What Pelham Union Free School District does

Pelham Union Free School District is a public K-12 school district serving approximately 2,830 students in Pelham, Westchester County, New York, located at the southern-most tip of the county roughly 30 minutes north of New York City. The district operates six schools: four neighborhood elementary schools (Colonial, Hutchinson, Prospect Hill, and Siwanoy), Pelham Middle School (grades 6-8), and Pelham Memorial High School. The district, portions of which date back nearly 100 years (Siwanoy opened in 1910), provides comprehensive public education aligned with Next Generation Learning Standards, including specialized programs such as the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, Foreign Language Elementary School (FLES) Spanish instruction beginning in grade 2, MakerSpace facilities at all elementary schools, and the district-developed Pelham Inquiry Cycle instructional framework.

The district runs a standard K-12 technology stack with no notable proprietary technology investments. Infrastructure includes Finalsite as the content management system for the district website, ParentSquare as the unified family communication platform (replacing Constant Contact and Infinite Campus Messenger), Infinite Campus as the student information system, and ClassLink Launchpad for single sign-on access. Athletics-specific tools include FinalForms for sport registration, Hudl for livestreaming athletic events, and Digital Sports for schedule management. The in-house Technology Department supports networking, hardware, data management, and instructional technology across all schools.

As a government state entity, Pelham has no commercial revenue model. Operational funding is derived primarily from a local property tax levy (proposing a 3.72% increase for 2026-27) and New York State education aid, including a current building aid ratio of approximately 49%. The 2026-27 total appropriations are $98,260,000, a 2.05% year-over-year increase. The district is governed by an elected Board of Education with governance reinforced by more than 20 consecutive years of resident-approved annual budgets. In May 2025, voters approved $98.8 million in capital improvement bond propositions (Propositions 1 & 2) for district-wide infrastructure and the expansion of Siwanoy School, while Propositions 3 & 4 covering high school expansion and geothermal heating were defeated. A small non-resident tuition program provides supplemental funding for students outside district boundaries.

Name

Pelham Union Free School District

Legal name

Pelham Union Free School District

Website

https://pelhamschools.org

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Pelham Union Free School District is a public K-12 school district serving approximately 2,830 students across six schools in Pelham, Westchester County, NY, funded primarily by local property taxes and New York State education aid.

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 School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE), Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• College preparatory programs
• Special education services
• Athletics and arts
• School district administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Pelham

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

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Levy: Primary funding source from local property taxes. The 2026-27 budget includes a tax levy increase of 3.72%. Residents have supported the annual budget for more than 20 years.
2. New York State Building Aid: State aid partially offsets capital improvements. Pelham's current building aid ratio is approximately 49%, meaning 49% of eligible project costs are reimbursed by New York State.
3. Capital Bond Financing: Voter-approved capital bonds fund major facilities projects. In May 2025, voters approved $98.8M in capital improvement bond propositions for infrastructure upgrades and school expansions.
4. Non-Resident Tuition: District accepts tuition-paying non-resident students

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Pelham Union Free School District is a public K-12 school district operating four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school serving approximately 2,830 students in Pelham, Westchester County, New York. The district delivers a comprehensive Next Generation Learning Standards-aligned academic program, college preparatory coursework including Advanced Placement and an IB Middle Years Programme, plus athletics, arts, special education, world languages (Spanish, French, Italian, Mandarin), and STEAM instruction through elementary MakerSpaces. Educational services are provided at no cost to district residents, funded by local property taxes and New York State aid.

