Winona Area Public Schools

What Winona Area Public Schools does

Winona Area Public Schools (District 861) is a publicly funded K-12 school district established in 1861 and headquartered at 903 Gilmore Avenue in Winona, Minnesota. The district operates as a government entity under Minnesota state jurisdiction, funded through state aid, local property taxes, and federal grants, with no parent company or private equity ownership. It serves students from birth through age 22 across six schools: Goodview Elementary (K-4), Jefferson Elementary (1-4, housing the Ríos Spanish Immersion program), Washington-Kosciusko Elementary (1-4), Winona Middle School (5-8), Winona Senior High School (9-12), and the Winona Area Learning Center (alternative education). The district also delivers early childhood services (ECFE, Community Kids Preschool) and Community Education programs (Key Kids Child Care, Herky Bus, adult programs, facility rentals) that extend the addressable footprint beyond K-12 enrollment.

Instructional delivery is anchored on a 1:1 device program using iPads for grades K-2 and Chromebooks for grades 3-12, integrated with Google Workspace for Education, Schoology LMS, and the Infinite Campus student information system, with content filtering enabled on all school-issued devices both on and off campus. Specialized academic programs include the Ríos Spanish Dual Language Immersion Program (90% Spanish instruction in K-2, extending through grade 12), Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) for college readiness, the Forging a Future Career and Technical Education (CTE) initiative, Advanced Placement courses, and concurrent enrollment with the University of Minnesota. Support services include Title I academic support, Special Education services from birth to age 22, Student Health Services (partnered with Winona Health), and Minnesota's Free School Meals Program providing universal free breakfast and lunch. Pupil transportation is outsourced to First Student, and the district maintains formal partnerships with Winona State University, Saint Mary's University, Live Well Winona, Home and Community Options, Fastenal (CTE sponsor), and Hiawatha Broadband Communications (subsidized home internet for low-income families).

Name

Winona Area Public Schools

Legal name

Winona Area Public Schools

Website

https://winonaschools.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1861

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Winona Area Public Schools (District 861) is a publicly funded K-12 school district in Winona, Minnesota, established in 1861, serving students from birth through age 22 across six schools plus early childhood, special education, and community education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), 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 K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE), Public Alternative, Continuation & Credit-Recovery Schools (EDAJAAAG)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• Early childhood programs
• Special education services
• Dual language immersion
• Community education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Winona

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Winona Area Public Schools is a publicly funded K-12 school district that delivers comprehensive general education across three elementary schools, one middle school, one senior high school, and an alternative learning center, plus early childhood services, special education, career and technical education, dual language immersion, school nutrition, and community education. The district supplements classroom learning through a 1:1 device program, English language development, gifted and talented enrichment, and concurrent enrollment partnerships with the University of Minnesota.

Product overview

Winona Area Public Schools operates as a traditional K-12 public school district offering a comprehensive educational portfolio. The core educational offerings include general K-12 instruction across six schools (Goodview Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Washington-Kosciusko Elementary, Winona Middle School, Winona Senior High School, and Winona Area Learning Center), supplemented by specialized choice programs such as the Ríos Spanish Dual Language Immersion Program. Early childhood services include Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) and Community Kids Preschool. College and career readiness is supported through AVID, Career and Technical Education pathways, Advanced Placement courses, and Concurrent Enrollment with the University of Minnesota. The district provides essential support services including Special Education (birth-22), Title I academic support, School Nutrition (free meals for all students), Student Health Services, and a 1:1 Technology Program with Chromebooks and iPads. Community Education extends programming to adults and families through various enrichment activities and facility rentals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Winhawk: The mascot name for Winona Area Public Schools athletic teams and activities.

