Suffolk Public Schools

What Suffolk Public Schools does

Suffolk Public Schools is a public K-12 school district operated by local government and governed by the Suffolk City School Board, serving approximately 14,600 students from preschool through grade 12 across 21 schools (12 elementary, 5 middle, 3 high schools, and 2 other facilities including The College & Career Academy at Pruden and Turlington Woods School) within a 429 square mile geographic area. The district maintains an 88% on-time graduation rate, holds 'Fully Accredited' status from the Virginia Department of Education, and offers five high school specialty programs (International Baccalaureate at King's Fork High School, PLTW Biomedical Sciences at Lakeland High School, PLTW Engineering at Nansemond River High School, Center for Performing and Production Arts, and College & Career Academy at Pruden), plus a STEM Academy at Booker T. Washington Elementary, gifted education (QUEST), English Learner services, and early childhood programs. Technology infrastructure includes a district-wide 1:1 Chromebook program (SPS Connect), Google Apps for Education, Canvas LMS, fiber WAN, wired and wireless LANs, a SchoolCafé point-of-sale meal system, GPS-based School Bus Tracker, and the newly launched STARCards QR-code student ID system.

The district's business model is government-funded, with revenue derived primarily from federal sources (Title I, Title III, IDEA, USDA National School Lunch Program), state education funding and matching funds, and local tax revenue, supplemented by smaller fee-based streams including before/after school care, facility rentals, student parking passes, and parent-paid tuition for SPS Online virtual learning through Virtual Virginia. Operating with nearly 2,300 employees, the district's service delivery relies on geographic school zones with assigned attendance areas, district-wide specialty programs and magnet-style enrollment, and dedicated partnerships including a 38-year relationship with ACCESS College Foundation providing college access advisors at all three high schools. Recent strategic product launches in January 2026 include AI Learning Tools (Google Gemini and NotebookLM) for middle and high school students with defined 'coach' and 'collaborator' usage frameworks, and the STARCards safety and resource access platform. Leadership is headed by Superintendent Dr. John B. Gordon III, named 2026-2027 Virginia Superintendent of the Year.

Name

Suffolk Public Schools

Legal name

Suffolk Public School District

Website

https://spsk12.net

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Suffolk Public Schools is a public K-12 school district in Suffolk, Virginia, serving approximately 14,600 students across 21 schools with government-funded operations, five high school specialty programs, and district-wide 1:1 Chromebook deployment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Magnet & Specialty Schools (STEM/Arts/IB/CTE) (EDAJAAAF), Online Credit Recovery & Alternative Pathways (Virtual) (EDAJADAF), Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)

Keywords

• K-12 education
• Public school services
• Special education programs
• Career technical education
• Early childhood education

Headquarters

HQ city

Suffolk

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public School Funding: Funded through federal and state education funding, local tax revenue, and grant programs including Title I, Title III, and IDEA
2. School Meals Program: Provides free breakfast and lunch to all students; funded through USDA National School Lunch Program and state matching funds
3. Before and After School Care: Fee-based before and after school care services for families
4. Facility Rentals: Community use of school facilities with rental fees and insurance requirements
5. Student Parking Fees: High school student parking passes for designated parking areas

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Suffolk Public Schools is a public K-12 school district providing standards-aligned curriculum and a broad portfolio of specialty academic programs to approximately 14,600 students across 21 schools in Suffolk, Virginia. Offerings include International Baccalaureate, Project Lead The Way (Biomedical Sciences and Engineering), the Center for Performing and Production Arts, the STEM Academy at Booker T. Washington, the College & Career Academy at Pruden, SPS Online virtual learning, early childhood and special education programs, gifted education (QUEST), and wraparound services such as free school meals and bus transportation.

Product overview

Suffolk Public Schools is a K-12 public school district serving approximately 14,600 students across 21 schools, providing a comprehensive educational ecosystem that combines traditional in-person instruction with technology-enhanced and specialty programs. The district operates a 1:1 Chromebook program (SPS Connect) ensuring every student has personal device access. The academic portfolio includes standard K-12 instruction aligned with Virginia Standards of Learning, five high school specialty programs (International Baccalaureate at King's Fork High School, PLTW Biomedical Sciences at Lakeland High, PLTW Engineering at Nansemond River High, the Center for Performing and Production Arts, and the College & Career Academy at Pruden), STEM Academy at Booker T. Washington Elementary, gifted education (QUEST grades 3-8), English Learner services, and early childhood programs (Early Start/VPI preschool and ECSE). The district also offers virtual learning via SPS Online through Virtual Virginia, before/after-school tutoring, Saturday Academy, and work-based learning through the S.T.A.R. Student Intern Program. Operational services include meal provision, transportation with bus tracking, and a Home Access Center for student and parent portals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-12 Education Programs Core public K-12 instructional program aligned to Virginia Standards of Learning, delivered across 21 schools to approximately 14,600 students in Suffolk, Virginia.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Program Advanced IB curriculum and diploma pathway for high school students seeking an internationally recognized rigorous academic program.
• Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Biomedical Sciences Career-focused biomedical sciences pathway delivered through Project Lead The Way, preparing high school students for healthcare and life-science careers.
• Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Engineering PLTW engineering pathway offering project-based pre-engineering coursework for high school students.
• Center for Performing and Production Arts (CPPA) Specialized performing-arts academy offering concentrated study and production experience for students with interests in performing arts.
• STEM Academy at Booker T. Washington School-within-a-school STEM-focused academy emphasizing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics instruction.
• College and Career Academy at Pruden College and career preparatory academy offering early college exposure and career-focused coursework to high school students.
• SPS Online (Virtual Virginia) District-operated virtual learning program delivered through Virtual Virginia, providing online course options for students.
• Early Childhood Education (Virginia Preschool Initiative) Pre-K early-start program for four-year-olds, offered through the Virginia Preschool Initiative to prepare children for kindergarten.
• Early Childhood Special Education Special education services for young children ages 2-5 with developmental delays or disabilities.
• Special Education Services District-wide special education programming and IDEA-compliant services for students with disabilities across all grade levels.
• English Learner Program English-language development services for students whose home language is not English, supporting academic English acquisition.
• QUEST Gifted Education Quest for Understanding and Engagement with Scholarly Thought (QUEST) program providing gifted-education services to identified students.
• Free School Meals Program District-wide free breakfast and lunch program provided to all students.
• School Transportation Services with STARCards Daily student bus transportation across the district, with STARCards-based tracking to allow families to monitor student bus activity.
• Before and After School Care Fee-based before- and after-school care programs providing supervised care outside regular school hours for working families.
• Saturday Academy and S.T.A.R. Student Intern Program Supplementary enrichment and internship-style programs offered on Saturdays to extend learning opportunities beyond the regular school week.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88% on-time graduation rate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Integration8 records

