What Findlay City Schools does

Findlay City Schools is a public K-12 school district serving over 5,000 students from preschool through 12th grade across approximately 37 square miles in Findlay, Ohio. The district operates 10 campuses — including Findlay High School, two middle schools, three intermediate buildings, three primary buildings, a preschool, and the Millstream Career Center for career-technical education — and employs over 900 staff across instructional, operational, and administrative functions. It is governed by an elected five-member Board of Education under Ohio Revised Code, with Dr. Andy Hatton serving as Superintendent. The district provides comprehensive educational services including PK-12 academic instruction aligned to Ohio Academic Content Standards, Trojan Athletics (nearly 20 sports programs competing in the Northern Lakes League), performing arts, gifted and English language learner services, special education, student nutrition under the National School Lunch Program, and transportation.

The district's technology infrastructure centers on a 1:1 Chromebook program with cloud-based internet filtering that operates regardless of device location, supported by an integrated SaaS stack including Google Classroom for instruction, ProgressBook for grade reporting, Clever for single sign-on, Final Forms for registration, Remind for communications, Stopfinder and TransFinder for transportation, PaySchools Central for payments, BoardDocs for governance, and PublicSchoolWORKS' Stay Safe. Speak Up! anonymous reporting system. FCS is the first district in Ohio to implement the SafeDefend multi-channel crisis communication system, and it maintains always-on cloud filtering across all student-issued Chromebooks both in school and at home.

Findlay City Schools is funded through a combination of Ohio Department of Education state aid under the Fair School Funding Formula, voter-approved property tax levies (last operating levy passed November 2004, held flat by HB 920), and — effective January 1, 2026 — a voter-approved 1% earned income tax projected to generate approximately $13.1 million annually. Additional revenue comes from the FCS Foundation, District Support Organizations (PTOs, boosters), corporate donations including Marathon Petroleum's $100,000 grant to Millstream Career Center, federal ESSER funds (now fully obligated), and meal program fees. Following a failed November 2024 levy, the Board implemented $6 million in budget reductions for 2025-2026; the subsequent May 2025 levy passage enabled a Path to Progress restoration plan for 2026 that adds approximately 20 teaching positions, five leadership roles, expanded busing, and restored athletic programs. The district serves a captive resident population of approximately 40,000 in the Findlay community, with no ability to expand beyond its geographic mandate.

Name

Findlay City Schools

Legal name

Findlay City Schools

Website

https://fcs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Findlay City Schools is a public K-12 school district operating 10 campuses in Findlay, Ohio, serving over 5,000 students from preschool through 12th grade. It is funded by Ohio state aid, voter-approved tax levies, and a newly approved 1% earned income tax generating $13.1 million annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized Programs & Classrooms (Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, Intellectual/Developmental, Multi-Disability) (EDAJAKAH), Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• Academic instruction services
• Student transportation services
• School nutrition programs
• Career technical education

Headquarters

HQ city

Findlay

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. State Funding: Primary funding from Ohio Department of Education based on Fair School Funding Formula. Funding is mostly flat as determined by state budget.
2. Earned Income Tax (1%): Voter-approved 1% earned income tax effective January 1, 2026, generating approximately $13.1 million per year. Only taxes earned income (wages, salaries, tips, self-employment) - does not tax retirement, Social Security, pensions, or investment income.
3. Property Tax Levies: Voter-approved property tax levies. Last operating levy passed November 2004. Under HB 920, voted mileage is held flat regardless of property value increases.
4. ESSER Funding (COVID Relief): Federal ESSER funds distributed over four calendar years, required to be spent by September 30, 2024. Used for summer learning, professional development, technology, and instructional support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Findlay City Schools is a public PK-12 school district providing comprehensive educational services including standards-aligned academic instruction, athletic programs, performing arts, career-technical education through Millstream Career Center, student nutrition services, special education, and gifted/ELL services. The district operates 12 educational institutions serving over 5,200 students across approximately 37 square miles in Northwest Ohio, supported by a 1:1 Chromebook program, district transportation, and community partnerships.

