Northland CAPS

What Northland CAPS does

Northland CAPS (Northland Center for Advanced Professional Studies) is a career-preparatory educational program operating inside North Kansas City Schools and serving high school juniors and seniors from 13 participating school districts across Clay and Platte counties in the Kansas City Northland region. The program delivers a year-long, half-day curriculum split between a fall semester of real-world client projects and a spring semester of professional internships, yielding approximately 150 hours of hands-on experience per student. Core products are organized into five strands — Digital Media & Technology, Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing, Global Business & Logistics, Medicine & Healthcare, and Certificated Programs — with the last offering industry-recognized credentials such as CCMA (Certified Clinical Medical Assistant) and CVA (Certified Veterinary Assistant), plus dual-credit pathways through Northwest Missouri State University and UMKC.

The technical differentiator is operational rather than digital: strand classes are physically housed inside employer sites — Medicine & Healthcare cohorts sit inside Liberty Hospital and NKC Health, Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing is co-located at Campione Interior Solutions, and Digital Media & Technology and Certificated Programs run from the Pleasant Valley administrative campus. Instructors are industry professionals embedded at these partner sites (e.g., Crissy Patterson inside Liberty Hospital; LaVonna Palmer inside Campione Interior Solutions), positioning the program as on-the-job vocational training with high school credit rather than classroom-based CTE. Supporting infrastructure includes a website application portal with strand-level waitlists (notably for 2026–27), and a multi-channel presence (strand-specific Instagram accounts, a LinkedIn page, and a Facebook page for Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing).

The revenue model is subscription/recurring and government-funded: participating public school districts pay per-student tuition, and the program is free to students and families. Go-to-market operates through two distinct funnels — high school counselors referring students into the strands, and a business partner portal with project-request and internship-request forms that recruits the 400+ regional employer network supplying host sites, projects, mentors, and guest speakers. Northland CAPS reports 251–500 employees and is currently led by Interim Executive Director Kevin Kooi, supported by Assistant Director Thomas Goeglein and a strand-aligned instructional team.

Name

Northland CAPS

Legal name

Northland Center for Advanced Professional Studies

Website

https://northlandcaps.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Northland CAPS is a public-education career-preparatory program inside North Kansas City Schools, delivering year-long, site-immersive strand-based training (Digital Media & Technology, Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing, Global Business & Logistics, Medicine & Healthcare, and Certificated Programs) to high school juniors and seniors from 13 participating districts in the Kansas City Northland region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Career and Technical Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)

Keywords

• Career and technical education
• Professional studies program
• High school internship program
• Industry credential training
• Workforce education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. School District Funding: Participating school districts pay tuition costs for their students to attend Northland CAPS. This is the primary revenue source, as the program is free for students and families. The program operates as a public education initiative funded by member school districts in Clay and Platte counties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Northland CAPS (Northland Center for Advanced Professional Studies) provides year-long immersive career and technical education programs for high school juniors and seniors in the Kansas City Northland region. Students attend classes housed in actual business partner locations, working on real-world client projects in the fall semester and completing internships with industry professionals in the spring semester. The program operates through five core strands (Digital Media & Technology, Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing, Global Business & Logistics, Medicine & Healthcare, and Certificated Programs) and is funded by participating school districts at no cost to students and families.

