Grand Forks Public Schools

What Grand Forks Public Schools does

Grand Forks Public Schools (GFPS) is a North Dakota public school district — legally "Grand Forks Public School District No. 1 of Grand Forks County, North Dakota" — operating as a state governmental entity governed by a 9-member elected School Board and cooperating with an appointed 5-member board for the Grand Forks Air Force Base School District. Founded in 1881, the district serves approximately 7,400 students across 17 campuses, including 10 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 2 traditional high schools, 1 alternative high school, 1 combined elementary/middle school, and 1 Head Start program. The workforce totals roughly 1,600 employees, including more than 750 teachers and 850+ support and administrative staff, led by Superintendent Dr. Terry Brenner (the 19th superintendent, with 32 years of service across the cooperative districts).

The district's core product is free public K-12 education, augmented by Career and Technical Education (CTE, including Project Lead the Way), Special Education, a Mental Health Program (Sources of Strength, pet therapy, Unified Mental Health Team), Child Nutrition, Transportation, Multi Lingual Learners, Summer School, and the upcoming Career Impact Academy (Fall 2025). Technology infrastructure is built on industry-standard K-12 platforms: PowerSchool for the student information system, ClassLink for SSO/identity management, NWEA/Renaissance for assessment, GoFan for digital activity ticketing, MySchoolBucks for fee payment, Finalsite for web CMS, and AudioEye plus Weglot for accessibility and multilingual support. The district's technology differentiators emphasize safety and security architecture (Title IX compliance infrastructure, Emergency Response and Crisis Management Systems updated annually from U.S. DOE, FBI, FEMA, Secret Service, ASCA, AFSP, and SPRC guidance) and integration interoperability (Strategic Planning and Accountability Dashboard tied to the North Dakota Insights state accountability platform).

Commercially, GFPS operates as a non-market governmental entity. Revenue derives from local property taxes (111-mill total levy), state foundation aid, federal Impact Aid (notably for military-connected families at Grand Forks AFB), categorical grants, and voter-approved bond proceeds — most recently the $79 million May 2023 referendum covering the new Valley Middle School, a District Central Kitchen, and district-wide safety upgrades. Activity-related fees ($40 student / $80 adult passes via GoFan) and extracurricular participation fees generate a small ancillary revenue layer. Distribution is direct enrollment through assigned schools, with open enrollment, in-district transfers, kindergarten registration, and virtual high school alternatives; international affiliations include EARCOS, the International Baccalaureate (IB World School), JCIS, and NWEA partnerships. The district maintains a wholly-owned Building Authority subsidiary (incorporated January 1992 under North Dakota Century Code Chapter 21-03) for facilities financing.

Name

Grand Forks Public Schools

Legal name

Grand Forks Public School District No. 1 of Grand Forks County, North Dakota

Website

https://gfschools.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1881

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Grand Forks Public Schools is a North Dakota public school district serving approximately 7,400 students across 17 campuses in Grand Forks and Grand Forks Air Force Base, funded by property taxes, state foundation aid, and federal Impact Aid, and operated by a 1,600-person workforce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

akta.pro primary industry

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB), Public Middle Schools (EDAJAAAC), Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD), Head Start & Public Pre-K Programs (EDACABAK), Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)

Keywords

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Forks

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: Government-funded public school district providing free K-12 education to residents. Revenue derives from local property taxes (111 mills total levy), state foundation aid, federal funding including Impact Aid for military families, and categorical grants for special programs. Voter-approved referendums fund capital projects like the $79M bond for Valley Middle School and safety upgrades.
2. Activity and Program Fees: Participation fees charged for athletics, speech, debate, and drama activities. Student activity passes are $40 and adult passes are $80. Additional fees may apply for specific programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Grand Forks Public Schools is a unified public K-12 school district providing free educational services to approximately 7,400 students across 17 campuses in Grand Forks and Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. The district delivers academic curriculum, career and technical education, special education, mental health support, child nutrition, and transportation services from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. It is governed by an elected school board and funded through local property taxes, state foundation aid, and federal Impact Aid.

