Cardington-Lincoln Local School District

What Cardington-Lincoln Local School District does

Cardington-Lincoln Local School District is a public K-12 school district operating under Ohio Revised Code, serving approximately 1,100 students across pre-kindergarten through grade 12 in the villages of Cardington and Fulton and portions of six townships spanning Morrow and Marion Counties. Its 71-square-mile service territory is anchored by four schools — Cardington-Lincoln Elementary (PK-4, National Blue Ribbon School), Middle School (5-8), High School (9-12), and Preschool — housed in two primary buildings plus athletic/community facilities. The district offers a standards-aligned curriculum using third-party publisher products (Amplify CKLA/ELA, McGraw Hill My Math, Savvas Envision, Science Weekly, HMH ScienceFusion, TCI Social Studies), augmented by structured intervention blocks (Pirate Time), Academic Assist, special education services for ~210 students (≈20% of enrollment), Career Technical Education via Tri Rivers Career Center, and an award-winning Agricultural Education/FFA program. Operational technology is built on commodity vendor platforms: PowerSchool for student information, enrollment, and parent portal; OneCallNow for emergency communications; Public School Works for staff safety training; SITEC/Light Speed for CIPA-compliant device filtering; and Finalsite for web content.

The district is governed by an elected five-member Board of Education (President Matt Clinger) and led by Superintendent Todd Spinner and Treasurer Erin Long, both appointed effective July 1, 2024. Revenue is generated entirely through public education funding streams — Ohio state foundation aid, local property tax levies (a 2002 levy triggered approximately $1.3M in state matching funds), Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid (DPIA), Student Wellness and Success Funds (SWSF), and federal grants. General fund expenditures totaled $12,219,950 in fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, with a $1,689,644 ending fund balance. Education is provided tuition-free to district residents; the district also accepts open-enrollment applications annually from more than 10 neighboring districts (April 1–August 4 window) but does not transport non-resident students. Ancillary revenue/footprint activities include building leases to The Tomorrow Center and Goal Digital Academy, summer food service programs, and 14 bus routes covering approximately 148,000 miles annually.

Name

Cardington-Lincoln Local School District

Legal name

Cardington-Lincoln Local School District

Website

https://cardington.k12.oh.us

Company type

Public

Founded year

1823

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Cardington-Lincoln Local School District is a public K-12 school district in Ohio serving approximately 1,100 students across elementary, middle, and high schools, plus preschool, in the Cardington and Fulton communities of Morrow and Marion Counties. Funded by state aid, local property taxes, and federal grants, it offers tuition-free public education and accepts open-enrollment students from neighboring districts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), 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 Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ), Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• Primary and secondary education
• Special education services
• Career technical education
• Student transportation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cardington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: As a public school district, revenue is generated through local property taxes, state funding (Ohio Department of Education), and federal grants. State funding triggered by levies (approximately $1.3 million from the state of Ohio mentioned). General fund expenditures of $12,219,950 in fiscal year ending June 30, 2019.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cardington-Lincoln Local School District is a publicly funded K-12 educational institution serving approximately 1,100 students across four schools (Elementary PK-4, Middle School 5-8, High School 9-12, and Preschool) in Morrow and Marion Counties, Ohio. The district provides free public education to district residents, standards-aligned curriculum with tiered academic interventions, special education for ~210 students with disabilities, career technical education through Tri Rivers Career Center, an award-winning agricultural education/FFA program, free meals via Community Eligibility Provision, and student transportation across 71 square miles.

Product overview

Cardington-Lincoln Local School District provides a comprehensive PK-12 educational program serving approximately 1100 students across four schools: Elementary (PK-4), Middle School (5-8), High School (9-12), and Preschool. The district offers a standards-aligned curriculum using Amplify CKLA/ELA, McGraw Hill My Math, Savvas Envision, Science Weekly, HMH ScienceFusion, and TCI Social Studies. Student support services include Pirate Time intervention blocks, Academic Assist, Special Education (serving ~210 students with disabilities), and Student Wellness and Success Funds. The district also provides free meals through Community Eligibility Provision, transportation across 71 square miles, and CIPA-compliant technology services. The Agricultural Education program and FFA chapter are recognized as among the best in Ohio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pirates: Athletic teams mascot for Cardington-Lincoln schools
• Cardington-Lincoln High School (CLHS)
• Cardington-Lincoln Middle School (CLMS)
• Cardington-Lincoln Elementary
• Cardington-Lincoln Preschool
• Pirateer

