Paola USD 368

What Paola USD 368 does

Paola USD 368 (Paola Unified School District 368) is a public K-12 school district headquartered in Paola, Kansas (Miami County), approximately twenty minutes south of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The district serves roughly 2,000 students across four schools: Cottonwood Elementary (K-2), Sunflower Elementary (3-5, designated a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School), Paola Middle School (6-8), and Paola High School (9-12, with a 100% graduation rate sustained for three consecutive years). It also operates the Hillsdale Learning Center, which houses the Parents as Teachers program serving prenatal-to-kindergarten families across a 10-district consortium in East Central Kansas.

The district's operating model is that of a government entity funded primarily by Kansas state equalization aid (based on enrollment and property valuation) and local property tax mill levies, with no tuition charged to in-district residents. The technology stack includes a district-wide 1:1 Chromebook program, the Infinite Campus student information system, Google Workspace for Education, Securly web filtering, Frontline absence management, and the Taher Food Service management platform for meal programs. Transportation is contracted to Kansas Central School Bus Company. Specialized services include special education through the East Central KS SPED Coop, mental health counseling, Title I support, gifted education, and career/technical education pathways including FFA, FBLA, FCCLA, and robotics.

The district is governed by an elected Board of Education with statutory geographic monopoly on public K-12 instruction within its boundaries. The USD 368 Endowment Association, founded in 1983 as the first incorporated public school district endowment in Kansas, provides over $300,000 in annual community-funded scholarships and has distributed more than $1.5 million cumulatively. Enrollment-based open enrollment for out-of-district students is available during a designated annual window (January 1 – June 15). The district has no venture, private equity, or individual ownership — it is a Kansas government entity under Kansas State Department of Education oversight.

Name

Paola USD 368

Legal name

Paola Unified School District 368

Website

https://usd368.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Paola USD 368 is a public K-12 school district in Paola, Kansas, serving approximately 2,000 students across four schools (two elementary, one middle, one high) funded by state equalization aid and local property taxes, with no tuition charged to district residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB)

Keywords

• Public K-12 education
• School district services
• Early childhood programs
• Special education services
• Community-funded scholarships

Headquarters

HQ city

Paola

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. State Equalization Aid: Primary funding from Kansas state equalization aid based on enrollment and property valuation
2. Local Property Tax Revenue: Local property tax mill levy supporting district operations and facilities
3. Endowment and Scholarships: Community-funded endowment providing over $300,000 annually in scholarships to graduates through the USD 368 Endowment Association, founded 1983

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Paola USD 368 is a public school district operating four schools (Cottonwood Elementary K-2, Sunflower Elementary 3-5, Paola Middle School 6-8, and Paola High School 9-12) plus the Hillsdale Learning Center, serving approximately 2,000 students in Miami County, Kansas. The district delivers tuition-free K-12 public education, a 1:1 Chromebook program, athletic and CTE activities, food service, transportation, special education, and a Parents as Teachers early childhood program for prenatal-to-kindergarten families.

