Apperson

What Apperson does

Apperson, Inc. is a privately-held, family-owned education technology and printing services company founded in 1955 and headquartered in Kingsburg, California. The company designs, manufactures, and sells OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) hardware, proprietary assessment software, and paper consumables used by K-12 schools, higher education institutions, government agencies, and commercial businesses to scan, score, and analyze multiple-choice tests, surveys, and ballots. Its hardware lineup spans the DataLink desktop scanner series (600, 600 FC, 1200, 3000) priced from $1,250 to $2,250, and high-throughput Sekonic scanners (1800, 3500, 6500) processing up to 5,500 sheets per hour. Software includes DataLink Connect (bundled free with scanners) plus the DataLink ACT/SAT prep bundle and Remark Classic OMR integration, with output flowing to 25+ gradebook and LMS systems.

The company's revenue model combines one-time hardware sales, recurring consumables (over 100 million answer sheets sold annually, AccuScan-guaranteed and compatible with Scantron, NCS/Pearson, and Parscore formats), software licenses, and a separate Print & Marketing Solutions division offering commercial print, packaging, mailing, warehousing, fulfillment, and promotional marketing. Distribution is multi-channel: direct enterprise sales via phone, an e-commerce storefront at store.apperson.com, regional education service cooperatives in Texas, Illinois, and New Mexico, and an international distributor network covering 15+ countries across 6 continents. Additional operations are maintained in Charlotte, NC and Kent, WA. Apperson claims up to 60% cost advantage over Scantron and a 55,000+ installed scanner base, with notable subsidiaries including Aperture Education (a SEL assessment joint venture with Devereux) and sub-brands DataLink, The Character Tree (K-2 digital character education), and Print & Marketing Solutions.

Name

Apperson

Legal name

Apperson, Inc.

Website

https://apperson.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Apperson is a family-owned education technology and printing services company, founded in 1955, that manufactures OMR scanners, answer sheets, and assessment software for K-12 schools, higher education, government agencies, and commercial businesses across the U.S. and 15+ international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Assessment Hardware and Consumables

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Packaging and Labeling Services (56191)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Exam Delivery & Test Administration Platforms (EDAFADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Assessment Platforms & Computer-Based Testing Authorities (EDADAFAK), Certification & Licensing Exam Management Platforms (EDAFADAG), Assessment Item Banks, Question Authoring & Test Development Content (EDAGADAG)

Keywords

• Test scoring scanners
• OMR assessment solutions
• Education technology hardware
• Answer sheet forms
• Commercial print services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingsburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales (Scanners): Sale of DataLink and Sekonic test scanners ranging from $1,250 to quote-based pricing for high-speed models. Includes DataLink 600, 600 FC, 1200, 3000 desktop scanners and Sekonic 1800, 3500, 6500 high-speed scanners.
2. Answer Sheets and Forms: Sale of over 100 million answer sheets, ballots, surveys, and custom forms annually. Compatible with Apperson and competitor scanners (Scantron, NCS/Pearson, Parscore).
3. Software Licenses: Sale of specialized software including DataLink ACT/SAT software ($199) and Remark Classic OMR software. DataLink Connect is provided free with scanner purchases.
4. Print and Marketing Solutions: Comprehensive print services including commercial print, packaging, mailing, warehousing/fulfillment, and promotional marketing for business customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Apperson manufactures and sells OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) test scanners (DataLink desktop series and Sekonic high-speed series) and proprietary DataLink Connect assessment software, paired with AccuScan-guaranteed paper answer sheets and forms. The integrated hardware-software-consumables solution is targeted at K-12 schools, higher education institutions, government agencies, and commercial businesses for scanning, scoring, and reporting on multiple-choice assessments, surveys, and ballots.

