Los Alamos Public Schools

What Los Alamos Public Schools does

Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) is a government state entity and public school district serving approximately 3,543 students across Los Alamos County, New Mexico, from PreK through grade 12. The district operates seven schools: five elementary schools (Aspen, Barranca Mesa, Chamisa, Mountain, and Pinon), one middle school (Los Alamos Middle School), and one high school (Los Alamos High School), supplemented by the Topper Virtual Academy for grades 9-12. Enrollment is governed by geographic school boundaries for in-district students, with a lottery system for PreK programs and an open-enrollment policy for out-of-district applicants. The student body includes 170 students from 33 countries speaking 25 languages, supported by English learner and Native American student services.

The district's technology stack is built on standard K-12 administrative platforms, including PowerSchool for student information and enrollment, Clever for single sign-on, SchoolMessenger for parent communications, Chartwells for food services, and SchoolDude for facility work orders, with no proprietary AI or ML components. Academic programming includes Advanced Placement courses with three consecutive Silver AP School Honor Roll distinctions (2023-2025), GATE (Gifted and Talented Education), Career and Technical Education pathways (automotive, culinary arts, building trades, business and marketing), and over 50 dual enrollment courses offered in partnership with University of New Mexico-Los Alamos and Northern New Mexico College. The district maintains a 97% graduation rate, all seven schools hold Spotlight School designation, and it was named the 2023 College Board AP District of the Year among small-sized districts.

LAPS is funded as a traditional public school district with no tuition revenue, operating on a $76 million annual operating budget supported primarily by local property taxes on a $217 million assessed valuation and state operational funding. The district employs approximately 679 staff (353 certified teachers, 279 classified staff, and 47 administrative staff) and is governed by an elected Board of Education. Active capital projects include the new Pinon Elementary (completed Spring 2025) and Chamisa Elementary (targeted completion August 2025) school buildings. Optional fee-based services are immaterial to total revenue, consisting of athletics season passes ($85 individual, $175 family) and facility rentals at the Duane Smith Auditorium.

Name

Los Alamos Public Schools

Legal name

Los Alamos Public Schools

Website

https://laschools.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1943

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Los Alamos Public Schools is a public K-12 school district serving approximately 3,543 students across Los Alamos County, New Mexico, through seven schools and a virtual academy. The district offers PreK-12 education funded by property taxes and state aid, with recognized AP, GATE, CTE, and dual enrollment programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB), Public Middle Schools (EDAJAAAC), Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

Keywords

• Public K-12 education
• School district services
• PreK-12 instruction
• Dual enrollment programs
• Special education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Alamos

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: School district funded primarily through local property tax revenue ($217 million assessed valuation) and state operational funding ($76 million operating budget). Additional revenue from federal grants and program fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Los Alamos Public Schools operates a comprehensive PreK-12 public education program across seven schools plus a virtual academy, delivering core academic instruction, Advanced Placement and dual enrollment college courses, Career and Technical Education, GATE gifted programming, special education services, athletics, fine arts, food services, and transportation. The district serves approximately 3,543 students free of tuition within Los Alamos County, funded by local property taxes and state operational funding, and holds full AdvancED accreditation.

Product overview

Los Alamos Public Schools is a traditional public school district offering a comprehensive PreK-12 educational program across seven schools: five elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and one virtual academy. The district provides core academic instruction alongside specialized programs including GATE (Gifted and Talented Education), Career and Technical Education (CTE), Dual Enrollment college courses, and extensive athletics and fine arts programs. Support services include food services (breakfast/lunch), transportation, and facility rentals through the Duane Smith Auditorium.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Topper Virtual Academy: Online option for students in grades 9 through 12
• Los Alamos Early College & Career Academy
• School of Choice
• Topper Virtual Academy