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ACCESS College FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1988Partnership since 1988 providing college access programs for students who may not have the opportunity to attend and complete college. ACCESS has leveraged $500 million in financial aid and scholarships, awarded $9 million in ACCESS 'Last-Dollar' Scholarships, and served over 50,000 students. Provides advisors at all three SPS high schools for college application and financial aid assistance.
• Suffolk Education FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit education foundation supporting Suffolk Public Schools through Teacher Supply Store and community donations. Provides resources and funding opportunities for students and staff.
• Suffolk Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership providing library resources and educational support to students and families.
• Suffolk Police DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong working relationship for school safety, threat assessments, investigations, and School Resource Officers. Partnership enables quick response to safety concerns.
• Suffolk Fire and Rescue DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency response partnership for school safety planning and crisis management.
• University of VirginiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional development partnership providing Master's degree program in Administration and Supervision for SPS staff development.
• Governor's School for the Arts ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-district consortium serving Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Isle of Wight, Southampton, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach. Transportation provided by local school divisions at no tuition cost for students.
• Tidewater Regional Alternative Education Program (TRAEP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative effort with five other school divisions serving students with long-term suspensions or returning from state correctional facilities.
• Virginia Department of HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for school health services, immunizations, and wellness programs including Suffolk School Health Advisory Board.
• U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil RightscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompliance oversight for English Learner programs and civil rights protections for students.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Chesterfield County Public Schools: Larger Virginia public school district; Dr. Gordon previously held division leadership roles here. Comparable in operating multiple comprehensive high schools, specialty academies, and a similar 1:1 technology environment, useful for benchmarking scale and outcomes.
• Henrico County Public Schools: Suburban Virginia public school district with comparable specialty programs (IB, PLTW, Governor's School participation) and technology deployment. Direct peer for graduation rates, college access programs, and operational scale.
• Norfolk Public Schools: Urban Virginia public school district in the same Hampton Roads region with overlapping Title I and military-connected populations. Comparable for evaluating urban-suburban operational differences and accreditation outcomes.
• Newport News Public Schools: Virginia public school district in the same region with a comparable military-family demographic, magnet/specialty programs, and federal funding profile. Direct peer for Title I exposure, graduation outcomes, and specialty program design.
• Portsmouth Public Schools: Smaller Virginia public school district in the same region, also a member of the Governor's School for the Arts Consortium and TRAEP cooperative with Suffolk. Comparable for VDOE accreditation, Title I exposure, and shared cooperative programs.
• Hampton City Schools: Virginia public school district in the same coastal region with a similar military and Title I profile. Direct peer for VDOE accreditation performance, specialty programming, and 1:1 device initiatives.
• Virginia Beach City Public Schools: Larger Virginia public school district in the same Hampton Roads region, also serving a sizeable military-connected population. Comparable governance, accreditation framework, and mix of magnet/specialty programs, but at a larger scale, providing a benchmark for Suffolk's operational efficiency.
• Chesapeake Public Schools: Adjacent Virginia public school district serving a comparable suburban population in the Hampton Roads region. Operates a similar mix of elementary, middle, and high schools with standard K-12 academic programs and athletics, making it a direct comparison for enrollment scale, funding, and outcomes.

Others

• Project Lead The Way (PLTW): National STEM curriculum provider whose Biomedical Sciences and Engineering pathways are deployed at Lakeland High and Nansemond River High. Comparable as the curriculum vendor that enables Suffolk's specialty programs.
• Virtual Virginia (VVA): Statewide virtual learning consortium that powers Suffolk's SPS Online program. Comparable as the delivery platform and as an adjacent K-12 online learning provider that competes for tuition-paying virtual students.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SufVAschools
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SuffolkSchools
• Facebookfacebook.com/SuffolkVAPublicSchools
• Instagraminstagram.com/SufVAschools

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Suffolk Public Schools