Product overview

The Pelham Union Free School District is a public K-12 school district serving approximately 2,830 students in southern Westchester County, NY. The district operates six schools: four neighborhood elementary schools (Colonial, Hutchinson, Prospect Hill, Siwanoy), Pelham Middle School (grades 6-8), and Pelham Memorial High School. The district offers a comprehensive academic program aligned with Next Generation Learning Standards, featuring specialized programs including the IB World School program at the middle school, FLES world language instruction, special education services, and extensive athletics and extracurricular activities. Technology infrastructure and support are provided by the district's Technology Department, with ParentSquare serving as the primary communication platform for family engagement. The district's instructional approach is guided by the Pelham Inquiry Cycle framework.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-12 Academic Program Comprehensive K-12 educational program aligned with Next Generation Learning Standards serving approximately 2,830 students across four elementary schools, Pelham Middle School, and Pelham Memorial High School, including reading/writing workshops, mathematics with a focus on computational fluency, and 100+ high school courses.
• Athletics Program Comprehensive athletic program offering fall, winter, and spring sports including soccer, basketball, lacrosse, swimming, track, baseball, and softball for students in grades 7-12, with athletic communications delivered via FinalForms and live broadcasts on Hudl.
• Pupil Personnel Services and Special Education Special education services, 504 accommodations, school counseling, English as a New Language (ENL) services, and student support services that ensure equal access to the general education curriculum, provided by the Pupil Personnel Services department.
• International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme IB World School-Middle Years Programme at Pelham Middle School offering inquiry-based, student-centered learning for grades 6-8, authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization.
• FLES World Language Program Foreign Language Elementary School program providing Spanish instruction starting in grade 2 across all four elementary schools, with continued French, Italian, and Mandarin offerings at the secondary level.
• Elementary MakerSpace Program Hands-on MakerSpace facilities available at all four elementary schools that develop STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) skills through interactive, project-based learning.
• Non-Resident Tuition Program Tuition-based enrollment program for K-12 students residing outside the Pelham UFSD boundaries, providing access to the district's academic programs, IB Middle Years Programme, athletics, and arts offerings.
• Six-School District Campus Six-school physical campus including Colonial Elementary, Hutchinson Elementary, Prospect Hill Elementary, Siwanoy Elementary (est. 1910), Pelham Middle School, and Pelham Memorial High School, with the Hutchinson School rebuilt through a 2018 capital bond.
• Food Services District-operated food services providing student meals across all six Pelham schools, managed through the Business Office.
• Before and After School Child Care Before and after school child care program coordinated by the district for families needing extended-day coverage beyond regular school hours.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96.5% of graduates receive post-secondary education
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pelham Education FoundationcoreOthersNon-profit education foundation that supports Pelham Public Schools through fundraising and educational initiatives. Listed as a community resource for parents and families.
• SHAPE AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSociety of Health and Physical Educators awarded Nicholas D'Ambroso as 2026 National Elementary School Physical Education Teacher of the Year
• National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConducted comprehensive communications audit during 2022-23 school year including community surveys, focus groups, and analysis of communications materials. Provided recommendations for strategic communications improvements.
• Hazard, Young, AtteacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStrategic planning consultants engaged to lead inclusive community engagement process for 2024-29 Strategic Plan, garnering nearly 1,900 survey responses and feedback from more than 150 individuals through focus groups and interviews.
• KG&D ArchitectscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitectural firm engaged for capital improvement bond planning including Building Conditions Survey, Capacity Study, and Five-Year Capital Plan. Also providing design services for approved bond projects.
• Western Suffolk BOCESminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrepared enrollment/demographic report for the district to inform facilities planning and capacity analysis.
• Capital Markets AdvisorscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFinancial advisors providing debt service schedule presentations and guidance on capital markets financing for bond projects.
• FinalsitecoreTechnology or IntegrationWebsite platform provider powering the district's official website with content management system, communications tools, and digital resources.
• Triton ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction manager engaged for capital improvement bond projects, coordinating safety, noise and logistical plans for construction phases.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Mamaroneck Union Free School District: Westchester County public K-12 district operating multiple schools with similar property-tax funding and IB/AP programs. Comparable scale and demographic profile with overlapping feeder communities to Pelham.
• Chappaqua Central School District: Northern Westchester K-12 public district with similar affluent residential funding base, comparable voter dynamics, and strong academic outcomes including high college placement rates. Operates under the same NY State Education Department framework.
• Scarsdale Union Free School District: Adjacent Westchester County public school district serving a similar affluent commuter suburb with strong academic outcomes, comparable property-tax funding model, and IB/AP offerings. Most structurally comparable peer given proximity, demographic profile, and budget size.
• Bronxville Union Free School District: Westchester K-12 public district of similar small size and affluent-residential funding base. Operates under the same New York State Education Department regulatory regime with comparable property-tax-dependent budget structure and high college-readiness outcomes.
• Edgemont Union Free School District: Scarsdale-area K-8 public district sharing Westchester property-tax funding dynamics and similar small-district governance model. Comparable in scale and operational structure to Pelham's elementary feeder footprint.
• Harrison Central School District: Westchester County public K-12 district with similar scale, property-tax-based funding, and IB/AP program offerings. Operates under the same NY State regulatory regime with comparable budget approval dynamics.
• Rye City School District: Westchester K-12 public district serving a similarly affluent commuter community just north of Pelham. Comparable in enrollment scale (~3,000+ students), funding model, and strong academic reputation with high post-secondary placement rates.
• Eastchester Union Free School District: Adjacent Westchester K-12 public district with comparable enrollment scale, similar property-tax funding model, and similar per-pupil cost structure. Shares regional labor market and demographic trends with Pelham.

Broad incumbents

• New York City Department of Education: Largest US K-12 public school system operating under the same New York State Education Department oversight framework as Pelham. Functions as a broad incumbent in the same regulatory environment but with vastly different scale, urban setting, and centralized governance structure.

Others

• Pelham Education Foundation: Non-profit fundraising partner supporting Pelham Public Schools through grants and educational initiatives. Adjacent ecosystem participant that supplements district resources but does not deliver instruction directly.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PelhamSchoolsNY
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUyM3mWZIIxfKygIo5AZvgg
• Facebookfacebook.com/pelhampublicschools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pelham-public-schools

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 Pelham Union Free School District