Lincoln Public Schools

What Lincoln Public Schools does

Lincoln Public Schools is a public K-12 school district headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, serving 42,282 students across more than 70 schools and programs — including 40 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, and 8 high schools. Founded in 1923 and operating as a government entity, it is the second largest public school district in Nebraska, governed by an elected seven-member Board of Education and led since September 2025 by Superintendent John Skretta, Ed.D. The district provides free public education funded primarily through local property taxes (66.28% of the 2024-2025 general fund), state aid (13.46%), and special education state support (12.75%), with a 2024-2025 general fund totaling $538,130,713 and an average cost per pupil of $15,996.

The district's academic portfolio includes specialized Focus Programs (International Baccalaureate, Arts and Humanities, Aviation and Technical Education, Science Focus, Business), The Career Academy (758 enrolled students, 93 industry certifications earned), and dual credit (3,842 enrolled) and AP (4,251 completed) coursework. Student outcomes include an 87.2% four-year graduation rate, a 74.72% college-going rate, and 92% average daily attendance. The district serves a diverse population: 45.2% free/reduced lunch participants, 8.4% English Learners (representing nearly 100 languages), 15.7% in Special Education, and 15.4% in Gifted Education.

LPS operates a 1:1 Chromebook program, district-wide Google Workspace, and in October 2025 launched a partnership with Allo Fiber and Calix to deploy nearly 100,000 SmartTown WiFi access points supporting digital equity. The district has implemented AI detection and AI prompt tools for instructional use, was recognized with Lightspeed Systems' inaugural Innovation Impact Award (2026), and operates Educational Service Unit 18 — a co-located regional service unit providing technology, professional development, deaf/hard of hearing services, and NVIS distance learning (300+ courses) to 16+ surrounding districts across five Nebraska counties.

Name

Lincoln Public Schools

Legal name

Lincoln Public Schools

Website

https://lps.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• School district services
• Specialty focus programs
• Career technical education
• Educational service unit

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public School District Funding: Lincoln Public Schools is a public school district funded primarily through local property taxes (66.28% of general fund), state aid (13.46%), special education state support (12.75%), other local sources (6.28%), federal funding (0.80%), and county/district funds (0.41%). The 2024-2025 general fund sources totaled $538,130,713. No direct tuition or fee revenue is charged to families for standard enrollment.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lincoln Public Schools is the second-largest public school district in Nebraska, providing free K-12 education to 42,282 students across 40 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, 8 high schools, and more than 70 schools and programs. Core deliverables include standard curriculum instruction, all-day kindergarten, English Language Learner programs, gifted and special education services, 9 specialty focus programs (IB, Arts and Humanities, Aviation and Technical Education, Science, Business), The Career Academy (with dual credit and industry certifications), AVID college readiness, athletics and activities, summer school, school nutrition, transportation, and a 1:1 Chromebook program supported by district-wide WiFi.

