Willmar Public Schools
Willmar Public Schools (ISD 347) is a Minnesota public K-12 district operating 12 schools and programs across 10 sites in west-central Minnesota, serving approximately 4,398 students with comprehensive PreK-12, multilingual learner, special education, and community education services funded by federal, state, and local tax revenues.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersWillmar, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Willmar Public Schools does
Willmar Public Schools, formally Independent School District 347, is a Minnesota public K-12 school district headquartered at 611 5th St SW in Willmar, serving approximately 4,398 students across the communities of Willmar, Blomkest, Kandiyohi, Pennock, and Svea in west-central Minnesota. The district operates 12 schools and programs at 10 sites, including three elementary schools (Kennedy, Lakeland, Roosevelt), one middle school, one high school, alternative learning settings (Area Learning Center, Prairie Lakes Education Center, Lakeview School, Focus House), and the Jefferson Learning Center for community and adult education. Instructional programs span PreK-12 standard curriculum, Gifted and Talented education (STRETCH program grades 3-5), special education services, multilingual learner support covering 26 languages via four cultural liaisons, Title I schoolwide reading/math support, and post-secondary college credit opportunities.
The district runs on a conventional K-12 administrative technology stack: Infinite Campus serves as the primary Student Information System powering the Campus Parent/Student Portal (with mobile apps), supported by Google Workspace for Education, the Finalsite website content management platform, SAASHR for HR/recruiting, Proserva for continuing education registration, and Star Assessments and WIDA for student progress and English language proficiency testing. Operational integrations include SolarEdge for solar energy monitoring across four buildings and ESS/Frontline Education for substitute staffing. An asynchronous E-Learning Day platform supports up to five weather-related remote learning days per year for PreK-8 students, and a contracted STARRS online learning program currently serves approximately 185 students in grades 6-12, with the district also developing its own online courses following a January 2026 absence spike linked to community ICE activity.
Funding comes from federal, state, and local tax revenues — the district charges no tuition — with additional program support from a 501(c)(3) WPS Foundation. Student demographic indicators point to a high-need population: 69.4% qualify for free/reduced lunch, 24.5% are English Learners, 19.9% have special education plans, and 39.6% identify as a race other than white. Governance is provided by a seven-member elected school board chaired by Justin Bos; the district is led by Superintendent Dr. Bill Adams (in role since July 2024). Participation in the West Central Achievement and Integration Collaborative extends the district's reach through joint programs with six neighboring districts.
Willmar Public Schools firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Willmar Public Schools
- Legal name
- Willmar Public Schools District 347
- Website
- https://willmar.k12.mn.us
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Willmar Public Schools (ISD 347) is a Minnesota public K-12 district operating 12 schools and programs across 10 sites in west-central Minnesota, serving approximately 4,398 students with comprehensive PreK-12, multilingual learner, special education, and community education services funded by federal, state, and local tax revenues.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Willmar Public Schools industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Public Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Specialized Programs & Classrooms (Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, Intellectual/Developmental, Multi-Disability) (EDAJAKAH), Specialized Instruction & Resource Support (Inclusion, Pull-Out, Co-Teaching) (EDAJAKAC), District Student Services Administration (Special Ed, Counseling, Health) (EDADABAJ), Special Education Online / Virtual Schools & Remote Programs (EDAKAAAL), Special Needs-Inclusive Early Learning Academies (EDACADAI)
Keywords
Where Willmar Public Schools is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Willmar
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices11 records
Markets served
Willmar Public Schools business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
Willmar Public Schools product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Willmar Public Schools (Independent School District 347) is a Minnesota public K-12 school district that provides tuition-free PreK-12 education to approximately 4,398 students across three elementary schools, one middle school, one senior high school, and alternative/community education sites. The district delivers standard K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 grade-level instruction and supplements it with Special Education, Multilingual Learner (EL) services supporting 26 languages, Gifted and Talented programming including the STRETCH program, Title I supplemental reading/math, alternative education (Area Learning Center, Prairie Lakes, Lakeview), and award-winning Community Education at the Jefferson Learning Center.
