What Southeast Polk Community School District does

Southeast Polk Community School District is a public K-12 school district and political subdivision of the State of Iowa, founded in 1961 through the consolidation of the Runnells, Altoona, and Mitchellville high school communities (the RAM mascot acronym). It serves more than 7,500 PK-12 students across an 114-square-mile area in southern Polk County, including Altoona, Pleasant Hill, Mitchellville, Runnells, and parts of Des Moines, operating 11 school buildings: eight elementary schools (including Little Rams Preschool), a Middle School (grades 6-7), a Junior High (grades 8-9), a High School (grades 10-12), and an Alternative Programs complex. The district employs approximately 1,200 staff, and in 2025 achieved a 94% graduation rate consistently above the Iowa state average, with 8,282 college credits earned annually via a DMACC dual-enrollment partnership offering 12 AP courses and 30+ college-credit courses.

Core products are traditional and alternative educational pathways. The traditional pathway spans PK-12 classroom instruction plus approximately 20 athletic programs and numerous extracurricular activities competing in the Central Iowa Metro League (CIML). Alternative programs include Connect (Edgenuity-powered online re-engagement), EmpowerU (IEP transition program for ages 18-21 with unpaid supported internships at local businesses), Renew (small-group instruction for severe social-emotional needs), and Harbor (Expeditionary Learning with class sizes under 15). The technology stack is entirely third-party SaaS: Infinite Campus (student information system and parent portal), Raptor (visitor management), Edgenuity (online courses), RevTrak/RamMall (payments), School Cafe (food service), Applitrack (HR), Hudl and Bound (athletics/registration), and Google Translate (15-language accessibility). No proprietary technology platforms or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

Revenue is government-funded and primarily sourced from Iowa property taxes (current levy $15.42 per $1,000 of taxable valuation, unchanged after the November 2025 bond), State Foundation Aid (formula-driven by enrollment and per-pupil cost), and SAVE (Secure an Advanced Vision for Education) statewide penny sales tax revenues extended through January 1, 2051. Student fees ($5-$250 per service for textbooks, transportation, activities, parking, and graduation) provide minor supplemental revenue, with reduced-fee and free-preschool pathways for qualifying families. Capital funding flows through voter-approved General Obligation Bonds, most recently a $51 million measure passed November 4, 2025 with the required 60% supermajority to fund a new Elementary #9 (opening Fall 2029), Junior High renovations, and PK-5 playground upgrades. The district is governed by a seven-member elected Board of Education and currently led by Superintendent Dr. Tony Aylsworth, who began his role on July 1, 2026.

Name

Southeast Polk Community School District

Legal name

Southeast Polk Community School District

Website

https://southeastpolk.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Southeast Polk Community School District is a public PK-12 school district in southern Polk County, Iowa, serving 7,500+ students across 11 school buildings in Altoona, Pleasant Hill, Mitchellville, Runnells, and Des Moines, funded primarily by property taxes and state foundation aid.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)

Keywords

• Public school education
• PK-12 instruction
• Alternative education programs
• Student athletics activities
• Early childhood preschool

Headquarters

HQ city

Altoona

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: Primary funding source from property taxes with current levy rate of $15.42 per $1,000 of taxable valuation. No increase in levy rate despite $51 million bond passage.
2. State Foundation Aid: Funding based on State Foundation Aid Formula determined by enrollment and cost per pupil.
3. SAVE (Secure an Advanced Vision for Education) Funds: Statewide penny sales tax revenue dedicated to school infrastructure, technology, and safety. Extended through January 1, 2051.
4. Student Fees: Fees collected for textbooks, transportation, activities, parking, graduation, and other services ranging from $5-$250.
5. Bond Proceeds: $51 million General Obligation Bond approved November 2025 for new elementary school, junior high renovations, and playground upgrades.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Southeast Polk Community School District delivers public PK-12 education across 11 school buildings in southern Polk County, Iowa, serving over 7,500 students. Core offerings include traditional elementary, middle, junior high, and high school instruction, free preschool for four-year-olds, alternative learning programs (Connect, EmpowerU, Renew, Harbor), and a robust athletics and activities program competing in the CIML conference.