Product overview

Lincoln Public Schools operates as a traditional public school district offering educational services through multiple integrated programs rather than a unified software product. The district provides a K-12 educational ecosystem that includes the LPS Mobile App for mobile access to district information, ParentVue/StudentVue portals for parent-student engagement, SmartFind for substitute management, and district-wide technology programs including Chromebooks. Specialized programming includes Focus Programs (Arts and Humanities, Aviation, Science, IB, Business), The Career Academy for career technical education, AVID college readiness, Library Services with digital citizenship focus, Summer School, and Community Learning Centers. Infrastructure includes SmartTown for Education WiFi deployment by ALLO Communications. The district also implements AI tools for educational purposes including lesson planning and academic integrity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LPS Mobile App iOS/Android mobile app giving parents, students, staff, and community members pocket access to LPS district news, events, calendars, and essential information.
• ParentVue and StudentVue Web-based portals that allow parents and students to view grades, attendance, assignments, and school information for Lincoln Public Schools students.
• LPS Chromebook Program District-wide 1:1 Chromebook program providing every LPS student with a personal device, with resources and support for families, running on Google Workspace for Education.
• School Nutrition Services District meal services program providing breakfast and lunch to students, including free and reduced-price meals for eligible families, with menus viewable via MealViewer.
• Athletics and Activities Comprehensive athletics and extracurricular activities program offered to students across all LPS elementary, middle, and high schools.
• AVID Program Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program that prepares LPS students for college and career readiness through structured academic support.
• The Career Academy Career-focused educational program offering dual credit courses, industry-recognized certifications, and career pathway preparation for LPS students.
• Focus Programs Collection of 9 specialty focus programs including Arts and Humanities, Aviation and Technical Education, Science, International Baccalaureate (IB), and Business programs offered across LPS high schools.
• Library Services District-wide library program that empowers learners with information literacy skills, digital citizenship, and access to diverse resources across all LPS schools.
• Summer School Extended learning program offering credit recovery and enrichment courses for LPS students in grades 9-12 during the summer.
• Community Learning Centers (CLC) Neighborhood-based learning centers embedded at LPS high schools providing after-school programs, family resources, and community partnerships for students and families.
• Calix SmartTown for Education (Deployed WiFi Service) Secure community Wi-Fi service for LPS students, extending learning beyond classrooms into public spaces with authenticated online experiences, built on Calix SmartTown for Education and delivered by ALLO Communications using nearly 100,000 access points.
• ESU 18 Shared Services Shared K-12 support services delivered by Educational Service Unit 18 to Lincoln Public Schools and surrounding districts, including technology infrastructure, professional learning, library services, assessment support, deaf and hard of hearing services, and NVIS distance learning with access to nearly 300 courses.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87.2% 4-year on-time graduation rate (Class of 2025)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Allo FibercoreTechnology or Integration · 20 October 2025Lincoln Public Schools partnered with Allo Fiber to provide WiFi access for students using nearly 100,000 access points across various school locations. The partnership enables equal digital access for all students in the district, supporting the district's 1:1 Chromebook program and digital equity goals.
• Calix (SmartTown for Education)coreTechnology or Integration · 17 October 2025ALLO Communications, working with Calix, launched Smart Schools in Lincoln, Nebraska built on Calix SmartTown for Education. The platform provides secure community Wi-Fi for students across public spaces using SmartTown access points, promoting digital equity and extending learning beyond classrooms. Plans exist for expansion across multiple states.
• Nebraska ESU Network (ESU Coordination Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESU 18 works as part of Nebraska's tight ESU network, partnering with other ESUs and school districts across the state. This collaboration provides distance learning opportunities through NVIS (Nebraska Virtual Instruction Sources) with access to nearly 300 courses, coordinates deaf/hard of hearing services across 20+ districts, and shares professional development and technology infrastructure resources statewide.
• Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and EnvironmentminorOthersThe Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment awarded Lincoln Public Schools $7 million in grants from its Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive and Litter Reduction and Recycling programs, supporting 126 waste and litter reduction projects across the state. LPS is among the recipients of these environmental sustainability grants.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Bellevue Public Schools: Mid-sized public school district serving Bellevue, Nebraska, with similar K-12 focus programs, ELL services, and military-connected student populations. Comparable to LPS in operational model and funding structure, though smaller in scale.
• Millard Public Schools: Large suburban public school district serving southwest Omaha metro. Comparable in scale and program breadth to LPS, operating in the same Nebraska regulatory and funding environment though not directly competing for Lincoln-resident students.
• Des Moines Public Schools: Largest public school district in Iowa serving ~30,000 students, comparable in scale and urban-suburban K-12 mission. Operates in a neighboring state with similar public funding model, ELL programs, and career academy structures.
• Papillion La Vista Community Schools: Growing suburban public school district in the Omaha metro, comparable to LPS in offering K-12 programming with career academies and specialty programs. Operates under the same Nebraska Department of Education framework as LPS.

Direct peers

• Omaha Public Schools: Largest public school district in Nebraska, serving the Omaha metro as a direct in-state peer to LPS. Both are public K-12 districts of comparable size operating in the same state funding system, competing for the same Nebraska accountability rankings (AQuESTT) and statewide recognition.

Broad incumbents

• Denver Public Schools: Larger urban public school district in Denver, Colorado, serving ~90,000 students. Comparable in operating a comprehensive K-12 system with focus/magnet programs, ELL services, and 1:1 device programs, though significantly larger and operating in a different state funding environment.
• Kansas City Public Schools: Mid-sized urban public school district in Missouri, comparable in demographic mix (high ELL, high free/reduced lunch) and mission to LPS. Both operate focus/magnet programs and have faced similar urban-district execution challenges.
• Metro Schools (Nashville): Large urban public school district in Nashville, Tennessee, serving ~80,000 students. Comparable in operating a comprehensive K-12 system with magnet programs, career academies, and high ELL/diverse student populations, though in a different state and regional economy.
• Wake County Public School System: One of the largest public school districts in the U.S., serving ~160,000 students in North Carolina. Comparable in operating a comprehensive K-12 system with extensive magnet programs, career academies, and large-scale 1:1 technology initiatives, though much larger in scale.

Others

• Education Service Unit 18 (ESU 18): Related entity co-located with LPS that provides shared services (technology, professional development, deaf/hard of hearing services) to 16+ districts across southeast Nebraska. Functions as a supporting infrastructure provider closely tied to LPS operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lpsorg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/lpsorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/lincolnpublicschools
• Instagraminstagram.com/lincolnpublicschools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lincoln-public-schools

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Lincoln Public Schools