Product overview

Findlay City Schools is a public K-12 school district operating 12 educational institutions serving over 5,000 students from preschool through 12th grade in Findlay, Ohio. The district provides a comprehensive educational ecosystem including academic programs (PK-12 curriculum aligned with Ohio's Academic Content Standards), Trojan Athletics (nearly 20 sports programs), Student Nutrition Services (breakfast and lunch programs via National School Lunch Program), 1:1 Device Program (Chromebooks for all students), and Transportation Services. The district also offers technology-integrated services including ProgressBook (grade reporting via NOACSC), Remind and Final Forms (communication/registration), Stopfinder and TransFinder (transportation tracking), PaySchools Central (payments), and Stay Safe. Speak Up! (safety reporting via PublicSchoolWORKS). The district's Millstream Career Center provides career-technical education, and the district maintains an active Alumni Association and FCS Foundation for community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PK-12 Academic Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 4-4.5 stars on Ohio state report cards (past two years)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• District Support Organizations (PTOs & Boosters)coreOthersMultiple PTOs and booster clubs including Academic Booster Club, Music Boosters, Trojan Club Athletic Boosters, and school-specific PTOs. These organizations provide volunteer support, fundraising, and supplementary funding for programs.
• Findlay Enrichment Programs (FEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization established in 1988 that works in partnership with Findlay City Schools and area businesses to encourage, develop, and coordinate educational enrichment classes, events, and programs.
• Findlay Area BusinessessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal area businesses provide support through Academic Sticker Program discounts (approximately 50 businesses), donations, and career mentorship opportunities for students.
• Community Agencies and OrganizationssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFindlay community businesses, organizations, and agencies provide time and resources that nurture student growth and success.
• Ohio Department of EducationcoreOthersState regulatory agency that provides funding through Fair School Funding Formula, sets academic standards, and oversees compliance with state education requirements.
• Northern Lakes LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAthletic conference membership providing competitive athletic opportunities for Findlay High School student-athletes against regional schools.
• Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA)coreOthersState athletic association governing high school athletics, ensuring compliance with eligibility rules and tournament participation.
• SodexosupportingOthersFood services management company providing student nutrition services. Kadie Lindsey serves as Food Services Director through Sodexo partnership.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Akron Public Schools: Mid-sized Ohio public K-12 district facing similar funding and demographic pressures; useful peer for benchmarking levy strategy and operational scaling.
• Dayton Public Schools: Ohio public K-12 district of comparable scale, operating under the same state funding and accountability framework with overlapping academic and special-education programs.
• Toledo Public Schools: Large public K-12 school district in Northwest Ohio; most direct geographic and structural peer to Findlay City Schools, operating under the same Ohio funding and accountability framework.
• Columbus City Schools: Ohio's largest urban public school district; former employer of Findlay's superintendent and a direct comparator for academic, operational, and special education service delivery in the same state system.
• Cleveland Metropolitan School District: Major Ohio urban public K-12 district; comparable in operating structure, state funding model, and reliance on voter-approved levies, though materially larger in scale.
• Cincinnati Public Schools: Large Ohio public school district serving a comparable mix of urban and suburban students; operates under the same Ohio Department of Education oversight and funding rules.

Regional players

• Dublin City Schools: High-performing Ohio suburban public school district; former employer of Findlay's superintendent and a regional benchmark for academic performance, technology integration, and community-funded capital programs.
• Upper Arlington Schools: Suburban Ohio public K-12 district; another prior employer of Findlay's superintendent and a useful academic and operational benchmark within the same state system.

Others

• Hancock County Educational Service Center: Regional Ohio Educational Service Center serving the same county as Findlay City Schools; an enabling/co-development partner that provides special education, gifted, and professional development services to local districts.
• Northern Lakes League: Athletic conference of which Findlay High School is a member; relevant peer/comparator for extracurricular scale, facility investment, and student-engagement programming rather than core academics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC30ph5O9pmPuxg435ejfuwA
• Facebookfacebook.com/FCSTrojanTrue
• Instagraminstagram.com/findlaycityschools
• Xx.com/trojantrue

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 Findlay City Schools