Product overview

Apperson offers an integrated assessment ecosystem combining hardware scanners, proprietary software, and paper consumables for educational testing and data collection. The product portfolio centers on DataLink scanners (DataLink 600, 600 FC, 1200, 3000) and Sekonic high-speed scanners (1800, 3500, 6500), paired with DataLink Connect free assessment software. Premium offerings include DataLink ACT/SAT test prep solution and Remark Classic OMR third-party software. The company sells compatible answer sheet forms across multiple format standards (Scantron, NCS, Parscore, general OMR) and serves K-12, higher education, and government/business markets. Supporting services include Print & Marketing Solutions (commercial print, packaging, mailing, fulfillment) and The Character Tree digital character education content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DataLink: Core education brand offering test scanners (DataLink 600, 1200, 3000) and assessment software (DataLink Connect, DataLink Ascend)
• The Character Tree
• Print & Marketing Solutions

Products and services

• DataLink 600 Manual-feed desktop test scanner for K-12 and higher education classrooms; supports up to 200 questions with 6-digit student IDs and scans at 35 ppm/2,100 sheets per hour. Sold to schools and districts as a lower-cost alternative to Scantron, bundled with DataLink Connect software for PC and Mac.
• DataLink 600 FC Manual-feed desktop scanner that reads both DataLink 600 forms and Scantron 888P+/Score forms at 35 ppm, marketed as a direct Scantron replacement at approximately half the competitor price. For schools and districts currently using Scantron systems.
• DataLink 1200 Manual-feed desktop test scanner with 12 channels, supporting up to 200 questions (100 per pass) and 10-12 digit student IDs at 35 ppm/2,100 sheets per hour. Includes stand-alone item analysis capability. PC and Mac compatible.
• DataLink 3000 Auto-feed desktop scanner with 19 channels, 150-question capacity, integrated barcode reader, and 19-digit student ID support. Scans at 65 ppm/3,600 sheets per hour with a 250-sheet ADF, targeting district-wide and large-volume school assessments.
• Sekonic 1800 High-speed auto-feed OMR scanner processing up to 1,800 sheets per hour with 48 channels and up to 5,184 mark positions per page. Single or dual-sided read options, optional printer and barcode reader. PC only, paired with DataLink Connect or Remark Classic OMR software.
• Sekonic 3500 High-speed auto-feed scanner at 3,500 sheets per hour (59 ppm) with 48 channels and 5,232 mark positions per page. Auto-calibration, optional duplex read head for dual-sided scanning, and a 500-sheet ADF. PC only.
• Sekonic 6500 Flagship high-speed scanner processing 5,500 sheets per hour (91 ppm) with full-sheet duplex scanning, integrated printer, and select stacker with reject tray. Designed for large-volume institutional and government assessment operations. PC only.
• DataLink ACT/SAT Test Scoring Solution Premium software bundle for ACT/SAT test preparation. Combines DataLink ACT/SAT software ($199 standalone or bundled with DataLink 1200 scanner and 2 packages of forms for $1,450) with custom practice test forms and aligned scoring reports and subscores. For schools and test-prep centers preparing students for high-stakes college admissions tests. PC only.
• Apperson Answer Sheets and Forms OMR-readable answer sheets, ballots, surveys, and quizzes manufactured by Apperson with AccuScan guarantee. Includes DataLink-compatible forms, Scantron-compatible forms, NCS/Pearson-compatible forms, Parscore/Parsurvey-compatible forms, and general purpose OMR forms. Over 100 million sheets sold annually at prices typically less than half of Scantron.
• The Character Tree Online character development resource for K-2 students featuring 32 video lessons with puppets teaching kindness, bravery, hope, leadership, gratitude, perseverance, and other positive character traits. Standards-aligned with teacher guides and printable student resources. Free for the 2019-2020 school year.
• Print & Marketing Solutions Full-service commercial print and marketing services including consultation, commercial print, packaging, direct mail, survey/data collection, warehousing/fulfillment, and promotional marketing. Operates east- and west-coast warehousing with nationwide distribution; SOC 2 Type II certified for security and confidentiality.
• Security Transcript Paper Security-enhanced transcript paper with visible and invisible fraud-deterrent features to prevent unauthorized duplication. Available as generic stock or custom-printed for higher education institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 60% cost savings compared to Scantron
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration47 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered regional, minor and core.