Products and services

• Cardington-Lincoln Elementary School Serves students in pre-kindergarten through 4th grade; recently recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education and named an ODE Schools of Promise campus, delivering standards-aligned core instruction, Pirate Time interventions, and Academic Assist supports.
• Cardington-Lincoln Middle School (CLMS) Serves students in grades 5-8 at the high school/middle school building, with grades 6-12 co-located; provides standards-aligned instruction, Pirate Time intervention blocks, Academic Assist, and access to high-school-level career technical and agricultural education pathways.
• Cardington-Lincoln High School (CLHS) Serves students in grades 9-12; recognized as an ODE Schools of Promise campus and home to a strong career technical education program, College Credit Plus, award-winning agricultural education/FFA program, Pirates athletics, and Patrick Drouhard Auditorium performances.
• Cardington-Lincoln Preschool Early childhood education program serving preschool-age children within the district, laying the foundation for PK-4 elementary progression.
• Amplify CKLA (K-5) and Amplify ELA (6-8) Curriculum English Language Arts curriculum used for grades K-5 (Amplify CKLA) and grades 6-8 (Amplify ELA), aligned to Ohio Learning Standards.
• McGraw Hill My Math (K-4) and Savvas Envision (5-12) Mathematics Curriculum Mathematics curriculum for grades K-4 (My Math - McGraw Hill) and grades 5-12 (Savvas Envision), aligned to Ohio Learning Standards.
• Science Weekly (K-4) and HMH ScienceFusion (5-8) Science Curriculum Science curriculum for grades K-4 (Science Weekly) and grades 5-8 (HMH ScienceFusion), aligned to Ohio Learning Standards.
• Social Studies Weekly (K-4) and TCI Social Studies (5-8) Curriculum Social studies curriculum for grades K-4 (Social Studies Weekly) and grades 5-8 (TCI), aligned to Ohio Learning Standards.
• Pirate Time Intervention Program Structured intervention and enrichment time providing Tier 1 instruction, Tier 2 small-group interventions, and Tier 3 intensive supports for all students across the district.
• Academic Assist Program Academic support program providing skill-building and targeted interventions for students needing additional assistance.
• Special Education Services Free, IDEA-compliant special education services for approximately 210 students with disabilities (about 20% of district enrollment), covering autism, intellectual disability, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, specific learning disability, speech/language impairment, and other health impairments, administered by the Director of Special Education and Preschool.
• Student Wellness and Success Funds (SWSF) Services State-funded wellness program supporting student safety (School Resource Officer via Public School Works), physical and mental health (school nurse, counselor, psychologist via Delaware Morrow Mental Health Recovery and Services Board / Syntero), and community engagement.
• Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid (DPIA) Literacy Intervention State Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid-funded program used to strengthen literacy and reading interventions for disadvantaged students.
• Tri Rivers Career Center Career Technical Education Career technical education delivered in partnership with Tri Rivers Career Center, enabling district students to access vocational and technical training alongside traditional academics.
• Agricultural Education and FFA Program Award-winning agricultural education program and FFA chapter covering production agriculture, agribusiness, and leadership; recently produced a National Champion Conduct of Chapter Meetings team (recognized at the Ohio Statehouse) and was named 2025 Ohio Pork Council Pork Promoter of the Year.
• Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Meal Program National School Lunch Program option providing free breakfast and free lunch to all students regardless of individual eligibility status.
• Summer Food Service Program Free summer meal pickup program available at Cardington Middle School every Thursday through July during the summer recess.
• Summer Sun Bucks (Summer EBT) Summer EBT program providing a $120 one-time benefit per eligible child for food purchases at authorized retailers during the summer recess.
• District Transportation Services Home-to-school transportation operated across 14 regular bus routes covering approximately 148,000 miles annually across the district's 71 square mile service area, with double routing to accommodate all grade levels.
• Student Data Privacy / CIPA-Compliant Internet Safety and Device Monitoring Technology-provided internet safety, CIPA-compliant content filtering, and device monitoring (via SITEC and Light Speed IT) for all school-issued devices, with associated student data privacy services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Both High School and Elementary named to ODE Schools of Promise
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Integration8 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cardington Yutaka Technologies (CYT)coreOthersMajor manufacturing employer located in the village of Cardington. Community partner that participates in district activities including Morrow County Fair livestock auction, scholarship presentations, and community outreach. Board member Matt Longsdorf is Senior Manager of Sales, Purchasing, and Engineering for CYT's North American Regional Operations.