Product overview

Southeast Polk Community School District is a public PK-12 educational institution operating 11 school buildings across 114 square miles in Polk County, Iowa, serving over 7,500 students. The district's core offering is its traditional school system comprising 8 elementary schools (including Little Rams Preschool), a Middle School (grades 6-7), Junior High (grades 8-9), and High School (grades 10-12). Beyond traditional education, the district provides Alternative Programs including Connect (online course-based re-engagement), EmpowerU (IEP transition program for ages 18-21), Renew (social/emotional support), and Harbor (expeditionary learning alternative). Technology platforms include Infinite Campus (student information system/Campus Portal), RamMall (RevTrak-powered e-commerce for payments), and the All Things SEP Podcast. The district offers approximately 20 athletic programs and numerous activities competing in CIML conference. In November 2025, voters approved a $51 million bond referendum to fund Elementary #9 (opening Fall 2029), junior high renovations, and playground upgrades.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Southeast Polk School Buildings (PK-12) Network of 11 school buildings delivering standard public education from preschool through 12th grade, including 8 elementary schools, a Middle School (grades 6-7), Junior High (grades 8-9), and High School (grades 10-12). Available to students residing in the district's geographic enrollment zone.
• Little Rams Preschool

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% graduation rate consistently outperforming Iowa state average
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Miron ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Miron Construction was officially approved by the School Board as construction manager for the new Elementary #9 project. Construction targeted to begin Summer 2027.
• OPN ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026OPN Architects selected as project architect for Junior High renovations, which include relocating the main office to building entrance and expanding the student commons area.
• Neumann Monson ArchitectsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Neumann Monson Architects serving as design partner for comprehensive PK-5 playground safety and accessibility upgrades across all elementary schools, targeted for Fall 2027 completion.
• DLR GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025DLR Group serves as the project architect for the new Elementary #9 school building. The firm completed stakeholder workshops to define modern classroom standards and is designing the approximately 750-student capacity facility targeted to open Fall 2029.
• Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDMACC partnership allows high school students to earn 8,282 college credits annually through dual enrollment courses. Students have access to 12 AP courses and 30+ courses offering college credit through DMACC.
• AthleticosupportingTechnology or IntegrationAthletico provides athletic training services to Southeast Polk schools, supporting student athlete health and safety.
• CIML (Central Iowa Metro League)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSoutheast Polk competes in CIML conference for athletics and activities. The conference prohibits signs, banners, and artificial noisemakers at events.
• EdgenuitysupportingTechnology or IntegrationEdgenuity online courses are utilized in the Connect alternate high school program to provide individualized instruction to students within the program.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Ankeny Community School District: Large, fast-growing Des Moines metro public school district serving PK-12 students across multiple school buildings. Most directly comparable to Southeast Polk in size, suburban growth profile, athletic programs, and reliance on property tax and state foundation funding.
• Waukee Community School District: One of the largest and fastest-growing suburban Des Moines metro districts, operating a comparable multi-building PK-12 footprint with significant enrollment growth and active capital programs. Highly comparable on growth dynamics and competitive positioning.
• West Des Moines Community Schools: Adjacent suburban Des Moines metro district of similar scale with PK-12 schools, strong college-prep programming, and shared athletic pipelines. Competes with Southeast Polk for open-enrolled students and talent in the metro.
• Johnston Community School District: Growing suburban Des Moines metro district with comparable enrollment size, similar college-readiness offerings, and overlapping feeder patterns. Directly competes for families in the southern Polk County / northern Polk corridor.
• Bondurant-Farrar Community School District: Immediate geographic neighbor to the east of Southeast Polk, also a fast-growing Polk County district with PK-12 programming. Strongly comparable on rapid enrollment growth, suburban demographics, and capital expansion needs.
• Urbandale Community School District: Suburban Des Moines metro district of comparable scale operating PK-12 schools. Directly competes for students via open enrollment and shares the metro-area athletic and academic talent pool.
• North Polk Community School District: Polk County neighbor to the north with shared suburban growth dynamics and PK-12 programming. Comparable on funding model, open-enrollment competition, and facility expansion pressures.

Broad incumbents

• Des Moines Public Schools: Largest school district in Iowa, headquartered in Des Moines and overlapping Southeast Polk's territory. A broader urban incumbent that competes for open-enrolled students and shapes statewide education policy.
• Cedar Rapids Community School District: One of Iowa's largest public school districts, providing a comparable reference point on statewide scale, college-readiness programming, and large multi-building district operations, though outside the immediate Des Moines metro.

Regional players

• Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District: Growing district immediately west of the Des Moines metro, sharing similar suburban growth and PK-12 operating profile. Comparable regional peer with overlapping feeder areas in Dallas and Polk counties.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sepschools
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnu7C4AOj51gHG3b_6QZUKg
• Facebookfacebook.com/SEPSchools
• Instagraminstagram.com/sepschools

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Southeast Polk Community School District