What Tolles Career & Technical Center does

Tolles Career & Technical Center is a public joint vocational school district headquartered at 7877 U.S. Highway 42 S., Plain City, Ohio, serving approximately 1,300+ high school and adult students annually across Central Ohio. Founded in 1971 and opened to students in 1974, it recruits high school students through seven associate school districts (Dublin, Fairbanks, Hilliard, Jonathan Alder, London, Madison-Plains, Jefferson Local) and 11 high schools spanning three counties. The institution delivers 25 career-technical programs at its main campus and 20 at satellite locations, supported by specialized offerings including the ELITE off-site internship program, Project SEARCH for students with disabilities (in partnership with OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital since 2009-10), RAMTEC robotics/manufacturing training, and ASPIRE/ESOL/GED adult literacy services.

The core educational model combines classroom instruction with hands-on labs and student-operated businesses (licensed preschool, salon, restaurant, pet grooming center, automotive service centers, construction services, graphic design, school store, computer/technical support) plus a 2x2 cohort work-based learning structure that splits students between classroom time and paid industry experience. A four-story Fire & EMS Training Facility of Central Ohio is under development through state capital funding ($400,000 awarded in Ohio's 2026 Capital Budget) in collaboration with Columbus State Community College, serving roughly 20 regional fire and EMS agencies. The institution is concurrently executing a $30 million, 50,000-square-foot campus expansion (groundbreaking August 29, 2025) for pre-nursing, early childhood education, welding, and construction programs.

Tolles operates as a public entity under a seven-member Board of Education, funded primarily through a levy originally passed in 1972 plus state appropriations and Ohio Capital Budget allocations. Secondary revenue streams include adult education tuition with nominal application and assessment fees ($25 application, $75 WorkKeys, $28 BCI background check) and customized workforce training for Central Ohio employers. The Adult Education division holds national accreditation from the Council on Occupational Education and the Ohio Department of Higher Education, and Tolles carries a 5-Star Ohio Department of Education rating with 97.8% four-year graduation and 92.2% post-program placement rates.

Name

Tolles Career & Technical Center

Legal name

Tolles Career & Technical Center

Website

https://tollestech.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Tolles Career & Technical Center is a public joint vocational school district in Plain City, Ohio, serving 1,300+ high school and adult students from seven associate districts across Central Ohio through 25+ hands-on career-technical programs, student-operated businesses, and employer-based work-learning partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Career and Technical Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Apprenticeship Training (611513), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical & Digital Skills Training (BPACANAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nursing Assistant (CNA) & Patient Care Technician (PCT) (EDAOAJAB), Career Coaching, Mentoring & Placement Support Services (EDAAAKAO)

Keywords

• Career technical education
• Vocational training programs
• Workforce skills training
• Adult education services
• High school career programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Plain City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public School Funding: Operates on levy funding that was passed in 1972. Receives state funding and Ohio Capital Budget allocations for specific projects.
2. Capital Budget Funding: $400,000 awarded through Ohio's 2026 Capital Budget for Fire & EMS Training Facility development
3. Expansion Investment: $30 million expansion project funded through partnerships with Fanning & Howey Architects and Ruscilli Construction
4. Adult Education Tuition: Adult students pay tuition for technical programs including Metal Arc Welding, Multi-Craft Maintenance, STNA, and others. Application fee of $25, WorkKeys assessments for $75, BCI background check for $28
5. Student Work-Based Learning: Students earn wages through internships and cohort programs, with over $1 million earned in a recent school year and $526,000+ in the 2025-26 academic year

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tolles Career & Technical Center is a public joint vocational school district offering career-technical education programs. It delivers hands-on training across 25 programs at its main Plain City campus and 20 programs at satellite locations for high school students from seven partner districts, plus short-term adult education programs in welding, maintenance, healthcare, and public safety. The institution supplements classroom instruction with student-operated businesses, work-based learning internships, and dual-credit college pathways.