• AdeletminorOthersMajor manufacturer located in the village of Cardington. Both Cardington Yutaka Technologies and Adelet have seen strong employment growth within the last few years.
• Cardington-Lincoln Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict partner providing community services including story time programs for children ages 3-5, pop-up library events, and collaborative programming. Library located in Cardington and serves as community resource for district families.
• Tri Rivers Career CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint vocational and career center partnership providing career technical education programs for district students. Enables students to access vocational training alongside traditional academics.
• Ohio State University MarionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitution of higher education located within 30-minute drive of district. Partner providing higher education access for district graduates and potential College Credit Plus program opportunities.
• Marion Technical CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical college located within 30-minute drive. Provides pathway for students seeking technical and vocational education beyond high school.
• Delaware Morrow Mental Health Recovery and Services BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health services partnership enabling Syntero counselors to provide student mental health services in schools. Supports district wellness initiatives and Student Wellness and Success Funds usage.
• The Tomorrow CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity school specializing in leading at-risk students to graduation. Serves as integral part of improving graduation rate for students in Marion and Morrow Counties. District building tenant.
• Goal Digital AcademyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDigital academy tenant in district building (former intermediate building). Provides alternative education options for students.
• Morrow County Job and Family ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty agency partner providing family services and support to district families in Morrow County.
• Morrow County Board of Developmental DisabilitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty board partner supporting students with developmental disabilities and their families in the district.
• Helpline of Delaware and Morrow CountiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity mental health and crisis support services available to district students and families.
• Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center Business Advisory CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness advisory council providing guidance on career pathways and workforce development alignment with district educational programs.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves17 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wynford Local School District: Crawford County K-12 district of similar enrollment and rural character. Direct peer for open-enrollment competition and shared state funding dynamics.
• Buckeye Valley Local School District: Nearby Delaware County district of comparable enrollment and rural-suburban mix. Competes for open enrollment and shares College Credit Plus pathways with the same regional higher-ed partners.
• Crestline Exempted Village School District: Crawford County small K-12 district with similar enrollment and rural/industrial heritage. Comparable on scale, community-economic profile (manufacturing-anchored), and Ohio funding treatment.
• Highland Local School District (Morrow County): Morrow County public K-12 district with similar student population size. Direct geographic and demographic peer, competing for open enrollment and operating under identical Ohio funding mechanics.
• Mount Gilead Exempted Village School District: Adjacent Morrow County public K-12 district of comparable enrollment scale (~1,000–1,200 students). Directly comparable as a small rural Ohio district competing for the same open-enrollment pool and subject to the same state funding formula.
• River Valley Local School District: Adjacent Marion County district of comparable rural scale. Direct peer given shared Marion County geography and similar K-12 enrollment profile.
• Elgin Local School District: Marion County public K-12 district of similar size and rural character. Direct geographic and demographic peer within the same labor market.
• Pleasant Local School District: Marion County K-12 district with comparable small-district scale. Operates under the same Ohio state funding environment and serves a similar rural community profile.
• Northmor Local School District: Neighboring Morrow County K-12 district serving a similar rural footprint. Comparable size and demographic profile, drawing from the same competitive set of students and sharing the same state aid framework.
• Galion City School District: Crawford/Morrow County-area K-12 district of comparable enrollment scale. Direct peer in both geography and small-city/rural district category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cl_schoolsoh

Compliance6 records

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 Cardington-Lincoln Local School District