Glacial Hills Elementary

What Glacial Hills Elementary does

Glacial Hills Elementary is a public charter school in Starbuck, Minnesota, founded in 2009 and authorized by Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center. The school serves families across western Minnesota through a vertically integrated educational ecosystem spanning infant care through 6th grade. Its three core programs are tuition-free K-6 elementary education funded by per-pupil state aid, a four-star Parent Aware rated preschool and prekindergarten program (weekly tuition $125 to $197), and Eaglets Child Care, a licensed infant and toddler center launched in fall 2023 with capacity for 8 infants and 14 toddlers at weekly tuition of $180 to $205. The school operates from a single campus at 610 W 6th St, Starbuck, MN, and is governed by an eight-member independent School Board comprising four parents, two teachers, and two community representatives. Approximately 40+ staff deliver the programs across instructional, administrative, child care, kitchen, and custodial roles.

The school's technology stack is purpose-built for education administration rather than technology development. Brightwheel handles early-childhood enrollment, registration, invoicing, and payment collection. JMC serves as the student information system; Google Classroom and Seesaw deliver learning content; and Renaissance Learning supports reading and math assessment. Curriculum platforms include Bridges in Mathematics, LETRS professional development for reading instruction, Second Step for social-emotional learning, and The Investigators Club for inquiry-based early-childhood education aligned with the school's environmental mission. Professional development and compliance run through Safe Schools and PELSB, while payroll is administered via SMARTeR. The school is implementing a Graduate Aims Framework (Boldness, Lifelong Learning, Environmental Stewardship, Empathy, Integrity, Endurance, Versatility) and Core Components Framework (rigorous academics, authentic relationships, purposeful engagement), supported by named programming such as CultivateU, Fulfilled Fridays, and Soar Exploratory Classes.

The business model combines public funding with fee-based service revenue. K-6 operations rely on Minnesota per-pupil charter school aid. Early-childhood programs (preschool, prekindergarten, infant/toddler care) generate direct weekly tuition revenue on a subscription cadence. Extended care services are billed per day ($2 before-school, $8 after-school). Ancillary revenue comes from an online school store selling staff meals and fundraiser items (cinnamon rolls at $12/dozen, scones at $20/dozen) and from grants, most notably a $130,000 Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund grant in 2025 for a mental health and environmental conservation project. Financial accessibility is supported through acceptance of Child Care Assistance and Pathway Scholarships, with transportation partnerships with Rainbow Rider and Palmer Bus Service extending geographic reach to families outside walking distance of the campus.

Name

Glacial Hills Elementary

Legal name

Glacial Hills Elementary

Website

https://glacialhills.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Glacial Hills Elementary is a public charter school in Starbuck, Minnesota, offering tuition-free K-6 education, preschool and prekindergarten programs, and licensed infant-toddler child care (Eaglets Child Care) to families in rural western Minnesota.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Primary Education

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nature-Based / Forest School Early Learning Programs (EDACADAD)

Keywords

• Public charter school
• Elementary education
• Preschool programs
• Infant child care
• Early childhood education

Headquarters

HQ city

Starbuck

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Charter School Funding: As a public charter school, Glacial Hills Elementary receives per-pupil state funding for K-6 education, making it tuition-free for families. Funding is based on enrollment numbers and state formulas.
2. Child Care Services: Infant and toddler child care services (Eaglets Child Care) generate revenue through weekly tuition fees: $205/week for infants, $180/week for toddlers. Extended care for preschool students is also provided at $2/day before-school and $8/day after-school.
3. Preschool and Prekindergarten Tuition: Preschool programs operate separately from K-6, charging weekly tuition: $197/week for full-day everyday, $125/week for 3 full days (Mon/Wed/Fri). Meals are included in tuition.
4. School Store and Fundraiser Sales: The school operates an online school store selling staff meals ($3-$15), cinnamon rolls ($12/dozen), and scones ($20/dozen) for fundraising purposes. These are fundraiser dessert sales to support the school.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Glacial Hills Elementary is a public charter school that delivers tuition-free K-6 elementary education and offers fee-based preschool, prekindergarten, and licensed infant and toddler child care (Eaglets Child Care). Programs are anchored in an environmental stewardship mission and a Graduate Aims framework covering character, academics, and community engagement. The school operates from a single campus in Starbuck, Minnesota, serving families from the surrounding rural region.