Products and services

• K-12 General Education Comprehensive K-12 educational programs serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade across three elementary schools, one middle school, one senior high school, and an area learning center, providing academic instruction, extracurricular activities, and student support services to resident students.
• Ríos Spanish Dual Language Immersion Program K-12 choice program providing educational experiences that support academic and linguistic development in two languages, with 90% of K-2 academic time conducted in Spanish, developing students' appreciation of their own and other cultures across the elementary, middle, and high school continuum.
• Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) Early childhood programs serving young children and their families, including Early Childhood Screening for children turning three by September 1 with vision, hearing, growth, development, and speech screening, plus health and nutrition consultations.
• Community Kids Preschool Fee-based preschool program for young children providing early learning education and developmental support services as part of the Community Education portfolio.
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) / Forging a Future Career pathways and technical education programs providing students with 21st century skills and career readiness through sequenced courses and work experience opportunities, supported by local business pledges including Fastenal's backing of the Forging a Future initiative.
• Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) College readiness program that holds students accountable to high standards, provides academic and social support, and develops positive peer groups for students traditionally underrepresented in higher education.
• Special Education Services Continuum of services supporting students from birth until age 22 with disabilities including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Cognitive Disabilities, Emotional/Behavior Disability, Speech/Language Impairments, and related services such as occupational/physical therapy, coordinated through dedicated special education staff.
• Title I Programs Federally funded program through the Elementary and Secondary Act providing support to students performing below grade level in reading and/or math, designed to help students succeed in the regular classroom and reach grade level performance.
• School Nutrition Program Free breakfast and lunch program for all students through Minnesota's Free School Meals Program, offering nutritious meals meeting Dietary Guidelines for Americans standards, with a la carte options at middle and high schools and second meals charged at an adult rate.
• Student Health Services District-wide student health services including vision and hearing screening, immunization monitoring, communicable disease management, medication administration, and school-based health clinics operated in partnership with Winona Health.
• Homeschool Education Support Support services for homeschooling families including access to the Aids to Nonpublic Students program, standardized testing, and participation in extracurricular activities. State aid is available per pupil for textbooks and instructional materials, pupil health services, and secondary guidance and counseling services.
• Community Education Community education programs including Adult Programs, Herky Bus transportation service, Key Kids Child Care, Youth Programs, Summer Camps & Programs, and Facility Use & Rental services offered to community members beyond enrolled K-12 students.
• 1:1 Technology Program One-to-one technology device program providing Apple iPads for grades K-2, Chromebooks for grades 3-6, and personal Chromebooks for grades 7-12 for use at school and home, with Google Workspace for Education integration and district-managed internet content filtering on all school-issued devices on and off campus.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• Winona State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education institution providing student teaching and field experience placements for pre-service teachers. Receives student teachers and interns for clinical practice experiences in district classrooms.
• Saint Mary's UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education institution providing student teaching and field experience placements. Partners with district for clinical practice experiences for education students.
• Live Well WinonamoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partner providing services and programming in classrooms to students in partnership with the district.
• Home and Community OptionsmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization providing services and programming in classrooms to students in partnership with the district.
• FastenalmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business pledging ongoing support for the Forging a Future initiative, which provides career and technical education pathways for students.
• Hiawatha Broadband Communications (HBC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffering affordable Internet access to WAPS families through their HBC Internet Assistance Program for families enrolled in free/reduced lunch programs.
• First StudentcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPupil transportation contractor for Winona Area Public Schools providing school bus services. Located at 1160 Frontenac Drive, Winona MN 55987.

Scale indicators2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Eau Claire Area School District: Wisconsin public K-12 school district of comparable scale. While operating under a different state regulatory regime, it competes for the same regional teaching talent and serves a similar mid-size community footprint.
• La Crosse School District: Wisconsin public K-12 school district serving the La Crosse metropolitan area directly across the Mississippi River from Winona. Operates under a different state funding framework but draws from the same regional labor and family market, making it a relevant geographic adjacency peer.

Others

• Fastenal: Headquartered in Winona, Minnesota, and an active Forging a Future CTE partner. While not a direct education peer, Fastenal's local presence underpins the district's career pathway partnerships and represents the largest local employer tied to the district's CTE strategy.
• Minnesota Department of Education: State-level regulator and primary author of the per-pupil funding formula, graduation standards, and accountability frameworks that govern WAPS operations. Not a competitive peer but a structural counterpart whose policy decisions directly shape WAPS's operating environment.
• Hiawatha Broadband Communications (HBC): Regional broadband provider offering the HBC Internet Assistance Program to WAPS families on free/reduced lunch. While not a peer school district, it is an enabling ecosystem partner whose infrastructure directly supports the district's 1:1 device and at-home learning model.

Direct peers

• Mankato Area Public Schools: Minnesota public K-12 school district of similar scale to WAPS, operating multiple schools and choice programs. Shares the same state aid formulas, open-enrollment dynamics, and competitive set for families in southern Minnesota.
• Faribault Public Schools: Minnesota public school district of comparable scale and demographic profile. Operates multiple schools under the same state funding system with overlapping competitive dynamics for regional K-12 enrollment.
• Rochester Public Schools: Minnesota public K-12 school district serving a comparable regional city. Operates multiple elementary, middle, and high schools under the same state funding framework and regulatory regime as Winona Area Public Schools, making it the most directly comparable Minnesota district peer.
• Owatonna Public Schools: Minnesota public school district of comparable size and structure. Operates under the same state regulatory and funding framework with a similar mix of elementary, middle, and high schools serving a mid-size regional community.
• Red Wing Public Schools: Minnesota public school district serving a similarly sized Mississippi River community near Winona. Provides a directly comparable benchmark for enrollment scale, program offerings, and per-pupil funding dynamics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WAPS861
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/winonaschools
• Instagraminstagram.com/winonaschools
• Xx.com/waps861

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries9 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 Winona Area Public Schools