Winnetka Public Schools-District 36

What Winnetka Public Schools-District 36 does

The Winnetka Public Schools (District 36) is a K-8 public school district located in Winnetka, Illinois, serving 1,777 students across five schools: Crow Island, Greeley, and Hubbard Woods (grades K-4), The Skokie School (grades 5-6), and Carleton Washburne School (grades 7-8). Founded in 1859, the district markets itself as the country's oldest and only public school system committed to a Progressive Education philosophy, anchored by the "Winnetka Plan" developed under Superintendent Carleton W. Washburne beginning in 1919. The district is governed by an elected Board of Education and operates under the Illinois State Board of Education; it is funded primarily by local property taxes, supplemented by state aid and federal grants. It employs 405 staff and offers core academic programs alongside music education (Elementary Strings, Orchestra, Band and Jazz), parent education through the Winnetka Parents Institute, and community engagement via the Winnetka Voices podcast and alumni spotlight program.

The district runs a conventional K-12 administrative technology stack rather than a proprietary platform. Core systems include PowerSchool as the student information system, RevTrak for online fee payment, Finalsite as the website CMS, Blackboard for emergency closing communications, and Google Workspace for forms and collaboration. A district-branded mobile app (iOS and Android) supports absence reporting, calendar access, and news distribution. Operational features include an e-Learning/Distance Learning Platform for emergency closures, a snapcode-based online registration portal for annual enrollment, and a quarterly KPI dashboard tied to the Strategic Plan 2025-2030.

The district's commercial revenue model is limited. The vast majority of operating funding comes from property taxes, with smaller recurring streams from required student activity fees, parent-paid Right At School before/after care ($89-$479/month), and the Adventures in Learning summer program ($800 residents / $855 non-residents). Distribution is direct via the five district schools plus an online registration portal; before/after care is delivered through a third-party partnership with Right At School. There is no commercial sales motion beyond tuition-bearing optional programs, and the customer base is the resident families of Winnetka, Illinois.

Name

Winnetka Public Schools-District 36

Legal name

Winnetka School District 36

Website

https://winnetka36.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1859

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Winnetka Public Schools-District 36 is a K-8 public school district in Winnetka, Illinois, serving 1,777 students across five schools with a Progressive Education philosophy, funded primarily by property taxes and offering supplementary fee-based programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-8 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB), Public Middle Schools (EDAJAAAC)

Keywords

• Public K-8 education
• Progressive education
• Elementary school district
• Before after school care
• School district services

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnetka

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: Primary funding source for public school district operations
2. Student Activity Fees: Required activity fees for grades K-8 supporting field trips, planners, magazine subscriptions, outdoor education, class parties, and instructional supplies
3. Before/After School Care Fees: Parent-paid Right At School program fees ranging from $89-$479/month depending on frequency
4. Summer Program Fees: Adventures in Learning summer programs - $800 for residents, $855 for non-residents

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Winnetka Public Schools-District 36 delivers tuition-free K-8 public education to 1,777 students across five schools, grounded in a Progressive Education philosophy maintained since 1919. The district supplements core academics with enrichment programs including music education, athletics, before- and after-school care (Adventures in Learning), and special education services. Operations are funded primarily through local property taxes, state aid, and federal grants, with select fee-based and donation-supported programs.

Product overview

Winnetka Public Schools District 36 is a K-8 public school district operating five schools: three K-4 elementary schools (Crow Island, Greeley, Hubbard Woods), one 5-6 middle school (The Skokie), and one 7-8 junior high (Carleton Washburne). The district offers a portfolio of core educational programs and supplementary services including music programs (Elementary Strings, Orchestra, Band and Jazz), before/after-school care (Right At School partnership), summer enrichment (Adventures In Learning), parent education (Winnetka Parents Institute), and community engagement platforms (Winnetka Voices podcast, My Why staff stories, Painting Our Portrait recognition). Administrative services include PowerSchool student information portal and RevTrak fee payment system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Carleton Washburne School: Middle school serving grades 7-8
• Crow Island School
• Greeley School
• Hubbard Woods School
• The Skokie School
• Winnetka Voices
• Winnetka Parents Institute (WPI)
• Adventures In Learning
• Right At School

Products and services

• K-8 Public Education Tuition-free K-8 public education delivered across five schools to approximately 1,777 students, grounded in the Progressive Education philosophy in place since 1919. The program covers core academics across elementary and middle school grades and is available to families residing within district boundaries.
• Adventures in Learning (Before- and After-School Care)

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Right At SchoolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBefore- and after-school care provider partnering with the district since before 2021. Operates Discovery Club after-school classes and full-day care programs at district schools. Registration managed through their platform.
• PowerSchoolcoreTechnology or IntegrationStudent information system used for enrollment registration, grade management, and parent portal access.
• RevTrakcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline payment platform for student fees, registration fees, and before/after school care payments.
• FinalsitecoreTechnology or IntegrationWebsite platform powering the district's main website with content management capabilities.
• Suzuki Association of the AmericasminorOthersAffiliation with Suzuki music education method and resources for elementary strings program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Francis W. Parker School: Independent progressive K-12 school in Chicago founded on John Dewey principles; shares an explicit progressive-education philosophy and competes for the same educationally motivated families across Chicagoland.
• Sunset Ridge School District 29: Small North Shore K-8 public district serving Northfield and neighboring communities; comparable affluent K-8 district feeding into New Trier high school.
• North Shore Country Day School: A private K-8 (with high school) progressive school located in Winnetka itself; the most direct competitor for progressive-Education-oriented families in the same catchment.
• Lake Forest School District 67: Affluent North Shore K-8 public district serving approximately 2,000 students; similar demographic profile, similar feeder pattern into Lake Forest High School, and comparable per-pupil resourcing.
• Kenilworth School District 38: A small affluent North Shore K-8 public district serving the Village of Kenilworth; shares the same high-income, progressive-education-oriented family base and feeds into New Trier high school.
• Glencoe School District 35: A nearby North Shore K-8 public school district serving roughly 1,100-1,200 students with comparable demographics and progressive traditions; the most directly comparable peer in size, mission, and catchment.
• Avery Coonley School: Independent progressive K-8 school in Downers Grove with a long progressive-education heritage; comparable as an alternative progressive K-8 provider serving Chicago-area families.
• University of Chicago Lab Schools: University-affiliated K-12 progressive school with deep roots in Deweyan experiential learning philosophy; highly comparable as a model and competitor for progressive families.

Regional players

• New Trier Township High School District 203: The high school district that Winnetka 36 graduates feed into; essential ecosystem partner and a direct comparator on funding scale (~$130M+ annual budget) and academic outcomes.

Others

• Illinois State Board of Education: State-level regulatory and funding authority for all Illinois public school districts, including Winnetka 36; defines the funding formula, accountability rules, and policy environment within which the district operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/winnetka36
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@thewinnetkapublicschools3762
• Facebookfacebook.com/winnetka36
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/winnetka-public-schools-district-36/?viewAsMember=true
• Instagraminstagram.com/winnetkapublicschools

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Winnetka Public Schools-District 36