Donna Independent School District

What Donna Independent School District does

Donna Independent School District is a public K-12 school district headquartered at 904 Hester Avenue in Donna, Texas (Hidalgo County), serving more than 13,000 students across 19 campuses — 2 high schools, 4 middle schools, and 13 elementary schools — covering an 89.3-square-mile area along the Rio Grande Valley. Founded in 1929, the district provides free public education to residents within its geographic boundaries, funded primarily through the Texas Education Agency's Foundation School Program formula, federal categorical grants (Title I, Title III Bilingual, IDEA Special Education, 21st Century Community Learning Centers), and local property taxes, supplemented by voter-approved bond proceeds (a $120 million bond passed in 2023) and modest adult education fees for GED, ESL, CNA, and CDL programs.

The district's academic offerings include a one-to-one device program (iPads for elementary, Chromebooks for secondary), specialized academies in STEAM, Dual Language Biliteracy, Arts, and Sports & Science, plus college-readiness pathways such as P-TECH and Early College High School at Donna North and Donna High School. Career and Technical Education comprises 24 programs with 36 industry-based certifications. Technology infrastructure is built on an Apptegy-hosted district website, Skyward Student Information System, Clever single sign-on, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and adaptive learning tools including Istation, Renaissance Place, myON, Epic!, Destiny, and Learning.com.

The go-to-market is structurally constrained: enrollment is geographic and residency-based, with optional school choice into magnet/academy programs through a separate application process, and tuition-free out-of-district transfers subject to superintendent approval. As a Texas governmental entity, Donna ISD is governed by an elected seven-member Board of Trustees operating under the Lone Star Governance program. Student support services extend to migrant students (Title I, Part C), McKinney-Vento homeless students, Texas ACE afterschool programming at 10 sites, Goodside Health telemedicine, and Hidalgo County Head Start partnerships at four elementary campuses.

Name

Donna Independent School District

Legal name

Donna Independent School District

Website

https://donnaisd.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Donna ISD is a public K-12 school district in Donna, Texas (Hidalgo County) serving over 13,000 students across 19 campuses, funded primarily by Texas Foundation School Program aid, federal categorical grants, and local property taxes, with academic offerings including specialized STEAM/Arts/Dual Language academies, 24 CTE programs, and P-TECH/Early College pathways.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Donna

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. State Funding (Foundation School Program): Primary funding from Texas Education Agency based on average daily attendance, property values, and district characteristics. Distributed through the Foundation School Program formula.
2. Federal Programs Funding: Federal grants including Title I, Title III (Bilingual), Title I Part C (Migrant), IDEA (Special Education), 21st Century Community Learning Centers (ACE program), and other federal education programs.
3. Local Property Taxes: Local maintenance and operations tax revenue based on property values within the district boundaries. Homeowner portion approximately 24% of bond payments per 2023 bond documentation.
4. Bond Proceeds: Voter-approved bonds for capital improvements. Historic $120 million bond passed in 2023 for instructional facilities upgrades and campus additions throughout the district.
5. Adult Education Fees: Fee-based programs for adult learners including GED preparation, ESL classes, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training, and CDL License preparation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Donna Independent School District operates a comprehensive K-12 public education system serving over 13,000 students across 19 campuses (2 high schools, 4 middle schools, and 13 elementary schools) in Donna, Texas. The district delivers free public education, specialized magnet academies (STEAM, Arts, Dual Language, P-TECH, Early College High School), 24 career and technical education programs with 36 industry certifications, dual language/biliteracy pathways, and support services including a one-to-one device program, school-based telemedicine, child nutrition, transportation, and library services. The district also operates adult education programs covering GED preparation, ESL, CNA training, and CDL licensure.