Product overview

Tolles Career & Technical Center is a joint vocational school district offering a portfolio of career-technical education products and services. The core offering consists of high school career-technical programs (25 programs at main campus, 20 at satellite locations) providing hands-on training with pathways to college and careers. Supporting products include adult education technical programs (Metal Arc Welding, Multi-Craft Maintenance, STNA, Public Safety, I2PA, Broadband Infrastructure), ASPIRE/ESOL/GED services, RAMTEC industrial training, and customized workforce training for regional employers. Specialized programs include the ELITE experiential learning program for associate school students and Project SEARCH for students with disabilities. The institution also operates student-operated businesses including a preschool, salon, restaurant, and automotive service centers. A major new facility, the Fire & EMS Training Facility of Central Ohio, is under development with $400,000 in state funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• High School Career-Technical Programs Hands-on career-technical education programs for high school students from seven partner districts (Dublin, Fairbanks, Hilliard, Jonathan Alder, London, Madison-Plains, Jefferson Local), offering 25 programs at the main campus and 20 at satellite locations focused on industry credentials, dual college credit, and work-based learning.
• Adult Education Technical Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% average post-program placement rate
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Morrison Sign CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost company for student interns from Welding & Fabrication Technologies program through the 2x2 cohort model. Student Bella Lopez completed internship and was hired full-time as a welder fabricator upon graduation. Company provides real production experience and training on fabrication equipment.
• Superior PlasticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturing partner hosting Engineering Technologies student interns. Student Dillon Derose gained hands-on experience in injection molding operations, rotating through departments to understand the full manufacturing process before working on engineering challenges.
• OhioHealth Dublin Methodist HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for Project SEARCH program helping young adults with disabilities transition to meaningful employment. Since 2009-2010, program has served 157 interns with 86% of graduates securing employment. Currently 32 graduates employed within OhioHealth.
• Schmidt's CateringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCulinary Arts internship host providing second-year student Claire Kingery with real-world catering experience, teaching professional kitchen skills, food safety, and culinary techniques including making sausages, chicken, spaetzle, and cream puffs.
• RE/MAX Leading EdgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal estate firm in London hosting ELITE program intern Chase Risner for career exploration in real estate. Provides hands-on experience with marketing, social media, events, and professional development opportunities.
• Nestle Development CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood science and nutrition research facility in Marysville hosting ELITE program intern Lincoln Wilson for career exploration in food science.
• SkillsUSA OhiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide career technical student organization with 36,000+ students and educators. Jackie Walker, Executive Director, featured at Tolles SkillsUSA kickoff to inspire students about career technical education and leadership development.
• Columbus State Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner in the Fire & EMS Training Facility of Central Ohio project, collaborating on regional firefighter and EMS training for students, first responders, and departments throughout Central Ohio.
• Fanning & Howey ArchitectsmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm designing the $30 million, 50,000-square-foot campus expansion including labs for pre-nursing, early childhood education, welding, and construction programs.
• Ruscilli ConstructionmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction firm building the $30 million campus expansion on two sides of the existing campus, expected to be completed in time to welcome future classes of Tolles students.
• Project SEARCHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational transition program operating at Dublin Methodist Hospital through partnership with Tolles. Provides one-year program combining classroom instruction with hands-on hospital internships for students with disabilities.
• Opportunities for Ohioans with DisabilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency collaborating on Project SEARCH program, providing services and support for students with disabilities participating in the employment transition program.
• Greenleaf Job Training ServicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJob training services partner in Project SEARCH program providing job coaches and employment support for interns with disabilities.
• Vaza ConsultingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConsulting partner collaborating on Career Tech Advocacy Town Hall series, bringing together education, business, and community leaders to discuss workforce development.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Delaware Area Career Center: Ohio joint vocational school district serving nearby Central Ohio communities with a comparable portfolio of high school career-technical programs, satellite locations, adult education, and employer partnerships. Closest geographic and structural peer to Tolles.
• Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools: Multi-campus Ohio career-technical district operating high school and adult workforce programs with employer partnerships and student-operated businesses. Comparable multi-county service-area model and program breadth.
• Tri-Rivers Career Center: Ohio joint vocational school district offering secondary and adult career-technical programs including healthcare, manufacturing, and skilled trades. Comparable revenue model (levy + state funding + tuition) and program mix.
• Auburn Career Center: Northeast Ohio career-technical center serving high school and adult learners with a comparable portfolio of skilled-trades, healthcare, and technology programs and employer-based internships.
• Polaris Career Center: Ohio career-technical center in Middleburg Heights offering high school and adult career programs with employer partnerships. Comparable tuition-supported adult education and customized training offerings.
• Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center: Southern Ohio joint vocational district operating secondary career-technical programs, adult education, and customized business training. Comparable levy-funded operating model and program portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Universal Technical Institute: National for-profit provider of technician training for transportation, skilled trades, and energy industries. Comparable adult-learner technical training focus but operates at national scale with a tuition-driven model rather than public funding.
• Lincoln Tech: Multi-campus for-profit career college offering skilled-trades, automotive, healthcare, and IT training. Comparable hands-on technical curriculum and adult-learner focus, but with a fully private, tuition-funded business model.
• ECPI University: Private career college with health sciences, technology, and engineering technology programs. Comparable hands-on, career-oriented program model and emphasis on employer-relevant credentials.
• Fortis College: Multi-state for-profit career college offering nursing, skilled trades, and technical programs. Comparable adult-learner career training model, though operating on a private tuition basis rather than public levy funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TollesTech
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Tolles
• Facebookfacebook.com/tollestech
• Instagraminstagram.com/lifttolles

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Tolles Career & Technical Center