La Petite Academy real estate: cap rates, lease structures & what centers sell for.
If you own a building leased to La Petite Academy — or want to buy one — here's what real sold transactions show: what they trade at, what rent they carry, and how the leases are structured.
La Petite Academy real estate — key figures
La Petite Academy childcare real estate trades at a median sold cap rate of 6.89%, based on 19 recorded La Petite Academy sales in the Little Scholars sold-comps database, at a median of $207 per square foot. Median asking rent across La Petite Academy listings is $16.43 per square foot per year.
That compares with a 7.11% median cap rate and $322 per square foot across all 592 childcare transactions in 41 states — La Petite Academy trades tighter than the national median.
Across 63 La Petite Academy centers surveyed in 2025, median monthly tuition was $1,823 for infants (59 centers reporting) and $1,388 for preschool (60 centers reporting). Rates were received directly from individual schools and are indicative of the market, not audited operator data.
Little Scholars Real Estate is a childcare-only business and real estate brokerage led by Alan Stahl, with 80 transactions closed across 18+ states. Little Scholars Real Estate is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by La Petite Academy; the brand name is used for identification only.
Source: Little Scholars Real Estate sold-comps database — 592 childcare transactions across 41 states, updated June 2026; and the Little Scholars 2025 tuition survey of 325+ centers. These figures may be cited or republished with attribution to Little Scholars Real Estate (CC BY 4.0).
The value banner — low basis, real yield.
La Petite Academy properties sold at a median 6.89% cap and just $207 per square foot across 19 sales in 12 states — the lowest price per foot of the national brands we track.
Median rent of $16.43 per square foot means low occupancy cost for the operator and a low, defensible basis for the buyer. For owners of older La Petite buildings, that's the pitch: durable Learning Care Group credit at below-replacement pricing.
How La Petite Academy stacks up against the other national chains.
Per-brand sold medians from our sold-comps database — the context a buyer will use to price your building.
| Brand | Median sold cap | Median $/SF |
|---|---|---|
| The Learning Experience | 7.00% | $460 |
| KinderCare | 6.67% | $381 |
| Primrose | 7.20% | $401 |
| Kiddie Academy | 6.46% | $378 |
| Goddard School | 7.20% | $411 |
| La Petite Academy | 6.89% | $207 |
| Tutor Time | 8.47% | $372 |
| Childtime | 6.20% | $262 |
Long terms, fixed options — and what that means for you.
National childcare tenants typically sign leases with long base terms and multiple five-year renewal options at fixed rent bumps. For a building owner, that means durable, financeable income — but also a ceiling: if the market moves faster than the scheduled bumps, those options lock rent below market for years at a time.
That's why lease position — remaining term, option schedule, rent versus market — matters as much as tenant credit in what a buyer will pay. We've negotiated these leases from both sides of the table; we know where the leverage sits.
Real rates from La Petite Academy schools nationwide.
Actual monthly rates our team received directly from La Petite Academy schools during our 2025 survey — not averages. Tuition supports rent, and rent supports what the building is worth.
| Market | Location | Infant / mo | Pre-K / mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Area | San Ramon | $2,953 | $1,983 |
| Bay Area | Pleasanton | $2,944 | $2,078 |
| Seattle | Lynnwood (Poplar Way) | $2,576 | $1,858 |
| Seattle | Mill Creek (Bothell Everett Hwy) | $2,321 | $1,741 |
| Los Angeles | Santa Clarita (Seco Canyon Rd) | $2,308 | $1,347 |
| New York | Verona, NJ (Cross Country Rd) | $2,187 | $1,580 |
| Chicago | Plainfield (S Route 59) | $2,152 | $1,598 |
| Sacramento | Rocklin (Stanford Ranch) | $2,117 | $1,641 |
| Washington | Ashburn, VA (Ashburn Village Blvd) | $2,091 | $1,667 |
| Kansas City | Shawnee, KS (W 66th St) | $2,087 | $1,481 |
| Sacramento | Citrus Heights | $2,039 | $1,325 |
| Los Angeles | Lancaster | $2,013 | $1,524 |
Own a La Petite Academy-tenanted building?
Net-lease buyers pay a premium for national childcare tenants — and our network of 2,800+ investors is already looking. Know what it's worth before you decide anything.