USD 497 Lawrence Public Schools

What USD 497 Lawrence Public Schools does

USD 497 Lawrence Public Schools (Unified School District 497) is a public K-12 school district headquartered at 110 McDonald Drive, Lawrence, Kansas, serving approximately 11,000 students across 21 academic locations — including 11 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 2 comprehensive high schools, a K-12 virtual school, an early childhood center, a postsecondary career and technical education center, and special education transition services. Founded through state-mandated consolidation in 1965, USD 497 is the seventh-largest school district in Kansas and one of the largest employers in Lawrence with roughly 1,600 staff. The district's core academic portfolio includes standard PreK-12 instruction, the first public Montessori program in Kansas (New York Elementary, preschool through grade 3), the Jayhawk Blueprint concurrent credit program with the University of Kansas, a Lawrence Virtual School serving students statewide, and adult education services delivered at Peaslee Tech.

The district operates on a public funding model: primary revenue comes from Kansas state education aid and local property taxes, supplemented by federal grants (Title I, special education), community donations through the Lawrence Schools Foundation, and a tiered student fee schedule covering basic instructional resources, participation fees for athletics and co-curriculars, course fees, and optional purchases. Technology infrastructure is built on third-party platforms — PowerSchool for student information, ParentSquare for parent communications, Nutrislice for menus, eFunds for online payments — and a 1:1 device program for students. The district also operates an internal print shop, purchasing and warehouse functions, and facilities operations from a secondary campus at 711 E. 23rd Street.

USD 497 is governed by a seven-member elected Lawrence Board of Education under the oversight of the Kansas State Department of Education. Its executive leadership team includes Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Larry Englebrick, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Cole Amaya, Executive Director of Communications Summer Workman, Executive Director Finance / Board Treasurer Cynde Frick, and Data, Assessment & IT Director James Polk. The district is actively enrolling for 2026-27 and is currently navigating the implications of a 2025 federal funding freeze while continuing to expand CTE, virtual schooling, and teacher pipeline programs.

Name

USD 497 Lawrence Public Schools

Legal name

Unified School District 497

Website

https://usd497.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Short description

USD 497 Lawrence Public Schools is a Kansas unified K-12 school district serving approximately 11,000 students across 21 academic locations in Lawrence, including elementary, middle, high schools, a statewide virtual school, and adult education at Peaslee Tech.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA), Head Start & Public Pre-K Programs (EDACABAK), Specialized Programs & Classrooms (Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, Intellectual/Developmental, Multi-Disability) (EDAJAKAH), Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Schools & Life Skills Programs (EDAKAAAD)

Keywords

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Lawrence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 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. State and Local Tax Revenue: Primary funding from Kansas state education funding and local tax revenues including property taxes
2. Federal Grants: Federal funding including Title I, special education, and other federal education programs
3. Student Fees: Basic fees (Activity Trip Transportation, Instructional Resources, Device fees), participation fees, co-curricular fees, course fees, and optional fees for yearbooks, parking, uniforms
4. Community Partnerships: Lawrence Schools Foundation provides grants, programs, awards, and scholarships including over $100,000 in teacher/staff grants, $100,000+ in awards, and $60,000+ annually in student scholarships

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

USD 497 Lawrence Public Schools is a public unified school district that delivers PreK-12 educational services through 21 academic locations in Lawrence, Kansas, including elementary, middle, and high schools plus Lawrence Virtual School, the Lawrence College & Career Center, and Kennedy Early Childhood Center. It also runs adult basic education, English language acquisition, GED preparation, and the first public Montessori program in Kansas, supporting approximately 11,000 students with about 1,600 employees.