Products and services

• Los Alamos High School Traditional high school serving grades 9-12 with comprehensive academic programs including AP and Dual Credit courses, career and technology options, fine arts, and extracurricular activities.
• Los Alamos Middle School Traditional middle school serving grades 7-8 with academic programs, exploratory courses, athletics, and extracurricular activities.
• Elementary Schools (Aspen, Barranca Mesa, Chamisa, Mountain, Pinon) Five elementary schools serving PreK through grade 6 with focus on foundational academics, specials classes, and social-emotional development.
• Topper Virtual Academy Online option for students in grades 9-12 providing virtual coursework and flexibility for students who need an alternative to traditional schooling.
• GATE Program (Gifted and Talented Education) Program providing educational opportunities for academically gifted students from PreK through grade 12 with specialized instruction, enrichment activities, and individualized IEP goals.
• PreK Program Preschool programs for 3 and 4-year-olds including NM PreK at all elementary schools and special education preschool programs for eligible students.
• Dual Enrollment Courses Over 50 dual enrollment courses offered in partnership with University of New Mexico - Los Alamos and Northern New Mexico College, allowing students to earn college credit.
• Career and Technology Education (CTE) Career and technology programs including automotive, culinary arts, building trades, and business and marketing classes at the high school level.
• Food Services Free breakfast and lunch program for all students provided through partnership with Chartwells Food Services.
• Transportation Services Bus service for students meeting distance requirements, with elementary students at 1 mile, middle school at 1.5 miles, and high school at 2 miles.
• Athletics Programs Comprehensive athletic programs including cross country, golf, esports, track and field, swimming and diving, chess, precision rifle, marching band, football, volleyball, soccer, basketball, wrestling, baseball, softball, and tennis.
• Duane Smith Auditorium Rentals Rental venue for community events, performances, and gatherings operated by the district.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% graduation rate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• University of New Mexico - Los AlamoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual enrollment partnership offering over 50 college-level courses allowing high school students to earn both high school and college credit simultaneously.
• Northern New Mexico CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual enrollment partnership providing additional opportunities for students to earn college credit through concurrent enrollment courses.
• Chartwells Food ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood services provider for all school sites, offering breakfast and lunch programs. Provides free meals to all students through USDA National School Lunch Program.
• PowerSchoolcoreTechnology or IntegrationStudent information system used for enrollment registration, grade management, and parent portal access.
• Dekker Perich Sabatini ArchitectsmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm responsible for design of new Pinon Elementary and Chamisa Elementary school buildings.
• Jaynes CorporationmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction Manager at Risk (CMAR) contractor selected to build both Pinon and Chamisa elementary schools. Construction scheduled for 2023-2026.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Albuquerque Public Schools: Largest public K-12 district in New Mexico, also operating multiple elementary, middle, and high schools with magnet/CTE pathways, AP and dual enrollment offerings. Most directly comparable in-state peer given the same state funding regime, accreditation body, and College Board AP framework.
• Santa Fe Public Schools: Adjacent northern New Mexico public K-12 district serving students PreK-12 with AP, dual credit, GATE, and bilingual programs. Directly comparable geographic and demographic peer, competing with LAPS for out-of-district enrollment and dual enrollment partnerships.
• Rio Rancho Public Schools: Fast-growing New Mexico public K-12 district with comprehensive CTE, AP, and dual enrollment pathways. Comparable in offering broad K-12 programming with similar reliance on state funding, though serving a notably larger and more suburban population.
• Las Cruces Public Schools: Second-largest New Mexico public K-12 district, operating a multi-school system with comparable AP, CTE, dual credit, and bilingual/ELL programming. Directly comparable as a same-state K-12 public district with similar accountability and accreditation framework.

Broad incumbents

• Carmel Clay Schools: Indiana public K-12 district nationally recognized for top-tier academic outcomes, high graduation rates, and AP breadth. Comparable to LAPS as a high-performing suburban public district that uses AP achievement and college-readiness metrics as primary brand and outcomes signals.
• Naperville Community Unit School District 203: Illinois public K-12 district frequently ranked among the top nationally for outcomes, AP participation, and college readiness. Comparable to LAPS as a high-achieving public district whose brand and trajectory mirror LAPS's emphasis on AP/dual credit and standardized outcomes excellence.
• Cherry Creek School District: Large Colorado public K-12 district widely cited for academic excellence, comprehensive AP/IB/dual enrollment, and robust athletics and arts programming. Comparable to LAPS in offering the full K-12 programming mix and using AP honors as a core brand marker.
• Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125: Illinois public high school district nationally recognized for AP breadth and college readiness. Comparable to Los Alamos High School specifically in using AP participation, pass rates, and Honor Roll status as primary quality signals.

Others

• PowerSchool Group Holdings: Provider of the PowerSchool student information system that LAPS uses for enrollment, grade management, and parent portal access. Relevant peer as a technology enabler/infrastructure vendor supporting LAPS's K-12 operations rather than a direct competitor.
• Chartwells Higher Education / Chartwells K-12: Food services partner for the district, providing free breakfast and lunch to all LAPS students via the USDA National School Lunch Program. Relevant as an operational partner/them-to-us vendor enabling the district's free meal program.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xmobile.twitter.com/discoverlaps
• Facebookfacebook.com/losalamosschooldistrict/?rf=161455483874353
• Instagraminstagram.com/discoverlaps

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Los Alamos Public Schools