prairie school
The Prairie School is an independent not-for-profit college preparatory day school in Racine, Wisconsin, serving approximately 650 students from age 3 through Grade 12 on a 60-acre Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired campus, with tuition-based revenue supplemented by philanthropy, summer programs, and childcare services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1965
- HeadquartersRacine, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What prairie school does
The Prairie School is an independent, not-for-profit, college preparatory day school serving approximately 650 students from Early School (age 3) through Grade 12, located on a 60-acre Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired campus in Wind Point (Racine), Wisconsin. Founded in 1965 by Imogene Powers Johnson and Willie Hilpert, the school operates three academic divisions — Primary (K-5, 4:1 student-faculty ratio), Middle School (grades 6-8, 5:1), and Upper School (grades 9-12, 6:1) — supported by more than 100 faculty. The curriculum is augmented by a no-cut athletics policy, comprehensive arts programming, college counseling beginning in freshman year, and an academic support offering (the Compass Program). The institution is accredited by both Cognia and ISACS (shared with only 11 other Wisconsin schools), and 100% of its seniors matriculate to selective four-year colleges.
Revenue is generated primarily through tiered annual tuition (approximately $10,500 for Early School, $19,000 for 1st grade, and $21,000 for Middle School, with implied Upper School rates at or above that level), supported by an active development program. Over half of students receive scholarship assistance, administered and evaluated through a third-party partner (FACTS Management). Beyond core academics, Prairie monetizes the campus asset through Summer on the Prairie programming (including Hawks' Haven Day Camp at $370/week and specialty workshops), Mini Masters early-childhood classes ($18/session), and Stay & Play before/after care. Distribution relies on a selective admissions funnel — campus tours, Discovery Days, portfolio requirements — supplemented by private busing that extends reach to Kenosha, Franklin/Oak Creek, and Northern Illinois. The technology stack is conventional education-administration tooling: PowerSchool for records, RenWeb for admissions, WordPress for the public site, and ArbiterLive for athletics. There is no disclosed AI, proprietary software, or venture funding; the institution is governed by a fiduciary Board of Trustees as a Wisconsin not-for-profit corporation.
prairie school firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- prairie school
- Legal name
- The Prairie School
- Website
- https://prairieschool.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1965
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- The Prairie School is an independent not-for-profit college preparatory day school in Racine, Wisconsin, serving approximately 650 students from age 3 through Grade 12 on a 60-acre Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired campus, with tuition-based revenue supplemented by philanthropy, summer programs, and childcare services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
prairie school industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private K-12 Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- General Preschools (Play-Based) (EDACABAA)
Keywords
Where prairie school is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Racine
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
prairie school business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Tuition: Primary revenue from tuition fees for students from Early School (Pre-K) through Grade 12. Tuition rates vary by grade level with annual Inclusive Student Fee covering textbooks, field trips, technology, and other educational materials.
- Financial Aid/Scholarship Program: Significant commitment to financial aid with over 50% of students receiving scholarship assistance. Administered through FACTS third-party organization to evaluate family financial need.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Early School - Kindergarten tuition |
| Subscription | Annual | 1st - 5th Grade |
| Subscription | Annual | Middle School (Grades 6-8) |
| Unit Pricing | Weekly | Hawks' Haven Day Camp |
| Unit Pricing | Per session | Mini Masters Series |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
prairie school product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Prairie School is an independent, not-for-profit college-preparatory day school that educates students from age three or Pre-K through Grade 12. It delivers Primary, Middle, and Upper School curricula and also offers separately priced summer camps, sports camps, specialty workshops, and parent-child classes.
Product overview
The Prairie School is a private, independent college preparatory day school serving students from Early School (Pre-K) through Grade 12. The institution operates three academic divisions (Primary School, Middle School, Upper School) delivering a college-preparatory curriculum enhanced by co-curricular programs in athletics and performing arts. Beyond core academics, the school offers summer programming including Hawks' Haven Day Camp and specialty workshops, along with support services such as College Counseling, the Compass Program for learning support, and Stay & Play childcare. Community engagement is fostered through initiatives like the Prairie Voices video series and Nat Chat podcast.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Prairie Voices: A video series created to highlight the many people who make the school a vibrant and enriching community.
- Summer on the Prairie
- Hawks' Haven Day Camp
- Compass Program
Products and services
- Early School (Pre-Kindergarten) Early childhood education for children age three through kindergarten, focused on developmental concepts, creativity, and preparation for kindergarten.
- Primary School (Grades K-5) Elementary education for kindergarten through Grade 5 with a 4:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a curriculum including STEM, arts, and world languages.
- Middle School (Grades 6-8) Middle school education for Grades 6-8 with a 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio, emphasizing critical thinking, collaboration, and preparation for Upper School academics.
- Upper School (Grades 9-12) College-preparatory high school education for Grades 9-12 with a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio, college counseling, AP courses, J-Term experiential learning, and access to Malone Schools Online Network collaboration.
- Hawks' Haven Day Camp Summer day camp for students from 4K through Grade 8 offering arts and crafts, music, outdoor games, field trips, and team activities, with extended care available from June through August.