Product overview

Northland CAPS (Northland Center for Advanced Professional Studies) is an educational program provider offering a year-long professional studies experience for high school juniors and seniors. The program consists of five core strand products: Digital Media & Technology, Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing, Global Business & Logistics, Medicine & Healthcare, and Certificated Programs. Students spend the fall semester working on real-world client projects and the spring semester in internships. Certificated Programs includes two sub-products (Medical Assistant Program and Certified Veterinary Assistant Program) that lead to industry-recognized credentials. The program is free for students in participating school districts and is hosted at business partner sites throughout Clay and Platte counties in Kansas City.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Digital Media & Technology Strand A strand program for high school juniors and seniors that explores digital content, coding, video editing, graphic design, cybersecurity, and web/app development. Students develop hands-on skills in creating and managing digital projects, preparing them for careers in digital media, IT, and technology.
• Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing Strand A strand program exploring design, production, and technology concepts. Students learn CAD software, lean manufacturing principles, and industry-standard equipment, preparing for careers in engineering, manufacturing, and technology. Hosted at Campione Interior Solutions in North Kansas City.
• Global Business & Logistics Strand A strand for detail-oriented students focusing on business, marketing, entrepreneurship, and supply chain management. Students learn to organize and manage people, projects, facilities, and supplies to compete in changing markets.
• Medicine & Healthcare Strand A strand connecting students with mentors and career exposure in medical careers. Students experience in-patient hospital environments and out-patient settings including EMS, clinics, dentistry, optometry, and veterinary medicine. Students earn Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, CPR/First Aid certification, and gain hands-on clinical experience.
• Certificated Programs Strand Programs offering industry-recognized certifications for career preparation while in high school. Includes the Medical Assistant Program (CCMA credential) and Certified Veterinary Assistant Program (CVA credential).
• Medical Assistant Program A hands-on program in clinical and administrative healthcare within the Certificated Programs strand. Students learn to administer medication, draw blood, educate patients, perform EKG, remove sutures, manage patient records, and prepare for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) credential.
• Certified Veterinary Assistant Program A program providing real clinic experience working alongside veterinary professionals within the Certificated Programs strand. Students learn to handle animals safely, assist during exams and treatments, perform lab procedures, and earn the Certified Veterinary Assistant (CVA) credential.

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Northwest Missouri State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partner providing dual credit opportunities for Northland CAPS student associates, allowing students to earn college credit while completing the program.
• UMKC (University of Missouri-Kansas City)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partner providing dual credit opportunities for Northland CAPS student associates, expanding college credit pathways for students.
• YMCA of Greater Kansas CityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness partner for student project on food insecurity, involving development of site plan and 3D layout for greenhouse, community garden, walking trail and landscape.
• KCATA (Kansas City Area Transportation Authority)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransportation authority partner for student survey project on public bus ridership experience, with students conducting surveys and presenting findings.
• UGA FinanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial services partner for student security evaluation project, where students assessed physical and electronic security protocols.
• Autism WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner for student-created promotional video and live event photo content for the organization.
• NKC Hospital (North Kansas City Hospital)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor healthcare partner hosting Medicine & Healthcare South Cohort at NKC Health facility, providing clinical shadow experiences and internship placements.
• Tri-County Mental HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner for opioid addiction study project, with students developing education plans for Narcan kit recipients.
• North Kansas City HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary host site for Medicine & Healthcare strand internships, providing in-patient shadow experiences throughout the facility.
• Liberty HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for Medicine & Healthcare North Cohort, providing clinical education environment for student associates.
• St. Luke's HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPast internship location for Medicine & Healthcare strand students.
• Children's Mercy Northland ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPast internship location for Medicine & Healthcare strand students.
• Gladstone Fire DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency services partner providing EMS shadow experiences for Medicine & Healthcare strand students.
• Kearney Fire & RescueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency services partner providing fire/EMS career exposure for Medicine & Healthcare strand students.
• Northland Regional Ambulance DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency medical services partner for ambulance/EMS career experiences for Medicine & Healthcare students.
• Clay County Economic Development CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development partner for past student internship in Global Business & Logistics strand.
• Mid-Continent Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural institution partner for past internship in Global Business & Logistics strand.
• National WWI MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural institution partner for past internship in Global Business & Logistics strand.
• NKC Business CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness organization partner for past internship in Global Business & Logistics strand.
• Northland Angel InvestorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvestment network partner for past internship in Global Business & Logistics strand.
• Northland Regional Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of commerce partner for past internship in Global Business & Logistics strand.
• Northpoint DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment company partner for past internship in Global Business & Logistics strand.
• Reece NicholsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal estate company partner for past internship in Global Business & Logistics strand.
• Campione Interior SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost location for Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing strand, providing hands-on manufacturing environment for student instruction.
• Excelsior Springs School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating school district funding student tuition and referring student associates.
• Kearney School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating school district funding student tuition, providing transportation support, and referring student associates.
• Lathrop School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating school district funding student tuition and referring student associates.
• Lawson School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating school district funding student tuition and referring student associates.
• Liberty Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating school district funding student tuition and referring student associates. Board Vice President Dr. Jeremy Tucker serves as Superintendent.
• North Kansas City SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost district for Northland CAPS administrative office, funding student tuition, providing transportation support, and referring student associates.
• North Platte School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating school district funding student tuition and referring student associates.
• Park Hill School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating school district funding student tuition, providing transportation support, and referring student associates.
• Platte County School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating school district funding student tuition and referring student associates.
• Smithville School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating school district funding student tuition and referring student associates.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Blue Valley CAPS: Blue Valley CAPS in Overland Park, KS is the original Center for Advanced Professional Studies program from which the broader CAPS Network model was created. It operates the same immersive, business-housed, strand-based career-prep model for high school juniors and seniors, making it the most directly comparable peer to Northland CAPS.
• CAPS Network: The CAPS Network is the national consortium of district-run Centers for Advanced Professional Studies programs that share curriculum, professional development, and branding. Northland CAPS is a member program; CAPS Network governs the playbook NCAPS replicates and provides the cross-program benchmarking context.
• Summit Technology Academy: Summit Technology Academy is a half-day CTE program for high school juniors and seniors in Lee's Summit, Missouri, structured around industry strands with embedded internships and industry credentials. Its half-day immersion model, public-district funding base, and Missouri footprint make it a near-direct local peer.
• P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School): P-TECH, launched by IBM and now scaled across hundreds of U.S. schools, is a grades 9-14 model combining high school, early college credit, and workplace learning with a single employer partner. It competes for the same CTE-in-a-school funding dollars and shares the work-based-learning, dual-credit thesis central to NCAPS.