Product overview

Donna Independent School District operates a comprehensive K-12 public education ecosystem serving over 13,000 students across 19 campuses (2 high schools, 4 middle schools, 13 elementary schools). The district's technology infrastructure centers on the Apptegy-powered website and Skyward Student Information System, complemented by the Clever single sign-on platform for accessing digital learning resources. Academic programs include specialized academies (P-TECH, Early College High School, STEAM Academy, Dual Language Program) and 24 CTE programs with 36 industry certifications. The district provides integrated support services including Goodside Health telemedicine, Texas ACE afterschool programs, Teacher Incentive Allotment compensation, one-to-one device programs, and the $120M 2023 Bond infrastructure improvements. Transportation, child nutrition, library services, and campus security round out the core service offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-12 Public Education Free K-12 public education program serving over 13,000 students across 2 high schools, 4 middle schools, and 13 elementary schools in Donna, Texas. Includes core academics, standardized testing preparation (STAAR, TELPAS), fine arts, athletics, extracurricular activities, and college/career/military readiness.
• Dual Language Biliteracy Program Two-way dual language program allowing students to take core classes in both English and Spanish, developing bilingual and biliterate skills for global opportunities. Targets English learners and Spanish-speaking families in the Rio Grande Valley.
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs Vocational education programs offering 24 CTE programs and 36 industry-based certifications across career pathways including welding, healthcare, business, and technology for high school students.
• DNHS P-TECH Academy Pathways in Technology Early College High School program at Donna North High School allowing students to earn an associate degree while completing high school requirements.
• DHS Early College High School Early college high school program allowing students to earn college credits and an associate degree before graduating high school.
• D.M. Sauceda STEAM Academy Specialized middle school academy focused on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) with programs in forensic science, robotics, and innovative fields.
• Ochoa Primary Sports and Science Academy Specialized elementary campus focusing on sports and science education for primary-grade students.
• J.S. Adame Arts Academy Specialized elementary campus providing arts-focused education, including fine arts programming aligned with the Julian S. Adame campus.
• Texas ACE Afterschool Program Federal-funded out-of-school time program offering afterschool and summer programs for K-12 students and families, providing academic enrichment, non-academic activities, and family engagement at multiple district campuses.
• Goodside Health SchoolMed School-based telemedicine partnership providing on-campus healthcare services where Goodside Health providers can assess, diagnose, and treat common pediatric conditions for all enrolled students regardless of insurance or residency status.
• Adult Education Programs Fee-based programs for adult learners including GED preparation, ESL classes, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training, CDL License preparation, and Civics education.
• Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) State-funded teacher compensation program under Texas House Bill 3 providing additional annual funding ($3,000-$32,000) for designated high-performing teachers at high-need and rural campuses, with designation data validated by Texas Tech University.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% student growth across all subjects since 2021
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Texas Tech UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2020Partners with Donna ISD to validate teacher performance data and proposed designations for the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) program at Project RISE campuses (Rivas Elementary School and 3D Academy).
• Hidalgo County Head Start ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonna ISD partners with Hidalgo County Head Start Program to offer early childhood education for qualifying 3 and 4-year-olds at Stainke Elementary, Salinas STEAM Academy, Singleterry Elementary, and Donna 1 facility. The program provides a solid educational foundation led by certified teachers.
• Texas Education Agency (TEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary regulatory and funding partner. TEA provides state funding through the Foundation School Program, oversees accountability systems (STAAR testing), approves district initiatives including Teacher Incentive Allotment, and conducts financial integrity ratings.
• Goodside Health (SchoolMed)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership brings healthcare services to district campuses through SchoolMed telehealth program. Goodside Health providers can assess, diagnose, and treat common pediatric conditions from the school health room. Every student is eligible regardless of insurance or residency status.
• Texas ACE / 21st Century Community Learning CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant administered by TEA. Texas ACE offers after-school and summer programs to approximately 130,000 K-12 students across Texas. Donna ISD ACE sites include Julian S. Adame Arts Academy, M. Rivas Primary Discovery Academy, Caceres Discovery Intermediate Academy, Stainke Intermediate Science & Sports Academy, Ochoa Primary Science & Sports Academy, P.S. Garza Elementary, J.P. Lenoir Elementary, Todd Middle School, Solis Middle School, and Donna High School.
• Channel 5/Noticias RGVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpanish-language news media (CBS 5/RGV) providing coverage of district events, achievements, and news for the Rio Grande Valley community.
• Channel 23/CBS4 Valley CentralminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnglish-language regional news covering Donna ISD superintendent recognition, campus consolidations, athletic news, bond updates, and community events.
• Telemundo 40minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpanish-language television news covering new academy launches, construction projects, and district news for Spanish-speaking audiences.
• The Monitor / MyRGVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal newspaper and digital news platform providing extensive coverage of Donna ISD including board awards, bond projects, and educational initiatives.
• Univision / Fox News RGVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpanish-language media providing coverage of classroom expansions, welding shop, and security training programs.
• Region One Education Service CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional education service center providing support, professional development, and resources to Donna ISD. Administers the Region One Superintendent of the Year recognition program.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District: Larger neighboring Hidalgo County district (~32,000 students) with the same predominantly Hispanic, bilingual demographic profile. Operates early college, P-TECH, and CTE programs targeting the same regional workforce.
• Mission Consolidated Independent School District: Neighboring Rio Grande Valley district with comparable student demographics and similar size (~15,000 students). Competes directly for enrollment along the Donna-Mission corridor and offers parallel dual language and CTE programming.
• Weslaco Independent School District: Neighboring Rio Grande Valley public K-12 district serving a comparable student population size (~17,000 students). Operates similar CTE, dual language, and early college programs and competes directly for students in the same labor market and residential corridor.
• McAllen Independent School District: Larger Hidalgo County district (~25,000 students) operating the same K-12 instructional model with magnet academies, dual language, and CTE pathways. Located in the same regional economy and competes for transfer students.
• Brownsville Independent School District: Large Rio Grande Valley district (~45,000 students) at the southern end of the Valley. Serves a comparable bilingual, low-income population and operates the same comprehensive K-12 academic and CTE portfolio as Donna ISD.
• Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District: Regional Rio Grande Valley district of comparable scale (~18,000 students) with overlapping CTE, dual language, and early college programming. Competes for the same pool of bilingual families and college-bound students.
• Sharyland Independent School District: Adjacent Hidalgo County district of similar size (~10,000 students) offering comparable specialized academies and P-TECH pathways. Joint finalist with Donna ISD for the 2024 H-E-B Excellence in Education award, indicating direct competitive overlap.
• La Joya Independent School District: Adjacent western Hidalgo County district (~25,000 students) with a similar economically disadvantaged, predominantly Hispanic enrollment. Competes for families along shared district borders and offers comparable magnet and CTE programs.
• Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District: One of the largest Rio Grande Valley districts (~33,000 students), sharing the same bilingual/biliteracy instructional priorities and competitive student demographics. Operates parallel early college and CTE infrastructure.

Others

• Region One Education Service Center: Regional education service center that administers professional development, accountability support, and the Superintendent of the Year program recognized Donna ISD. Functions as an enabling partner rather than competitor, but its funding and policy decisions directly shape district operations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/donna_isd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC3VYVNnmJSZ4gdjc8oIWqDg
• Facebookfacebook.com/donnaisd
• Instagraminstagram.com/donnaisd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

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 Donna Independent School District