- Summer on the Prairie Specialty Workshops Public summer workshops ranging from one hour, two hours, or half a day in areas including art, LEGO engineering, science, D&D, drone programming, robotics, and creative drama.
- Summer Sports Camps Athletic skill-building camps for students of all ages, including soccer, archery, basketball, and other sports conducted through drills, games, and friendly competition.
- Mini Masters Series Parent-child classes for children ages two to three that introduce developmental concepts through music, science, physical expression, and creativity activities.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% of seniors accepted to selective four-year colleges and universities
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use prairie school
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
prairie school technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration13 records
Feature1 record
prairie school partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CogniacoreAccreditation through Cognia, which comprises NCA CASI, NWAC, and SACS CASI - three regionally recognized K-12 accrediting bodies. Over 125 years of accreditation experience serving more than 24,000 schools globally.
- Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS)coreMembership organization of more than 230 independent schools from 13 states in the U.S. Midwest region. Prairie shares accreditation with only 11 other schools in Wisconsin.
- National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)coreNational membership organization supporting independent schools through research, professional development, and advocacy.
- The College BoardcoreMembership organization providing college readiness programs and college admission services including SAT, PSAT, and AP programs.
- Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA)coreState athletic association governing high school sports and activities in Wisconsin.
- FACTS ManagementcoreThird-party organization handling scholarship evaluation based on family financial need and managing tuition payment transactions online for Prairie families.
- Malone Schools Online NetworkminorCollaborative network providing online courses and programs for independent school students.
- First Stage TheaterminorPartnership for Creative Drama and Scene Study theater workshops as part of Summer on the Prairie programs.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
prairie school competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- University School of Milwaukee: Independent, nonsectarian, college preparatory day school in Milwaukee, WI serving students from early childhood through grade 12. Most direct comparable: similar mission, tuition tier, ISACS accreditation, and regional Southeastern Wisconsin market overlap.
- Brookfield Academy: Independent college preparatory school in Brookfield, WI serving students from early childhood through grade 12. Direct peer: similar tuition tier, nonsectarian model, college-prep focus, and Racine/Milwaukee suburban family market.
- Marquette University High School: Jesuit college preparatory high school in Milwaukee, WI serving grades 9-12. Comparable on selective admissions, 100% college placement outcomes, and Milwaukee-area family market, though single-sex and faith-based differentiation differs from Prairie's nonsectarian model.
- Milwaukee Country Day School: Independent day school serving students from early childhood through grade 12 in the Milwaukee metro area. Direct peer on mission, nonsectarian college-prep model, and shared Wisconsin independent-school market.
- Park Tudor School: Independent nonsectarian college preparatory school in Indianapolis serving Pre-K through grade 12. Direct peer on structure, tuition tier, ISACS accreditation, and college-prep curriculum, though operating in a different metro market.
- University Liggett School: Independent nonsectarian college preparatory day school in Grosse Pointe Woods, MI serving early childhood through grade 12. Direct peer on mission, structure, and ISACS accreditation across Midwest independent school market.
- Cincinnati Country Day School: Independent nonsectarian college preparatory day school in Cincinnati, OH serving early childhood through grade 12. Direct peer on structure, ISACS membership, selective admissions, and college-prep outcomes focus.
Regional players
- Pius XI Catholic High School: Catholic college preparatory high school in Milwaukee, WI. Regional peer competing for Southeastern Wisconsin families seeking college-prep education, but faith-based model and high-school-only structure differ from Prairie's Pre-K-12 nonsectarian offering.
- Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart: Independent Catholic college preparatory school in Lake Forest, IL. Regional peer serving Chicago-area families seeking independent college-prep education, though faith-based and all-girls differ from Prairie's nonsectarian coed model.
Others
- National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS): National membership organization for independent K-12 schools. Prairie is a member. Included as an ecosystem/association peer rather than competitor—useful for benchmarking governance, accreditation, and best-practice frameworks across the independent school sector.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
prairie school social profiles
Digital presenceprairie school compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
prairie school financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
prairie school leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
prairie school funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
prairie 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 prairie school
What does prairie school do?
The Prairie School is an independent, not-for-profit college-preparatory day school that educates students from age three or Pre-K through Grade 12. It delivers Primary, Middle, and Upper School curricula and also offers separately priced summer camps, sports camps, specialty workshops, and parent-child classes.
Is prairie school a public or private company?
prairie school is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was prairie school founded?
prairie school was founded in 1965.
Where is prairie school based?
prairie school is headquartered in Racine, United States, in the North America region.
How does prairie school make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Tuition is the primary driver. The others are financial Aid/Scholarship Program.
Who are prairie school's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are University School of Milwaukee, Brookfield Academy, Marquette University High School, Milwaukee Country Day School, Park Tudor School, University Liggett School and Cincinnati Country Day School. Regional players are Pius XI Catholic High School and Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart. National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) is listed as an others.
Does prairie school have an API?
No public API is recorded for prairie school.
What industry is prairie school in?
prairie school's product category is Private K-12 Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJABAA, Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools, with a secondary code of EDACABAA, General Preschools (Play-Based). Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.