Ford Heights School District 169

What Ford Heights School District 169 does

Ford Heights School District 169 is a public school district operating under Illinois state law, serving students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in Ford Heights, Illinois. The district runs two schools: Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center (grades 5-8, located at 800 East 14th Street) and Medgar Evers Primary Academic Center (PreK-4, located at 1101 East 10th Street), with a district office at 910 Woodlawn Avenue. Governance is provided by an elected seven-member Board of Education led by Board President Mrs. Ester Viverette, with executive leadership from Superintendent Dr. Gregory T. Jackson and two Assistant Superintendents covering business administration/operations and curriculum/instruction.

The district's core service is comprehensive K-8 public education, delivered through standards-based instruction in reading, math, social studies, and science, supplemented by electives (Art, Business Education), daily physical education, and extracurricular activities including basketball, track, volleyball, cheerleading, and band. Supporting services include special education through Pupil Personnel Services, Response to Intervention (RtI), Positive Behavior Intervention & Supports (PBIS), the 21st Century Community Learning Centers after-school program, and free meals for all students via the Community Eligibility Provision. The technology stack is conventional K-12 infrastructure: PowerSchool for student information, Skyward for business/HR/payroll, Follett Destiny for library management, NWEA and Pearson for assessment, Savvas EasyBridge for curriculum, IXL/ReadLive/EduTyping/Funbrain for skill practice, and Microsoft Outlook for staff communications. Multiple compliance regimes apply, including FERPA, COPPA, CIPA, PPRA, and the Illinois Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA).

The business model is government-funded and non-tuition-based. Revenue derives from local property taxes, Illinois state education funding (Evidence-Based Funding), and federal grants including Title I, IDEA, ARP/ESSER, USDA National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, and E-Rate technology discounts. Enrollment is determined by residency within the district's fixed geographic boundaries, eliminating direct competition for resident students. Staff are organized under collective bargaining agreements with Service Employees International Union Local 73 and the Illinois Education Association/National Education Association. The district's competitive position is structurally protected by compulsory education law, and its principal operational challenges center on achievement outcomes and parent engagement in a historically underserved community rather than on revenue growth or market share.

Name

Ford Heights School District 169

Legal name

Ford Heights School District 169

Website

https://fordheights169.org

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Ford Heights School District 169 is an Illinois public K-8 school district operating two schools (Cottage Grove grades 5-8 and Medgar Evers PreK-4) in Ford Heights, IL, funded by local property taxes, state aid, and federal grants to serve resident families at no cost.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public K-8 Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

District Student Services Administration (Special Ed, Counseling, Health) (EDADABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Behavioral Intervention & PBIS Supports (Tiered, Gen Ed) (EDAJAGAL)

Keywords

• Public K-8 education
• Special education services
• School nutrition programs
• Early childhood education
• After-school enrichment

Headquarters

HQ city

Illinois City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: Ford Heights School District 169 is a public school district funded primarily through local property taxes, state education funding, and federal grants including Title I, IDEA, and ARP/ESSER funds. The district operates under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) providing free meals to all enrolled students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ford Heights School District 169 provides free PreK-8 public education to students residing within its Ford Heights, Illinois district boundaries through two schools: Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center (grades 5-8) and Medgar Evers Primary Academic Center (PreK-4). Offerings include core academic instruction in reading, math, social studies, and science; special education and Pupil Personnel Services; the 21st Century Community Learning Centers after-school enrichment program; free breakfast and lunch via the Community Eligibility Provision; behavioral support through Positive Behavior Intervention & Supports (PBIS); academic intervention through Response to Intervention (RtI); and parent engagement via the Family Workshop Series at the Parent Center.