Product overview

Lawrence Public Schools (USD 497) is a public school district offering P-12 educational services. The district operates 11 elementary schools (Grades K-5), four middle schools (Grades 6-8), two comprehensive high schools (Grades 9-12), a virtual school (Grades K-12), a postsecondary and career training center (Grades 11-12), a dedicated preschool learning center (Ages birth-5), and special education transition services location (Grades 9-12). The district's educational programs include Early Childhood/Preschool programs (preschool classrooms at four elementary schools, Pre-K Montessori education, Peer Modeling, Parents as Teachers, Infant Toddler Services of Douglas County), career and technical education through the Lawrence College & Career Center, adult education services, and the first public Montessori education program in Kansas. The district serves approximately 11,000 students with 1,600+ employees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Elementary Education (Grades K-5) Traditional and Montessori K-5 instruction across 11 elementary schools for Lawrence resident children.
• Middle School Education (Grades 6-8) Middle school instruction at Billy Mills, Liberty Memorial Central, Southwest, and West Middle Schools for students in grades 6-8.
• High School Education (Grades 9-12) Comprehensive high school education at Lawrence High School and Lawrence Free State High School for students in grades 9-12.
• Lawrence Virtual School (K-12) Premier K-12 virtual school in Kansas serving hundreds of students online across the state for families seeking flexible online instruction.
• Lawrence College & Career Center (Grades 11-12) Postsecondary and career training center providing career and technical educational opportunities to juniors and seniors in Lawrence Public Schools.
• Public Montessori Program First public Montessori education program in Kansas, available for students in preschool through grade 3 at New York Elementary.
• Kennedy Early Childhood Center Early childhood learning center serving children from birth through age 5, including preschool classrooms at four elementary schools, Pre-K Montessori education, Peer Modeling, Parents as Teachers, and Infant Toddler Services of Douglas County.
• Adult Education Services at Peaslee Tech Adult basic education, English language acquisition, diploma completion, and GED preparation and testing offered through the Peaslee Tech location.
• Jayhawk Blueprint (Concurrent College Credit) Concurrent course credit program in partnership with the University of Kansas allowing USD 497 students to earn college credits while in high school.
• Community Transition Program (Grades 9-12) Special education transition services location for grades 9-12 supporting students as they transition beyond high school.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates prepared for success in college, careers, and life
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of KansascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJayhawk Blueprint partnership allowing students to earn concurrent college credits through University of Kansas. Also provides resource-rich university community where education is valued, contributing to district's success.
• Haskell Indian Nations UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in Lawrence alongside USD 497, contributing to the resource-rich university community that supports district success. Students benefit from proximity to higher education institution.
• Lawrence Schools Foundation (LEAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides over $8 million in grants, programs, awards, and scholarships over five years including more than $100,000 in teacher/staff grants, $100,000+ in awards, and $60,000+ annually in student scholarships. Key partner for staff recognition programs.
• Morgan Hunter EducationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal substitute staffing firm providing substitutes for teachers and paraeducators. Partners with district for substitute teaching services including weekly paychecks and professional development.
• Peaslee TechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocation for Adult Education Services including adult basic education, English language acquisition services, diploma completion, and GED preparation and testing.
• Heartland Community Health CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides on-site health services at Kennedy Early Childhood Center as part of comprehensive early childhood programming.
• Truity Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLawrence Education Achievement Partner sponsoring the staff recognition program including Master Teacher Awards and other staff appreciation initiatives.
• Kansas Department of Education (KSDE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegistered Teacher Apprentice Program (RTap) partnership providing competency-based teacher training combining on-the-job learning, college coursework, and mentorship for aspiring teachers without a bachelor's degree.
• Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOversees accountability, accreditation (KESA), budget reporting, and school finance for USD 497 as the state education authority.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Topeka Public Schools (USD 501): Another Kansas unified public school district operating PreK-12 across multiple schools in the state capital. Comparable as a same-state K-12 public district subject to identical KSDE oversight and funding formula, with similar scale and program breadth.
• Wichita Public Schools (USD 259): Largest public school district in Kansas, operating PreK-12 across many schools with CTE, magnet, and adult programs. Directly comparable as a Kansas K-12 public district operating under the same state funding and accountability framework.
• Kansas City Kansas Public Schools (USD 500): Urban Kansas unified school district offering PreK-12, adult education, and similar student-support services. Comparable in scope and in addressing equity and achievement-gap challenges under the same Kansas funding regime.
• Shawnee Mission School District (USD 512): Large suburban Kansas public school district operating PreK-12 across multiple schools. Comparable as a same-state K-12 public district with similar college/career preparation programming and concurrent-credit offerings.
• Olathe Public Schools (USD 233): Large suburban Kansas public school district offering comprehensive PreK-12 programming including CTE, special education, and adult/community education services. Directly comparable in offerings and state regulatory context.
• Blue Valley School District: Suburban Kansas public school district operating K-12 across many schools with strong academic and enrichment programming. Comparable as a high-performing Kansas public K-12 district competing for families in the same regional labor market.
• Des Moines Public Schools: Mid-size urban public school district serving approximately 30,000 students across PreK-12. Comparable in scale and structure to USD 497 and serves as a useful benchmark for urban mid-size district operating models.
• Boulder Valley School District: Colorado public school district serving a university town (Boulder) similar in profile to Lawrence, with comparable university-adjacent demographics and partnerships. Operates K-12 schools plus alternative and CTE programs at similar scale.
• Lincoln Public Schools: Nebraska public school district serving a state-capital university city with comparable size (~40,000 students) and PreK-12 + CTE portfolio. Closely mirrors USD 497's university-town, comprehensive district operating model.
• Springfield Public Schools (R-XII, Missouri): Mid-size Missouri public school district offering comprehensive K-12 programming with similar scale and breadth. Comparable as a single-district operator of elementary, middle, high, and alternative programs under public funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/usd497
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/USD497
• Facebookfacebook.com/lawrencepublicschools
• Instagraminstagram.com/usd497
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lawrence-free-state-high-schl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 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 USD 497 Lawrence Public Schools