Willmar Public Schools

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.

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

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

• K-12 public education
• Special education services
• Multilingual learner programs
• Community education services
• Alternative education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Willmar

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• STARRSsupportingTechnology or IntegrationThe 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)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerESS 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 CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWillmar 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.
• SolarEdgesupportingTechnology or IntegrationSolarEdge 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 CampuscoreTechnology or IntegrationThe 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

Broad 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

• Xx.com/ISD347
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cardinalview8729
• Facebookfacebook.com/WillmarPublicSchoolDistrict
• Instagraminstagram.com/willmarpublicschools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/willmar-senior-high-school

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Willmar Public Schools