Ball High School

What Ball High School does

Ball High School is a public secondary school serving approximately 2,000 students in grades 9-12 in Galveston, Texas, operating under the Galveston Independent School District (GISD). Founded in 1884 as the second-oldest high school in Texas, the school has operated at its current location at 4115 Avenue O since 1955. The institution maintains a 15:1 student-to-teacher ratio across approximately 230 staff members (130 teachers, 100 other staff) and serves as the primary public high school for district residents through geographic attendance zones.

The school's core academic portfolio comprises Honors, Advanced Placement (AP), and Dual Credit programs, with 24+ dual credit courses delivered in partnership with Galveston College covering subjects including anatomy, biology, calculus, chemistry, English, government, history, physics, and psychology. The College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) framework integrates college counseling, career and technical education (CTE), and JROTC pathways, supported by a CCMR Specialist and Campus Military Liaison. A standout operational asset is the Fabrication Lab (FabLab), equipped with professional-grade digital fabrication tools including a Universal Systems 60W laser cutter, GlowForge, OtherMill CNC, ShopBot 24 CNC, Ultimaker and MakerBot 3D printers, a Lincoln Electric 4400 plasma cutting table, electronics prototyping stations (Raspberry Pi, Arduino), and a Logic Trace digitizer. Athletic, fine arts (band, choir, dance, theater), and 30+ extracurricular clubs round out the student experience. The JROTC program holds an 8-year Honor Unit designation.

Revenue is derived primarily through public education funding channels — local property taxes, state aid tied to attendance and CCMR performance metrics, and federal education grants — flowing through the parent entity, Galveston ISD. As a public school there is no tuition. Minor revenue streams include AP exam fees ($103 per exam for 2026, $26 for economically disadvantaged students), Galveston College-set dual credit tuition, and optional Chromebook device protection insurance. The school deploys enterprise software including Skyward (student information), ParentSquare/StudentSquare (parent-school communication), and standard library/media systems, with no disclosed AI/ML capabilities.

Name

Ball High School

Legal name

Ball High School

Website

https://ball.gisd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1884

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ball High School is a public secondary school in Galveston, Texas, serving approximately 2,000 grades 9-12 students within Galveston ISD. Founded in 1884 as the second-oldest high school in Texas, it offers AP, dual credit with Galveston College, CCMR programming, and a professional-grade FabLab.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

Keywords

• Public secondary education
• High school education
• College preparatory programs
• Career technical education
• Dual credit programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Galveston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: Ball High School operates as a public high school funded primarily through Galveston ISD. Revenue comes from local property taxes, state funding based on attendance and performance metrics, and federal education grants. CCMR (College, Career, and Military Readiness) metrics affect school district funding levels.
2. AP Exam Fees: Students pay AP exam fees to College Board ($103 per exam for 2026, $26 for economically disadvantaged students). Late registration fees of $40 apply. Galveston Career Connect program may cover fees for eligible students.
3. Dual Credit Tuition: Students enrolling in dual credit courses through Galveston College may be required to pay college tuition and fees set by Galveston College. Financial aid may be available. Courses taught on Ball High campus, Galveston College campus, and/or online.
4. Device Protection Fees: Optional non-refundable insurance fee for district-issued Chromebooks and devices. Covers accidental damage, stolen devices (with police report), and damaged screens/keyboards. One instance of accidental damage covered per issuance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ball High School is a public secondary school serving approximately 2,000 students in grades 9-12 in Galveston, Texas, delivering comprehensive college-preparatory, career-technical, and military-readiness education. Its academic core includes Honors, AP, and Dual Credit coursework (the latter through a partnership with Galveston College), complemented by a Fabrication Lab (FabLab) for STEM/digital fabrication, CCMR tracking, athletics, fine arts, JROTC, and counseling services. Operating as part of Galveston ISD, the school is publicly funded and charges no tuition, with nominal fees for AP exams, optional device protection, and certain dual credit tuition.