• Region 3 (Special Education Cooperative)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIllinois education cooperative serving 6 school districts. Apperson is a proud vendor providing test scoring and assessment solutions through this purchasing cooperative.
• Region 5 (Southeast Texas Purchasing Coop)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSoutheast Texas purchasing cooperative serving school districts of 6 counties plus additional ISDs. Apperson provides assessment solutions through this channel.
• Region 7 (Education Service Center)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTexas Education Service Center serving 96 school districts, 10 charter schools, and 13,305 square miles in 17 East Texas counties.
• Region 9 (Education Cooperative)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSouth-central New Mexico education cooperative serving 9 school districts with assessment and testing solutions.
• Region 11 (Education Service Center Benefits Co-op)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTexas Education Service Center Region 11 Benefits Co-op providing purchasing options for member districts.
• Region 14 (Education Service Center)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTexas Education Service Center Region 14 serving 42 school districts in 13 counties with 7 higher learning institutions.
• Region 18 (Education Service Center)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTexas Education Service Center Region 18 serving 33 school districts, 7 charter schools, and 5 institutions of higher education.
• Region 19 (Education Service Center)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTexas Education Service Center serving El Paso Area and Allied States Cooperative, serving 12 school districts and 7 charter schools.
• NASP (National Archery in the Schools Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASP is the fastest growing shooting sport in history with a spotless safety record. Apperson provides equipment support for archery education in schools.
• International Distributor NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApperson has developed partnerships worldwide covering Americas, Australia, South Pacific, Middle East, and Asia. Over 15 countries across 6 continents with dedicated international team. Apperson never sells direct to end-users in distributor territories.
• Gradebook and LMS Integration PartnerscoreTechnology or IntegrationDataLink Connect integrates with 25+ gradebook and learning management systems including Blackboard, PowerTeacher, Skyward, NEOGOV, Desire2Learn, and more for seamless data export.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• FormAssembly: FormAssembly is a web-based form and survey platform competing for the digital data-capture portion of the workflow that Apperson's OMR scanners address. It represents the secular digital-substitution threat to Apperson's paper-based core.
• Questionmark: Questionmark delivers online assessment, proctoring, and certification platforms used by higher education and corporate training customers, overlapping with Apperson's Government & Business and Higher Ed segments where digital alternatives to bubble-sheet scoring compete for budget.
• ClassMarker: ClassMarker offers online testing and quiz platforms for educators and businesses, representing a pure-cloud alternative to Apperson's hybrid paper-software model that nibbles away at the low-end scanner-and-forms use cases.
• Remark Classic OMR (Gravic): Gravic's Remark Classic OMR is the third-party software partner bundled with Apperson's Sekonic high-speed scanners for survey/course evaluation use cases. Overlap is partial - Remark provides the analytics layer, Apperson provides the hardware - but they share institutional higher-ed and government buyers.

Direct peers

• PARSCO (Parscore/Parsurvey): PARSCO is an OMR scanner and scoring platform serving K-12 and higher education; Apperson explicitly manufactures Parscore/Parsurvey-compatible answer forms, demonstrating direct product overlap with Apperson scanners and consumables.
• Scantron: Scantron is the dominant U.S. provider of OMR scanners, answer sheets, and assessment scoring for K-12, higher ed, and government markets. Apperson explicitly positions itself as a lower-cost alternative to Scantron with compatible consumables, making it the most direct head-to-head competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Pearson (NCS Pearson): Pearson, through its NCS assessment heritage, provides standardized testing, scoring services, and analytics to K-12 and higher education. Apperson sells NCS/Pearson-compatible answer sheets and competes for the same district assessment budgets at much larger scale.
• Edmentum: Edmentum provides K-12 assessment and adaptive learning solutions, including diagnostic and interim assessment products that compete for the same per-pupil assessment dollars that Apperson pursues through DataLink scanners and SEL content.

Others

• Aperture Education: Aperture Education is Apperson's sister company, built on the DESSA SEL assessment partnership with Devereux. While created from the Apperson family of businesses, it operates as a separate entity serving K-8 SEL needs, making it a closely related rather than directly competing company.
• Devereux (DESSA): Devereux partnered with Apperson to make it sole publisher of DESSA SEL assessment tools in K-8, giving rise to the Aperture Education subsidiary. They are not a direct competitor but a content partner in the SEL/assessment ecosystem where Apperson is expanding.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/appersonedu
• Facebookfacebook.com/appersoneducation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apperson-inc-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Apperson