Product overview

Ford Heights School District 169 operates two schools serving Pre-K through Grade 8 students: Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center (grades 5-8) and Medgar Evers Primary Academic Center (Pre-K through grade 4). The district provides comprehensive educational services including core academic instruction, special education through Pupil Personnel Services, and after-school enrichment via the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. Supporting services include free school meals under the Community Eligibility Provision, parent engagement through the Family Workshop Series, behavioral support through PBIS, and academic intervention through RtI. The district maintains technology infrastructure including PowerSchool for student information, Skyward for business operations, and various digital learning platforms to support student achievement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center Public elementary/middle school serving students in grades 5-8 in Ford Heights, Illinois, featuring fully equipped science labs and a Media Center. Offers core classes in Reading, Math, Social Studies, and Science, with elective offerings including Art and Business Education. Recognized as an Illinois Spotlight School during 2006-2009.
• Medgar Evers Primary Academic Center Public primary school serving PreK-Grade 4 students in Ford Heights, Illinois, providing standards-based instruction directed toward mastery of skills and aiming for all students to score at or above grade level on state assessments. Operates under the motto 'Excellence is an Attitude!'
• Pupil Personnel Services & Special Education Comprehensive special education program providing supportive services for students with academic, emotional, or social challenges. Staffed with qualified professionals in psychology, counseling, speech and language therapy, and social work. Administers IEPs (via EasyIEP) and coordinates district health and rehabilitative services.
• Parent Center - Family Workshop Series Parent engagement program offering annual events, weekly and monthly activities, and workshops providing parents with opportunities for self-development and training to assist children with academic and social development. Hours: 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M., Monday - Friday.
• School Meals Program (CEP) National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs operating under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), providing free healthy breakfast and lunch to all enrolled students daily at no charge to households.
• 21st Century Community Learning Centers After-school enrichment program providing academic assistance and enrichment activities for students outside regular school hours. Program management is supported by the Matrix LMS platform.
• District Administration Services Centralized administrative services including superintendent leadership, business operations, curriculum and instruction oversight, technology coordination, facilities management, and pupil personnel services supporting both district schools.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration24 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)coreOthersThe district operates under the oversight and regulations of the Illinois State Board of Education. ISBE sets educational standards, administers state assessments (Illinois Assessment of Readiness), and provides funding guidance.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)coreOthersThe district participates in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs under USDA guidelines. The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) allows the district to provide free meals to all students.
• Service Employees International Union Local 73coreOthersCollective bargaining agreement covering certain district staff members. The agreement covers wages, benefits, and working conditions.
• Illinois Education Association/National Education Association (IEA/NEA)coreOthersProfessional association representing teachers and education professionals in the district. Collective bargaining agreement covers educators.
• E-Rate ProgramminorOthersThe district participates in the E-rate program which provides discounts for Internet access and internal connections to comply with Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• KIPP Chicago: Charter network operating in Chicago and surrounding communities with a college-prep mission for underserved students. Represents the alternative-school competitive threat facing families in and around Ford Heights.
• Acero Schools: Chicago-based charter network serving predominantly Hispanic and low-income students. Adjacent mission and demographic overlap with Ford Heights, particularly for Spanish-speaking families in the surrounding region.

Regional players

• Rich Township High School District 227: Receiving high school district for many south suburban 8th graders. While it operates 9-12 rather than PreK-8, it is the natural downstream partner for Ford Heights graduates and competes indirectly for the same family households.
• Bloom Township High School District 206: Another nearby 9-12 receiving district for south Cook County. Competitor for families evaluating where to settle based on K-12 continuity.

Direct peers

• South Holland School District 151: Adjacent Cook County district serving a similarly small, predominantly working-class community. Comparable governance structure (elected Board of Education) and Illinois funding mix.
• Lansing School District 158: Adjacent south suburban Cook County district serving PreK-8 students. Similar revenue mix (property taxes, Title I, IDEA) and comparable urban-suburban demographic profile.
• Chicago Heights School District 170: Neighboring south suburban Illinois district serving similar demographics with a PreK-8 footprint. Operates multiple schools within Cook County communities adjacent to Ford Heights, making it the closest geographic and demographic peer.
• Crete-Monee School District 201U: Nearby Will and Cook County district operating multiple school buildings with similar Title I and bilingual programs. Operates on a comparable per-pupil funding scale.
• Park Forest School District 163: South suburban Illinois district serving a historically underserved community similar to Ford Heights. Comparable size and student population, with overlapping ESSER, Title I, and CEP funding profiles.

Broad incumbents

• Chicago Public Schools District 299: State's largest K-12 district and primary broad incumbent in Illinois education. Operates under ISBE oversight and shares Title I funding pools with smaller Cook County districts like Ford Heights 169.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/FordHeights169
• Facebookfacebook.com/FordHeights169
• Instagraminstagram.com/fordheights169
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/school-district-169

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Ford Heights School District 169