Product overview
Willmar Public Schools operates as a traditional public school district with a unified educational platform centered on the Infinite Campus Campus Portal for student information management. The district provides a comprehensive PreK-12 educational program with standard grade levels (K-5 elementary, 6-8 middle, 9-12 high school), supplemented by alternative programs including the Area Learning Center and Prairie Lakes Education Center. Core academic programs are enhanced by contracted online learning (STARRS), E-Learning Days for inclement weather, Gifted and Talented (STRETCH), Multilingual Learners, Special Education, Title I, and award-winning Community Education. The district leverages Finalsite for website management, Infinite Campus for student data, SolarEdge for energy monitoring, and various assessment platforms including WIDA, Star Assessments, and ACT.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Campus Portal Student information system portal providing parents, students, and staff secure access to schedules, attendance records, grades, assignments, report cards, transcripts, emergency contacts, and online registration/verification for Willmar Public Schools families. Includes Campus Parent mobile app for iOS and Android.
- STARRS Online Learning Program Contracted online learning program accommodating Willmar Public Schools students in grades 6-12 who are unable to attend classes in-person, currently serving approximately 185 enrolled students with the district also developing its own online courses alongside the platform.
- E-Learning Days Asynchronous learning-from-home program for PreK through 8th grade students during inclement weather days (up to 5 days per year as permitted by Minnesota statute), with online learning materials and assignments accessible through school websites.
- Gifted and Talented Programming (including STRETCH) Multi-tiered gifted and talented education at Willmar Public Schools, including the STRETCH program (Science, Technology, Real-world experience, Engineering, Teamwork, Creativity, Hands-on) for grades 3-5, CogAT screening, subject and grade acceleration, and advanced courses with college credit.
- Multilingual Learners Program English language instruction delivered by licensed EL teachers and paraprofessionals to Willmar Public Schools students developing English listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, with services at elementary, middle, and high school levels and four cultural liaisons (Spanish, Somali, Karen, Family/Native American).
- Special Education Services Comprehensive special education services for Willmar Public Schools students with disabilities from birth through 21 years, addressing 12 disabling conditions including Autism Spectrum Disorders, Emotional/Behavioral Disorders, Developmental Cognitive Disability, Specific Learning Disability, and Speech or Language Impairment.
- Community Education Award-winning Community Education program at the Jefferson Learning Center offering Adult Basic Education, Community Education, Early Childhood Family Education, and preschool programming for residents across the Willmar Public Schools attendance area.
- Alternative Education Programs Alternative non-traditional educational environment at the Area Learning Center and Prairie Lakes Education Center / Lake Park School, supporting credit recovery and non-traditional learners within the Willmar Public Schools system.
Companies that use Willmar Public Schools
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Willmar Public Schools technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
Feature1 record
Willmar Public Schools partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.
- STARRSsupportingThe district contracts with STARRS program for online learning services. STARRS provides the platform for approximately 185 students currently enrolled in online learning, supporting students unable to attend in-person classes due to community circumstances.
- ESS (Educational Staffing Services)supportingESS has partnered with Willmar Public Schools to manage many of its substitutes including daily and long-term substitute teachers, school paraprofessionals and aides, custodians, clerical personnel, and nursing substitutes. ESS is actively hiring for these positions.
- West Central Achievement and Integration CollaborativecoreWillmar Public Schools is part of this collaborative which includes Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City Public Schools, BOLD Public Schools, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg Public Schools, MACCRAY Public Schools, Montevideo Public Schools, and New London-Spicer School District. The collaboration pursues racial and economic integration and joint programs including summer GAMMA math courses, STEM/Robotics courses, and college credit programs.
