Harbor City International Charter School

What Harbor City International Charter School does

Harbor City International Charter School (HCIS) is a tuition-free public charter school serving grades 7-12 from a single site at 332 West Michigan Street in the Historic Duluth Plumbing Supply Building in downtown Duluth, Minnesota. The school is capped at 250 students and employs roughly 40 staff, delivering a seven-period college-preparatory curriculum requiring 25.5 credits to graduate, augmented by a distinctive Symposium model of three week-long, single-subject immersive learning experiences per year. Core academic offerings include AP courses, College in the Schools (CITS) credit taught by HCIS faculty in partnership with Lake Superior College, and Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) courses taken on the University of Minnesota Duluth campus; the school also runs a robust arts program (choir, jazz band, string band, theater, visual arts), a special education department, free breakfast and lunch for all students, and free DTA transit passes for every enrolled student.

The school's commercial activity is not market-based in the conventional sense. Revenue is generated almost entirely through Minnesota per-pupil state aid, federal Title and special-education funding, and modest private grants and donations — a recurring, enrollment-driven model with no tuition pricing. Go-to-market is direct-to-family: enrollment is handled via Google Form applications with a lottery when demand exceeds the 250-student cap, supported by an Edlio-hosted website, Facebook and Instagram channels, and periodic open houses and information nights. Underlying technology is commodity K-12 infrastructure (PowerSchool SIS, Google Workspace, NWEA MAP Growth, Edlio CMS) with no proprietary platform, AI/ML capability, or external API surface. Governance is by an independent Board of Directors under Minnesota charter law, with no parent company, private equity involvement, or M&A history disclosed.

Name

Harbor City International Charter School

Legal name

Harbor City International School

Website

https://harborcityschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Harbor City International Charter School is a tuition-free public charter school serving grades 7-12 in downtown Duluth, Minnesota, capped at 250 students and funded primarily by Minnesota per-pupil state aid. It delivers college-preparatory academics, a Symposium immersive-learning model, arts, and college-credit pathways (AP, CITS, PSEO).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Charter School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools (EDAJACAK)

Keywords

• Charter school education
• College preparatory programs
• Public high school
• Experiential learning programs
• Arts and music education

Headquarters

HQ city

Duluth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil State Funding: Public charter schools in Minnesota receive per-pupil state funding based on student enrollment, which is the primary revenue source
2. Federal Funding: Federal funding for Title programs, special education, and other federal education grants
3. Private Grants and Donations: Charter schools may receive additional funding from philanthropic organizations and community donations; school maintains donation page and receives support through platforms like Donors Choose

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Harbor City International School is a tuition-free public charter school serving grades 7-12 in Duluth, Minnesota, delivering college preparatory academics, immersive Symposium weeks, comprehensive arts programming, and dual-credit college opportunities through AP, CITS, and PSEO pathways. Core offerings include a seven-period daily academic structure with 25.5 credits required for graduation, the unique Symposium Model (three annual week-long single-subject immersive experiences), music, theater, and visual arts programs, special education services, free breakfast and lunch, and free DTA transit passes for all students.

Product overview

Harbor City International School is a tuition-free public charter school serving grades 7-12 in Duluth, MN, with approximately 250 students. The school offers a comprehensive educational program centered on rigorous academics, experiential symposiums, robust arts programs (music, theater, visual arts), and college credit-earning opportunities through AP, CITS, and PSEO programs. Core programs include the unique Symposium model where students participate in week-long immersive learning experiences three times yearly, a full music program with choir, band, and string ensembles, theater productions, special education services, and student nutrition. The school emphasizes character development through its 5R's values (Respect, Responsibility, Relationship, Reach, Resilience) and provides free DTA transit passes for all students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Core Academic Program (7th-12th Grade)

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked #20 high school in Minnesota and #1 in Duluth
• +2 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

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Lake Superior CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for College in the Schools (CITS) courses allowing students to earn college credits. CITS Music History and Listening, CITS College Writing, CITS Chemistry, and CITS European History are taught by HCIS teachers directly through Lake Superior College.
• University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPSEO (Postsecondary Enrollment Options) partner allowing eligible students to take college courses at UMD campus for both high school and college credit.
• Duluth Transit Authority (DTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvery student receives a free DTA transit pass providing full access to the entire Duluth bus route network. HCIS staff stationed at Duluth Transit Center at beginning and end of school day. Partnership supports student transportation, independence, and environmental sustainability.
• Superior Hiking Trail AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerService learning partner for trail restoration projects through Service Learning Symposiums. Students contribute to trail maintenance and wilderness conservation efforts.
• Habitat for HumanitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerService learning partner for home building projects. Students participate in hands-on construction experience while supporting affordable housing in the community.
• Loaves and FishescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerService learning partner for meal preparation and community nutrition support. Students gain culinary and service experience while addressing food insecurity.
• Duluth Folk SchoolsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for String Band and Dance program. Students attend community dances at the Duluth Folk School as part of Appalachian folk tradition curriculum.
• Waankam: People for the EstuarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental education partner helping students learn about Rights of Nature for the St. Louis River Estuary. Students spend time in the estuary and create art about organisms living there for collaborative gallery exhibitions.
• Climate GenerationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents participate in Climate Generation's Youth Climate Justice Summit in St. Paul, learning about environmental justice, climate policy, and youth advocacy.
• Youth Eco SolutionssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents participate in Youth Eco Solutions programming including GIS mapping, soil and pollinator health exploration, and team building activities at Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center.
• Denfeld High SchoolminorOthersLunch meals contracted through Denfeld High School for HCIS students. Menu available through ISD 709's menu system.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HarborCityInternationalSchool
• Instagraminstagram.com/harborcityintlschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harbor-city-international-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Harbor City International Charter School