Duluth Public Schools

What Duluth Public Schools does

Duluth Public Schools (legally Independent School District 709, DBA "ISD 709") is a public K-12 school district and state-government entity headquartered at 709 Portia Johnson Drive in Duluth, Minnesota. The district operates 18 schools — including Duluth East High School, Denfeld High School, two middle schools, eleven elementary schools, plus specialty programs such as Academic Excellence Online (AEO) High School, the Area Learning Center, and Duluth Adult Education — serving an enrolled student population of approximately 8,000-plus across the Duluth metropolitan area. Its core product is comprehensive public K-12 education, including dual-language immersion tracks (Misaabekong Ojibwe Immersion and Nueva Visión Spanish Immersion), Career and Technical Education, special education, mental health and therapeutic services, and adult education offerings delivered through Duluth Adult Education.

The district's underlying technology stack is built on commercial EdTech platforms rather than proprietary systems: Canvas LMS serves as the district-wide learning management system, Infinite Campus functions as the Student Information System for enrollment, grades, attendance, and reporting, Skyward supports student and finance operations, SeeSaw provides early-childhood digital portfolios, Frontline Education covers HR, Freshdesk handles staff ticketing, Parent Square manages family communications and reunification notifications, and the Ed-Fi data standard supports state reporting. The district website itself runs on Finalsite. Distribution is purely geographic and direct: students residing within district attendance boundaries are served through district-run schools, with no retail, e-commerce, or tuition-based revenue layer.

Revenue is not commercial in the conventional sense; the district is funded primarily through the state of Minnesota's Basic Revenue Allowance and local property taxes, with supplemental federal program funding. The annual operating budget is approximately $155 million, managed by the Business Services department under Executive Director Simone Zunich. The district is currently addressing an approximately $4.2 million budget gap for the 2026-2027 school year. Pricing is not applicable for standard K-12 enrollment, though extracurricular activities and athletic programs may carry participation fees. Governance is provided by an elected School Board responsible for the superintendent, policy, and budget oversight.

Name

Duluth Public Schools

Legal name

Duluth Public Schools

Website

https://isd709.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Duluth Public Schools (Independent School District 709) is a public K-12 school district operating 18 schools in Duluth, Minnesota, serving approximately 8,000 students with comprehensive academic, immersion, CTE, special education, and adult education programs funded through state appropriations and local property taxes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

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), Specialized Programs & Classrooms (Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, Intellectual/Developmental, Multi-Disability) (EDAJAKAH), Special Education Online / Virtual Schools & Remote Programs (EDAKAAAL)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• School district services
• Special education programs
• Early childhood education
• Language immersion programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Duluth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Duluth Public Schools (Independent School District 709) operates as a public K-12 school district providing comprehensive education to students residing in Duluth, Minnesota. The district delivers instruction through 18 schools (elementary, middle, high schools, and specialty programs) supported by learning management systems (Canvas LMS), student information systems (Infinite Campus), and a range of supplemental programs including dual-language immersion, career and technical education, special education, adult education, before/after school care, transportation, nutrition, and community education services.

Product overview

Duluth Public Schools operates as a unified school district providing comprehensive K-12 education through multiple schools, learning management systems, and specialized programs. The district's core educational infrastructure centers on Canvas LMS and Infinite Campus SIS as primary technology platforms for teaching, learning, and student information management. Beyond traditional schooling, the district offers diverse programs including dual-language immersion (Spanish and Ojibwe), Career and Technical Education, alternative learning options (Area Learning Center, Academic Excellence Online), and Early Childhood services. Community Education extends the district's reach through before/after school care (KEY Zone), health services, transportation, child nutrition, and recreational programs. The district serves approximately 8,000+ students across 19 schools including two high schools (Duluth East, Denfeld), four middle schools, eleven elementary schools, and specialized programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Academic Excellence Online (AEO) High School

Quantifiable outcome

• 7.85% increase in Denfeld High School graduation rates

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Grandma's MarathonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Sponsor of Unity In Our Community back-to-school event. Partnership supports community engagement and the free 1-mile Fun Run event.
• Neighborhood Youth ServicesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Sponsor of Unity In Our Community event, supporting community engagement and youth programming.
• Duluth Community School CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-wide partnership organization. Anthony Bonds serves as a board member, fostering collaborative educational initiatives between schools and community organizations.
• City of Duluth Workforce DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development collaboration. Anthony Bonds serves as board member supporting youth employment and career development initiatives.
• YMCA Community Advisory BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity advisory partnership supporting youth development programs and services. Anthony Bonds serves as board member.
• LISC Duluth (Local Initiatives Support Corporation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity development organization. Anthony Bonds serves as board member focusing on neighborhood and educational development.
• Duluth Police DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContract partnership for School Resource Officers at high schools and middle schools. Officers include Jayson Dardis (East HS), Chris Simons (Denfeld HS), Kelly Hanna (Ordean East MS), and Tim Chaney (Lincoln Park MS). Officers train in Crisis Intervention Team, Fair and Impartial Policing, Implicit Bias, De-escalation, and NASRO.
• Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior ChippewacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTribal nation partnership through regular tribal consultations to support Native students, strengthen family and community engagement, and ensure educational opportunities reflect Indigenous perspectives and priorities.
• Be SMART for KidsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGun safety initiative partnership with Duluth Police Department providing free gun locks at the Public Safety Building. District promotes firearm safety awareness to protect students.
• I Love U Guys FoundationcoreTechnology or IntegrationLicensed Standard Response Protocol and Standard Reunification Method for emergency procedures district-wide. Provides standardized safety response protocols including HOLD, SECURE, LOCKDOWN, EVACUATE, and SHELTER actions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boston Public Schools: Mid-size urban public school district with similar equity-focused programming, diverse student population, bilingual education offerings, and traditional district governance model.
• Anoka-Hennepin School District: One of Minnesota's largest suburban public school districts with comparable K-12 programming structure, state funding model, and multi-school operational complexity.
• St. Paul Public Schools: Another major Minnesota public school district with similar governance, funding, and programmatic structure. Comparable in scale, student demographics, and bilingual/immersion programming approach.
• Minneapolis Public Schools: Urban Minnesota public school district serving a similar student population with comparable K-12 programming, equity-focused initiatives, and state funding model. Directly comparable in regulatory environment, funding structure, and operational scope.
• Rochester Public Schools (Minnesota): Mid-size Minnesota public school district with similar state funding model, school board governance, and comprehensive K-12 programming including special education and language immersion.

Emerging players

• Connections Academy: Online K-12 public school operator offering tuition-free virtual schooling. Direct competitor to Duluth's Academic Excellence Online program in the virtual K-12 segment.
• K12 Inc (Stride): Online education provider serving K-12 students including through partnerships with public school districts. Comparable in the online/virtual K-12 space where Duluth's AEO program competes for students.

Broad incumbents

• EdisonLearning: Education services provider partnering with public school districts to manage schools and provide online/digital learning. Comparable as a vendor/partner ecosystem for districts like Duluth, particularly relevant given their Academic Excellence Online program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DuluthPublicSchools
• Facebookfacebook.com/duluthpublicschools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/duluth-public-schools
• Instagraminstagram.com/duluthpublicschools
• Xx.com/Duluth_Schools

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Duluth Public Schools