- SolarEdgesupportingSolarEdge provides solar energy monitoring systems for multiple district school buildings including Willmar Senior High School (59.52kW), Willmar Middle School (59.52kW), Lakeland Elementary (59.52kW), and Roosevelt Elementary (59.52kW). The district has publicly accessible solar monitoring dashboards.
- Infinite CampuscoreThe district uses Infinite Campus as its primary student information system, powering the Parent/Student Portal for enrollment, grade tracking, attendance monitoring, and district communications.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Willmar Public Schools competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Minneapolis Public Schools: Major urban Minnesota public school district with overlapping EL, special education, Title I, and alternative education programming but serving a much larger, urban student population.
- Anoka-Hennepin School District: Largest Minnesota public school district with a much broader metro-area footprint; offers overlapping K-12, EL, special ed, and community education programming but at materially larger scale.
Direct peers
- St. Cloud Area School District: Minnesota regional school district of comparable size serving a diverse central Minnesota community with significant EL population; structurally similar K-12 public district with comparable alternative and community education programs.
- Mankato Area Public Schools: South-central Minnesota public school district serving a regional hub with comparable K-12 enrollment scale, alternative learning center offerings, and community education programs.
- Moorhead Area Public Schools: Regional Minnesota school district of comparable enrollment size with similar demographics, including significant New American/EL populations, and parallel Title III, multilingual, and integration program structures.
- Brooklyn Center Community Schools: Minnesota public school district with comparable demographic profile — high EL enrollment, high free/reduced eligibility, and significant racial/ethnic diversity — facing similar equity and resource challenges.
- Rochester Public Schools: Minnesota regional public school district of similar scale operating K-12 programming with comparable EL, special education, and alternative learning center offerings in a non-metro setting.
- Marshall Public Schools: Regional southwest Minnesota public school district serving a similarly sized rural/small-city community with comparable EL, special education, and alternative education programming.
- Hutchinson Public Schools: Minnesota regional public school district of similar enrollment size serving a non-metro community with parallel K-12 structure and community education offerings.
- Alexandria Public Schools: Comparable west-central / central Minnesota public school district with similar enrollment scale, regional hub status, and full K-12 + community education footprint.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Willmar Public Schools social profiles
Digital presenceWillmar Public Schools compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Willmar Public Schools financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Willmar Public Schools leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Willmar Public Schools funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Willmar Public Schools M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Willmar Public Schools
What does Willmar Public Schools do?
Willmar Public Schools (Independent School District 347) is a Minnesota public K-12 school district that provides tuition-free PreK-12 education to approximately 4,398 students across three elementary schools, one middle school, one senior high school, and alternative/community education sites. The district delivers standard K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 grade-level instruction and supplements it with Special Education, Multilingual Learner (EL) services supporting 26 languages, Gifted and Talented programming including the STRETCH program, Title I supplemental reading/math, alternative education (Area Learning Center, Prairie Lakes, Lakeview), and award-winning Community Education at the Jefferson Learning Center.
Is Willmar Public Schools a public or private company?
Willmar Public Schools is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Willmar Public Schools founded?
Willmar Public Schools was founded in 1983. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Willmar Public Schools based?
Willmar Public Schools is headquartered in Willmar, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Willmar Public Schools's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Minneapolis Public Schools and Anoka-Hennepin School District. Direct peers are St. Cloud Area School District, Mankato Area Public Schools, Moorhead Area Public Schools, Brooklyn Center Community Schools, Rochester Public Schools, Marshall Public Schools, Hutchinson Public Schools and Alexandria Public Schools.
Does Willmar Public Schools have an API?
No public API is recorded for Willmar Public Schools.
What industry is Willmar Public Schools in?
Willmar Public Schools's product category is K-12 Public Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAAAH, Public Special Education Schools & Programs, with a secondary code of EDAJAKAH, Specialized Programs & Classrooms (Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, Intellectual/Developmental, Multi-Disability). Its NAICS code is 61111 and its SIC code is 8200.