Product overview

Glacial Hills Elementary is a public charter school offering a comprehensive educational ecosystem comprising K-6th Grade Elementary Education (core product), Preschool and Prekindergarten Programs, and Eaglets Child Care for infants and toddlers. The school provides extended care services, special programming including CultivateU, Fulfilled Fridays, and Soar Exploratory Classes, and operates a school store for fundraiser items. Programs are designed around experiential learning, environmental stewardship, and holistic child development, with curriculum resources including The Investigators Club, Second Step social-emotional learning, and Bridges in Mathematics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-6 Elementary Education Tuition-free public charter school education for kindergarten through sixth grade, providing small class sizes, experiential learning, environmental education focus, and holistic child development. Designed for families in the Starbuck, Minnesota region.
• Preschool and Prekindergarten Programs Four-Star Parent Aware rated preschool and prekindergarten programs for children 3 years and older, with three full-day, 3-day, and 5-day scheduling options operating 7:30 AM to 2:50 PM with meals included. Designed for families seeking licensed early childhood education.
• Eaglets Child Care (Infant and Toddler Care) Licensed child care center serving infants (6 weeks to 33 months) with capacity for 8 infants and 14 toddlers, operating 7 AM to 5 PM. Holds Three-Star Parent Aware rating and uses the Investigators Club curriculum aligned with the school's environmental mission. Designed for working families in the region.
• Before and After-School Extended Care Extended care services available from 7:00-7:30 AM (before-school at $2/day) and 2:50 PM-5:00 PM (after-school at $8/day) for preschool families. Designed for working parents needing flexible child care hours.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top performer in academic growth statewide
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning CentercoreOthersOsprey Wilds is the charter school authorizer for Glacial Hills Elementary. Based in Minneapolis, MN, their mission is to ensure quality academic and environmental literacy outcomes through effective oversight, evaluation, and strategic support. The authorizing relationship is foundational to the school's charter status and environmental focus.
• Rainbow RiderminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransportation partner providing bus services for preschool and elementary students. Contact: (800) 450-7770.
• Palmer Bus ServiceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransportation partner for preschool students riding with K-6 siblings. Contact: 320-634-3272.
• Child Care and Parent AwarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuality improvement partnership through Building Quality Cohort program. School earned Three-Star Parent Aware rating and is working toward four-star rating. Parent Aware helps families find quality child care.
• BrightwheelcoreTechnology or IntegrationEnrollment and student management software used for early childhood program registration, student records, invoicing, and payment collection.
• JMCcoreTechnology or IntegrationStudent information system used by teachers for classroom management and student data.
• Google ClassroomcoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital learning platform for student assignments and classroom instruction.
• SeesawcoreTechnology or IntegrationStudent-driven digital portfolio and learning platform for younger learners.
• Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)coreOthersState education department overseeing charter schools and early childhood programs. MDE provides Pathway Scholarships information and regulatory oversight.
• Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)coreOthersState department licensing preschool and prekindergarten programs as certified child care under DCYF.
• Western Prairie Human ServicesminorOthersCounty services providing CCAP (Child Care Assistance Program) information for families seeking financial assistance.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Great River School: Minnesota public charter K-12 school in the Twin Cities. Comparable as a Minnesota public charter with mission-driven pedagogy and per-pupil state funding model, though serving a larger urban catchment."
• Northern Lights Community School: Minnesota public charter school with an outdoor/nature-based educational focus. Direct peer given the shared environmental stewardship mission and inquiry-based learning approach that mirrors Glacial Hills' Graduate Aims and Investigators Club curriculum.
• Lakes International Language Academy: Minnesota public charter school serving K-12 with a distinctive thematic focus (language immersion). Comparable to Glacial Hills as a small MN charter with a mission-driven educational differentiation and tuition-free K-6 enrollment funded by per-pupil state aid.
• Kaleidoscope Charter School: Minnesota public charter K-8 school. Comparable in operating model (tuition-free public charter with K-8 grade span), Minnesota regulatory environment, and small-mid scale."

Broad incumbents

• BASIS Charter Schools: National charter school network operating across multiple states with a distinctive academic curriculum focus. Comparable as a public charter operator with thematic differentiation, though at substantially greater scale than Glacial Hills.
• Success Academy Charter Schools: Large NYC-based charter school network operating K-12 campuses. Comparable as a high-performing public charter school organization with strong academic outcomes, though at far greater scale and density than Glacial Hills."
• KIPP Foundation: National nonprofit charter school network operating K-12 campuses across multiple states. Comparable as a public charter education operator, though serving a much larger scale and broader geographies than Glacial Hills' single-site operation.
• High Tech High: San Diego-based charter school network with project-based, experiential learning approach. Comparable as a mission-driven public charter with thematic differentiation, though at larger scale than Glacial Hills."

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Glacial-Hills-Elementary-School-111812697827566

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Glacial Hills Elementary