Broad incumbents

• NAF (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship / National Academy Foundation): NAF is a national education nonprofit that places career-themed academies (finance, IT, health sciences, etc.) inside traditional high schools with industry advisory boards and work-based learning. It serves the same high school CTE buyer but operates as an accreditation/support organization rather than a single program with its own staff.
• Junior Achievement USA: Junior Achievement delivers K-12 career-readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship programs across U.S. schools with corporate volunteer support. It competes for the same district CTE budget line and school-counsellor attention as NCAPS, though at lower per-student intensity.

Emerging players

• Cristo Rey Network: Cristo Rey operates a national network of Catholic high schools whose model requires every student to hold a paid corporate work-study job one day per week. The integrated work-based-learning, employer-funded tuition, and college-prep design overlap meaningfully with NCAPS's project-plus-internship structure.

Others

• Year Up: Year Up is a workforce-development nonprofit providing six-month training plus six-month corporate internships for young adults ages 18-24. It targets the same regional employer pipeline (including Kansas City) for talent, but serves an older population than NCAPS's high school audience.
• Genesys Works: Genesys Works provides high school seniors from under-resourced communities with skills training and paid corporate internships, typically eight weeks during summer. It shares NCAPS's talent-pipeline framing with regional employers but operates at a younger, summer-only intensity.

Regional players

• Construct (formerly MC2) / St. Louis Construction CTE Consortium: Construct-style regional CTE consortiums in other Missouri metros (e.g., St. Louis) bundle high school strands with employer partnerships and industry credentials. They are comparable structurally to Northland CAPS but operate in different geographies and largely non-overlapping employer ecosystems.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ncaps-digital-media-tech
• Xx.com/northlandcaps

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Northland CAPS