Grades 6-12 middle and high school campus at 910 North 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA in the Northern Liberties section. Features 24 classrooms, full cafeteria, gymnasium, and science lab. Offers college-preparatory curriculum with AP courses and dual-enrollment options. 100% college acceptance rate over the past 10 years. Student-teacher ratio of 15:1.
- Visual Arts Program Comprehensive art education from kindergarten through high school. Elementary students work with diverse media (drawing, painting, sculpting, collage, 3D mixed media). Middle school covers advanced concepts including light, shadow, perspective, and color theory with visits to Philadelphia Museum of Art. High school offers electives, AP courses, and professional portfolio preparation.
- Music Program Music education covering music theory, music history, and musical performance. Emphasizes cultural appreciation through exploring diverse musical traditions. Specialized after-school music classes offered through World of Music partner program.
- Drama Program Drama offered as after-school club at Fairmount and extracurricular activity at Poplar. High school students produce a full stage production each spring. Focuses on self-confidence, self-expression, and finding one's own voice.
- Athletics Program Athletic offerings including Flag Football, Cheerleading, Girls' Volleyball, Track & Field, Boys' Basketball, Girls' Basketball (high school and middle school), and Soccer. Teaches sportsmanship, teamwork, discipline, and perseverance from a Biblical perspective.
- Student Leadership Program Leadership development across all grade levels including morning meeting leadership in elementary, Student Ambassadors program in middle school, and Student Council in high school with five councils: Academic Council, Spiritual Life Council, Lion Den (School Spirit), Life and Culture Council, and Lux Urbi (Light to the City) Council.
- Biblical Counseling Program Comprehensive counseling services rooted in Biblical worldview. Includes a mandatory biblical counseling course for 6th graders covering conflict resolution, healthy relationships, body image, and emotional management. Provides peer counseling training and resources for depression, suicide prevention, and body safety education.
- College Guidance Program College preparation and guidance services including SAT prep, college application support, and financial aid assistance. 100% college acceptance rate with graduates attending institutions including Brown University, University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, and others.
- Financial Aid Program Need-based financial aid program processed in-house with consideration for family financial circumstances. Multi-child discounts and early payment discounts available. 2026-2027 annual tuition is $11,757 with 10 or 11 monthly payment plans. Over 300 children enrolled through financial aid.
- Lion Tours and Lion for a Day Shadow Experience Shadow day program allowing prospective students in grades 6-11 to spend a full school day attending classes, meeting teachers, and experiencing campus life. Lion Tours available for all grade levels across both Fairmount and Poplar campuses.
- Open House Program Onsite and virtual open house events at both Fairmount and Poplar campuses throughout the school year to introduce prospective families to the school community and educational programs. Includes optional Google Meet virtual tours and admissions Zoom chats with staff.
Companies that use The City School
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The City School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature2 records
The City School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Flynn & O'Hara UniformsminorOfficial uniform provider for The City School. Students must purchase shirts, pants, skirts, blazers, ties, and gym uniforms from Flynn & O'Hara. School logo embroidery required on uniforms.
- Squad Locker (TCS Gear Store)minorOnline school store for TCS Gear school spirit wear, available in lieu of Flynn & O'Hara gym uniforms.
- BlackbaudcoreEducation management platform used for faculty/administrative access (FAWeb) and parent/student portals (NetClassroom) for academic management.
- World of MusicminorAfter-school specialized music classes offered in partnership with World of Music.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The City School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The City School social profiles
Digital presenceThe City School compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
The City School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The City School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
The City School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The City School 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 The City School
What does The City School do?
The City School is a private Christian school providing Pre-K through Grade 12 college-preparatory education across two Philadelphia campuses (Fairmount Lower School for PreK-5 and Poplar Upper School for grades 6-12). The school delivers core academic instruction grounded in a Christian worldview, complemented by arts (visual arts, music, drama), athletics, biblical counseling, college guidance, and student leadership programs, with need-based financial aid enabling accessibility across socioeconomic backgrounds.
Is The City School a public or private company?
The City School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The City School founded?
The City School was founded in 1978.
Where is The City School based?
The City School is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
How does The City School make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are uniform Sales and donations and Charitable Giving.
Does The City School have an API?
No public API is recorded for The City School.
What industry is The City School in?
The City School's product category is Private K-12 Christian Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJABAC, Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.