Product overview

Ball High School is a public high school offering a comprehensive educational portfolio consisting of academic programs (Honors, AP, and Dual Credit courses), career and technical education through its Fabrication Lab (FabLab) maker space, college/career/military readiness counseling, athletics, fine arts (band, choir, dance, theater), JROTC military leadership training, and library/media services. The school operates integrated communication platforms (ParentSquare/StudentSquare) and attendance management systems to support approximately 2,000 students across grades 9-12.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fabrication Lab (FabLab) A fully equipped MakerSpace on the Ball High campus offering 3D printing (Ultimaker 2+/3, MakerBot Replicator+, MakerBot Method using PLA filament with 3DPrinterOS job submission), laser cutting/engraving (Universal Systems 60W and GlowForge), CNC milling (OtherMill and ShopBot 24), electronics prototyping (Raspberry Pi 3, Arduino Uno, soldering stations, NEXTEngine 3D scanner), plasma cutting (Lincoln Electric 4400), and Logic Trace digitization for student hands-on STEM learning and CTE projects.
• Advanced Academics Program Academic acceleration programming for Ball High students offering Honors sections, College Board Advanced Placement (AP) courses eligible for college credit with qualifying exam scores, and Dual Credit enrollment through Galveston College covering 24+ college-level subjects (anatomy, art, biology, business, calculus, chemistry, English, government, history, music, philosophy, physics, psychology, sociology, and more).
• College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) CCMR program tracking and support services that prepare Ball High students for post-graduation success, including college readiness metrics, career pathway exploration with industry certifications (through CTE/FabLab and Galveston College dual credit), and military enlistment preparation (through JROTC). CCMR outcomes directly influence GISD's school-district funding levels.
• Athletics Program Competitive athletics program at Ball High School encompassing football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, swimming, track, golf, cross country, and powerlifting teams, overseen by the school's Athletics Director.
• Fine Arts Program Comprehensive fine arts program at Ball High School spanning Band (Golden Tornado Marching Band), Choir, Dance (Tornettes dance team), Theater Arts, and Visual Arts, with competitive UIL participation.
• Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) JROTC program at Ball High School designated as a U.S. Army Honor Unit with an 8-year designation record, offering leadership training, Color Guard, Drill Team, Marksmanship Team, and PT Team with pathways to military careers; instructed by a Senior Army Instructor and a second Army Instructor for LET 1 and LET 4 academics.
• Library/Media Center Library/Media Center at Ball High School offering research databases (via galepages.com), ebook and resource access through the Destiny Discover platform, digital literacy support, Chromebook Help and Device Protection services, and a safe in-person gathering space for students.
• Attendance Management System Digital attendance tracking system at Ball High School integrated with the Skyward district platform, providing automated notifications to parents, tardy tracking with disciplinary consequences, makeup hour scheduling, and student check-out workflows.
• ParentSquare/StudentSquare Communication Platform Secure two-way communication platform serving Ball High School families and students via the district's ParentSquare/StudentSquare deployment, supporting email, phone, text, and mobile app notifications with language preferences and customizable notification settings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15:1 student to teacher ratio
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Galveston CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBall High students have the opportunity to earn high school and college credit simultaneously through dual credit courses taught on Ball High campus, Galveston College campus, and/or online. Students register at both Ball High and Galveston College. Courses include anatomy, biology, calculus, chemistry, English, government, history, physics, psychology, and more. Partnership allows students to get a head start on college coursework.
• College BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBall High School offers AP courses following College Board Advanced Placement curriculum. Students can earn college credit by scoring 3, 4, or 5 on AP exams. School participates in Total Registration for AP exam registration and MyAP system for course enrollment.
• Galveston Career Connect (GCC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProgram that covers AP exam costs for eligible students. Students must opt in by requesting a waiver through Total Registration. Program verifies student enrollment before providing fee waiver.
• UTMB (University of Texas Medical Branch)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFabLab has participated in UTMB Mini Maker Faire events, showcasing student projects and providing community engagement opportunities for STEM education.
• College of the Mainland Workforce ProgramsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer information resource provided to students for workforce program exploration and career pathways beyond high school graduation.
• Galveston College Workforce ProgramsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer information resource provided to students for workforce program exploration and career pathways beyond high school graduation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Clear Springs High School: Clear Creek ISD public high school in League City — geographic neighbor of similar size serving the same Houston-Galveston corridor. Recent JROTC instructor at Ball High came directly from Clear Springs' JROTC program, underscoring direct operational peer overlap.
• Carnegie Vanguard High School: Houston ISD magnet high school focused on STEM and advanced academics. Comparable on rigorous academics and CCMR outcomes and competes for the same high-achieving student pool in the Houston-Galveston region.
• DeBakey High School for Health Professions: Houston ISD magnet high school centered on health sciences and STEM. Comparable on career-pathway magnet model and strong CCMR performance; competes for STEM-oriented students in the same Houston metro market.
• Friendswood High School: Friendswood ISD public high school serving a comparable suburban-coastal student population just outside Galveston. Direct competitor for zoned and transfer students in the same regional market.
• Texas City High School: Public high school in Texas City ISD, immediately adjacent to Galveston, serving the same Houston-Galveston coastal labor market with similar comprehensive academic, CTE, and athletic offerings. Named in Ball High's leadership roster as a comparable workplace, indicating direct peer awareness.
• North Shore Senior High School: Large Spring ISD public high school in the Houston metro. Ball High's Associate Principal previously served at North Shore, providing direct peer familiarity; comparable comprehensive programming including AP, CTE, JROTC, and competitive athletics.

Broad incumbents

• Harmony Public Schools: Texas-wide STEM-focused public charter network serving grades K-12. Overlaps on STEM emphasis, CCMR focus, and Texas public funding model, and competes for college-bound students across the Houston-Galveston region including Galveston County.
• IDEA Public Schools: Large Texas charter network with a college-prep and CCMR-centric model. Comparable on AP/Dual Credit emphasis and college-readiness outcomes, and represents a broader competitive alternative to traditional public high schools across Texas.
• KIPP Texas Public Schools: Large Texas charter network with a college-prep mission aligned to CCMR outcomes. Competes for college-bound and low-income students across Houston-area districts, including those zoned to Galveston ISD.

Emerging players

• YES Prep Public Schools: Houston-based public charter network with a strong AP and college-readiness identity. Competes directly in the Houston metro for high-achieving students who might otherwise attend zoned public high schools like Ball High.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ballhighschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ball-high-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Ball High School