Product overview

Grand Forks Public Schools is a unified school district serving approximately 7,400 students across two districts (Grand Forks and Grand Forks Air Force Base). The district operates a portfolio of educational products including: two traditional high schools (Grand Forks Central and Red River), one alternative high school (Community High), three middle schools (Valley, Schroeder, South), one combined elementary/middle school (Nathan Twining), ten elementary schools, and one Head Start program. Supporting programs include Career Impact Academy (CTE), Special Education services, Mental Health Program, Child Nutrition Program, Transportation, Multi Lingual Learners Program, Summer School, and Choice Ready career readiness. The district is undergoing major capital projects including a new $55 million Valley Middle School and a new Career Impact Academy opening Fall 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grand Forks Central High School Traditional 9-12 high school serving the Grand Forks community, providing standard academic curriculum, athletics, and extracurricular activities for high school students.
• Red River High School Traditional 9-12 high school serving the Grand Forks community, offering core academic courses, career pathways, athletics, and student activities.
• Community High School Alternative high school program for students seeking alternative educational pathways, including Adult Learning Center for adult learners seeking high school completion.
• Career Impact Academy Career and technical education facility offering contemporary courses in STEM, engineering, precision agriculture, expanded medical careers, and culinary arts for high school students.
• Valley Middle School Grades 6-8 middle school currently undergoing $55 million reconstruction project with anticipated move-in date December 2025/January 2026.
• Schroeder Middle School Grades 6-8 middle school serving the Grand Forks community.
• South Middle School Grades 6-8 middle school serving the Grand Forks community.
• Nathan Twining Elementary & Middle School Combined elementary and middle school serving Grand Forks Air Force Base; new school in planning and design phases with anticipated groundbreaking Spring 2025-Fall 2025.
• Elementary Schools Ten elementary schools (Ben Franklin, Century, Discovery, Kelly, Lake Agassiz, Lewis & Clark, Phoenix, Viking, Wilder, Winship) serving Pre-K through grade 5.
• Head Start Program Pre-kindergarten early childhood education program for young learners.
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) Vocational and technical education programs including Project Lead the Way, career centers, job shadowing, and work-based learning opportunities for secondary students.
• Special Education Comprehensive special education services including related services, programs, early childhood special education, school psychology, and Adult Transition Program for students with disabilities.
• Mental Health Program Student mental health support including social-emotional learning, suicide prevention, pet therapy, Sources of Strength, and Unified Mental Health Team.
• Child Nutrition Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 96%+ average daily attendance rate, exceeding state and national averages
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational education network membership providing professional development, conferences, and collaboration opportunities with schools across Asia.
• International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict holds IB World School status including IB Continuum, IB Programme, and International Spanish Academy Program designations.
• Japan Council of International Schools (JCIS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational education network membership connecting with Japanese international schools.
• Grand Forks Police DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHandle with Care Program partnership allowing police to notify schools when students are involved in incidents without sharing protected information. Also includes Text-A-Tip program and School Resource Officers at middle and high schools.
• University of North DakotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuperintendent Dr. Terry Brenner served as adjunct assistant professor at UND. Partnership for teacher education and professional development opportunities.
• Grand Forks Foundation for EducationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit foundation supporting education through alumni network, Teacher Hall of Fame, employee recognition awards ($100 per Employee of Quarter and Teacher of Year recipients), and Red Cent subscription program.
• Altru Health SystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Therapeutic Learning Center (TLC) serving K-8 students with significant mental health disorders requiring intervention beyond standard school resources. GFPS provides two full-time teaching positions.
• Grand Forks Park DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity collaboration for year-round activities and programs for K-12 students, complementing school district offerings.
• Various Community OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVarious community-led organizations providing additional programs and activities for students alongside school district and Park District offerings.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• West Fargo Public Schools: Another large North Dakota K-12 public school district serving the Fargo metro with a similarly diverse student population and a record of rapid growth-driven capital expansion. Useful peer for comparing voter-approved bond strategy, facility expansion, and demographic pressure management.
• Fargo Public Schools: The largest K-12 public school district in North Dakota, also serving a metro area with a significant military/air base presence (Fargo Air National Guard). Comparable in structure (public school district under ND law, multi-school portfolio, CTE offerings, capital project execution) and is the most direct operational peer for benchmarking scale, governance, and funding model.
• Bismarck Public Schools: North Dakota's second-largest K-12 public school district, with a comparable portfolio of elementary, middle, and high schools, similar CTE emphasis, and similar state funding mechanics. Directly comparable for enrollment scale, capital planning, and academic outcomes benchmarking.
• Moorhead Area Public Schools: Minnesota public school district immediately across the river from Fargo and part of the same metropolitan labor market as Grand Forks-adjacent communities. Operates under a neighboring state's funding model but offers a directly comparable K-12 portfolio, CTE programs, and community-referendum-based capital planning model.
• Grand Forks Air Force Base School District: The separately governed K-12 district serving Grand Forks AFB that operates under a unique cooperative arrangement with Grand Forks Public Schools. The two districts share facilities, programs, and leadership resources while maintaining distinct boards, making it the most operationally entangled peer.
• Devils Lake Public School District: Smaller North Dakota public school district from which Superintendent Dr. Terry Brenner previously served. Provides a comparable governance, funding, and operational structure for benchmarking rural-adjacent K-12 operations in the same state.
• Minot Public Schools: Mid-sized North Dakota public school district serving a community with an Air Force base (Minot AFB). Comparable in size tier, military-family integration, and CTE offerings; useful peer for Impact Aid and base-community education dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• North Dakota Department of Public Instruction: State-level education agency that administers foundation aid, accountability reporting (ND Insights), and regulatory oversight for all North Dakota K-12 public schools including Grand Forks. Acts as the regulator, primary funding conduit, and accountability framework — a structural counterpart rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GFSchools
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GFSchools
• Facebookfacebook.com/GrandForksPublicSchools
• Instagraminstagram.com/grandforkspublicschools/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Grand Forks Public Schools