Product overview

Paola USD 368 is a public school district serving approximately 2,000 students in Paola, Kansas, located twenty minutes south of the Kansas City suburban area. The district operates two elementary schools (Cottonwood Elementary K-2 and Sunflower Elementary 3-5, the latter a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School), Paola Middle School (grades 6-8), Paola High School (grades 9-12, achieving 100% graduation rate), and Hillsdale Learning Center. The district also offers a Parents as Teachers program for prenatal-to-kindergarten families. Educational programs include a 1:1 Chromebook initiative, comprehensive athletics and activities programs, food service managed by Taher Food Service, and transportation via Kansas Central School Bus Company. The USD 368 Endowment Association provides community-funded scholarships exceeding $1.5 million since 1983.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cottonwood Elementary School Public elementary school serving students in grades K-2 at 709 Hedge Lane, Paola, Kansas, providing foundation literacy, social-emotional development, special education, Title I, gifted education, music, art, and physical education programs.
• Sunflower Elementary School Public elementary school serving students in grades 3-5 at 1401 E 303rd Street, Paola, Kansas; designated as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School for academic excellence.
• Paola Middle School Public middle school serving students in grades 6-8 at 405 North Hospital Drive, Paola, Kansas (Home of the Panthers), offering comprehensive academics, athletics, clubs, and career exploration.
• Paola High School Public high school serving students in grades 9-12 in Paola, Kansas, with college prep, career pathways, concurrent enrollment, fine arts, athletics, and CTE programs; has achieved a 100% graduation rate for three consecutive years.
• Hillsdale Learning Center Alternative education and adult education facility located in Hillsdale, Kansas, that also houses the district's Parents as Teachers program serving families prenatal to kindergarten entry.
• Parents as Teachers Program Free voluntary early childhood program serving children prenatal to kindergarten entry across a 10-district consortium (Spring Hill, West Franklin, Central Heights, Pleasanton, Jayhawk, Prairie View, Garnett, Osawatomie, Paola, and Louisburg), providing developmental screening and family support. Recognized as a 2023 Parents as Teachers Blue Ribbon Affiliate.
• USD 368 1:1 Chromebook Program District-wide 1-to-1 technology initiative providing Chromebooks to students for educational purposes across all schools.
• Athletics and Activities Programs Comprehensive extracurricular programs including athletic offerings (basketball, football, volleyball, track, cross country, wrestling) and activities (band, choir, drama, FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, Robotics, Scholars' Bowl) for district students.
• Food Service Program District-wide meal service program managed by Taher Food Service, offering breakfast and lunch menus with accommodations for special diets and a Summer Food Service Program.
• Student Transportation Services Student transportation services provided through contracted Kansas Central School Bus Company, including regular routes and a pay-rider program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% graduation rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE)coreOthersRegulatory oversight and funding partner. District operates under KSDE guidelines and reports accountability data through KSDE systems.
• Kansas Central School Bus CompanycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContracted transportation provider for student bus services. Kitty Anderson serves as Contract Manager. Emergency after-hours line available at 816-258-0267.
• East Central KS SPED CoopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial education cooperative providing shared services for students with special needs across multiple districts in East Central Kansas.
• Parents as Teachers Consortium (10 Districts)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSD 368 serves as the consortium lead for Parents as Teachers program serving 10 districts: Spring Hill, West Franklin, Central Heights, Pleasanton, Jayhawk, Prairie View, Garnett, Osawatomie, Paola, and Louisburg. Director Callie Hoffman located at Hillsdale Learning Center.
• Foster Grandparents ProgramminorOthersIntergenerational program connecting senior citizens (55+) with students in schools. Seniors receive stipend for volunteering. Contact: Jennifer Haley, Program Director at 913-294-3880.
• TeamMates Mentoring ProgramminorOthersMentoring program connecting community volunteers with students in grades 3-12. Mentors visit schools weekly. Contact: Jena Selley at [email protected].
• Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on foster care student transportation and educational stability per ESSA requirements. Amy Wright serves as District Foster Care Liaison.
• Infinite CampuscoreTechnology or IntegrationStudent information system used for enrollment, grade reporting, and parent portal access (Infinite Campus Portal). Both parents and staff access through dedicated login portals.
• Frontline EducationcoreTechnology or IntegrationAbsence management and substitute teacher placement system. Staff access through Frontline login portal for absence requests and substitute dispatch.
• Taher Food ServicecoreTechnology or IntegrationFood service management company providing school meals. Bo Stephenson serves as Taher Food Service Director. Menus and payment through TaherFood4Life platform.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Louisburg USD 416: Neighboring Miami County Kansas school district and Parents as Teachers consortium partner with Paola USD 368. Closest geographic and structural comparable, with similar enrollment scale and rural-suburban mix, making it the most direct competitor for open enrollment students and teachers.
• Osawatomie USD 367: Adjacent Miami County Kansas district and Parents as Teachers consortium partner. Similar size and demographic profile to Paola USD 368, with direct competition for open enrollment students and shared regional labor market dynamics.
• Jayhawk USD 346: Parents as Teachers consortium partner in southeast Kansas with a similar rural K-12 structure and student population to Paola USD 368, sharing comparable funding and demographic pressures.
• Garnett USD 365: Parents as Teachers consortium partner in Anderson County, Kansas, comparable in size, rural setting, and K-12 structure to Paola USD 368.
• Spring Hill USD 230: Johnson/Miami County district and Parents as Teachers consortium partner. Larger and faster-growing than Paola USD 368, Spring Hill represents a competitive suburban district for open enrollment families and a structural competitor for teacher recruitment in the southern KC metro.
• Central Heights USD 288: Parents as Teachers consortium partner in eastern Kansas, comparable rural-suburban district with similar operational structure to Paola USD 368.
• Pleasanton USD 344: Parents as Teachers consortium partner in southeast Kansas with a comparable rural K-12 structure, similar student population size, and overlapping operational challenges to Paola USD 368.
• West Franklin USD 287: Parents as Teachers consortium partner located in eastern Kansas. Comparable in size, rural setting, and K-12 structure to Paola USD 368, making it a useful benchmark for funding, staffing, and academic outcomes.
• Prairie View USD 362: Parents as Teachers consortium partner district in the KC metro region with similar size and operational structure to Paola USD 368, serving as another regional benchmark.

Broad incumbents

• Olathe USD 233: Large suburban Johnson County district 30 miles north of Paola. While not a direct geographic competitor, Olathe represents the suburban growth alternative for Paola-area families and a major competitor for teachers, making it a structural peer for talent competition and enrollment trends.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/people/USD-368-Paola/100084607759952

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Paola USD 368