Every student receives a scholarship.
City Academy was founded on the belief that every child should have access to quality education. All scholars receive tuition support through generous donations by both individual donors, corporations, and foundations. City Academy is the ONLY private, independent school in the region to offer scholarship support to 100% of current scholars. Tuition is based on the family’s income and varies by family. During the 2025-2026 academic year, City Academy awarded $5.3 million in scholarships.
While most private independent schools utilize tuition to fund nearly 80% of their annual operating budget, City Academy turns the traditional private school funding model upside down. All families pay tuition; however, tuition income generates only 15% of the school’s annual budget. As a result, City Academy must fund up to 85% of its annual operating costs, through community support from individuals, corporations, foundations and investment income from its endowment.
We use a specialist model approach to teaching, with a student-to-teacher ratio of 8:1.
This model reflects an international approach to teaching, allowing our teachers to focus on instructing the one subject about which they are most knowledgeable. This means that our students receive instruction in every subject from teachers who are experts in their content area.
We prepare students for rigorous secondary school academic programs.
Over the last five years, 89% of our graduates have gone on to attend private, independent secondary schools in St. Louis with an average financial award of $26,015 for the Class of 2026. We work with 6th graders and families to prepare them for the secondary school admissions process through mock interviews, school visits, and test preparation.
We aim to provide families in underperforming school districts with an opportunity for exceptional education.
91% of our families live in under-resourced or unaccredited school districts.
31% of our families live in St. Louis City
69% of our families live in St. Louis County and surrounding counties in MO and IL
The extras aren’t extra.
Tuition at City Academy includes breakfast, lunch and snacks. It also includes our Early and Extended Day Program which allows parents/guardians to drop off their student as early as 7:00 a.m. and pick them up as late 6:00 p.m. Students are able to participate in after-school programs such as STAGES (theater), yoga, tennis, Girls on the Run, STEP Team, basketball, Girl Scouts, and much more.
We put an emphasis on STEAM.
In the fields of science, art and math, City Academy has advanced the integration of these fields – along with technology and engineering – to build cross-curricular connections that foster critical, creative thinking. This effort has become known as the STEAM Initiative, an innovative and collaborative approach that extends STEM education to incorporate art, recognizing that many of the skills and principles taught in art are applicable to and enhance what is accomplished in STEM classrooms. The result is a unique STEAM Initiative. Science, math and art are all taught as formal subjects throughout all grade levels, and they connect other disciplines through shared principles of problem solving and innovative thought.
All students learn Spanish and 1st – 6th graders take string lessons.
City Academy’s Strings Program is based on the principle that every child can learn to play the violin, viola, or cello if given the right environment, quality instruction and an instrument that is appropriate for their physical stature.
In all grades, students actively participate in Spanish instruction through games, songs, projects, and the use of technology. The Spanish program exposes students to other cultures and develops their Spanish speaking, reading and writing abilities.
We support our alumni after they graduate.
City Academy’s Alumni Support Team (known as the L.E.A.P. Team) stays engaged with our graduates and helps them on the path toward college and beyond. A member of the team meets with each alumni in secondary school at least twice per semester at their school to check in on their academic, social, and emotional needs. We also partner with principals, advisors, and counselors at the secondary schools to allow for optimal experiences for our alumni.
The STRIVE for College Program partners Washington University in St. Louis undergraduate students with City Academy alumni. Students meet for ACT/SAT preparation, tutoring, college and scholarship application support, resume and portfolio building, as well as networking opportunities. One-to-one pairings allow for intensive and personalized academic support.