What ASHTABULA AREA CITY SCHOOLS does

Ashtabula Area City Schools (AACS) is a public K-12 school district and political subdivision of the State of Ohio, headquartered in Ashtabula, Ohio, and serving over 3,000 PreK-12 students across seven schools: Huron Primary, Michigan Primary, Ontario Primary, Erie Intermediate, Superior Intermediate, Lakeside Junior High, and Lakeside High School. The district operates a comprehensive educational program including AP courses, College Credit Plus, gifted and talented services, special education (IEPs, Section 504), vocational preparation, and athletics (Lakeside Dragons), supported by wraparound services such as Title I federal programs, USDA Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) free meals, GPS-tracked transportation, an on-campus ARMC School-Based Health Center, school psychology services, and PBIS behavioral frameworks. Performance metrics include a 78.5% graduation rate and 87% student attendance rate.

The district's technology stack is built on standard K-12 educational infrastructure rather than proprietary platforms. It includes FinalForms for digital student registration, School Cafe for nutrition menus and allergen data, PaySchools Central for online payment processing (migrated from PayForIt), SchoolMessenger for text-based mass communication, the Neomin Student/Parent Portal for grade access, Frontline Education for HR/applicant tracking, EMIS for state-mandated data reporting, Google Workspace for forms and collaboration, BOXCAST for event broadcasting, and a custom mobile app on iOS and Android. The website is available in 18 languages including English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic-script languages, and several European and Asian languages. The district maintains Tier 1 partnerships with the Ashtabula County Sheriff's Department and Ashtabula City Police Department for School Resource Officers (MOU 2025-2027 and renewal signed June 17, 2026 respectively), ARMC for the on-site health center, and the Dragon Empowerment Center and 2-1-1 Ashtabula County for community resource referrals.

AACS is government-funded rather than commercially revenue-generating. Funding is sourced from local property tax millage (with a 1.25 mill levy renewal on the May 5, 2026 ballot for textbooks, educational technology, and instructional equipment), Ohio state foundation aid, and federal Title I-II-V grants. The district holds FERPA, Title IX, Title I, and IDEA compliance certifications, and earned a Five-Star Step Up To Quality rating for its preschool program. Leadership is headed by Superintendent Lisa Newsome and Treasurer/CFO Mark J. Astorino, with a publicly elected Board of Education providing governance. Optional revenue streams include a la carte meal purchases and student accident insurance subscriptions.

Name

ASHTABULA AREA CITY SCHOOLS

Legal name

Ashtabula Area City Schools

Website

https://aacs.net

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ashtabula Area City Schools is a public K-12 school district in Ashtabula, Ohio, operating 7 schools serving over 3,000 PreK-12 students with Title I federal funding, CEP free meals, and wraparound services including health, transportation, and special education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Middle Schools (EDAJAAAC), District Student Services Administration (Special Ed, Counseling, Health) (EDADABAJ), District Enrollment, Zoning & School Choice Administration (EDADABAL)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• Title I schools
• Special education services
• School transportation services
• Student nutrition programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ashtabula

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, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ashtabula Area City Schools is a public K-12 school district operating 7 schools (Michigan Primary, Ontario Primary, Huron Primary, Erie Intermediate, Superior Intermediate, Lakeside Junior High, and Lakeside High School) that delivers free public education to more than 3,000 PreK-12 students in the Ashtabula, Ohio area. The district provides standard academic instruction alongside AP courses, College Credit Plus, gifted services, special education, Title I supports, transportation, USDA CEP meals, school nursing, and an on-site ARMC school-based health center. Operational administration includes FinalForms registration, PaySchools Central payments, SchoolMessenger communications, Neomin parent portal access, and Frontline Education HR systems.

Product overview

Ashtabula Area City Schools is a public school district operating 7 schools serving over 3,000 PreK-12 students. The district offers a comprehensive educational program through its individual school buildings (Lakeside High School, Lakeside Junior High, Erie Intermediate, Superior Intermediate, Ontario Primary, Michigan Primary), supported by central programs including PBIS, Gifted and Talented Education, Title I services, Special Education, and Health Services. Student support infrastructure includes Transportation Services with GPS tracking, Nutrition Services operating under USDA's Community Eligibility Provision, and an on-site ARMC School-Based Health Center. Administrative operations utilize FinalForms for registration, School Cafe for nutrition menus, PaySchools Central for payments, and Frontline Education for HR/applicant tracking. The district also provides a Safe School Helpline and maintains a Technology Department supporting one-to-one device initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lakeside High School High school serving grades 9-12 for district-resident and open-enrollment students, offering AP courses, College Credit Plus, honors classes, athletics, and college/career preparation.
• Lakeside Junior High School Junior high serving grades 7-8 with accelerated curriculum including Algebra I for high school credit and Honors Physical Science.
• Erie Intermediate School Intermediate school serving grade 4 implementing PBIS and gifted enrichment programs.
• Superior Intermediate School Intermediate school serving grades 4-5 with Response to Intervention (RTI) support and gifted intervention specialist services.
• Ontario Primary School Primary school serving grades K-3 including preschool registration and PBIS implementation.
• Michigan Primary School Primary school serving preschool through grade 3 with an early learning focus.
• Transportation Services Fleet transportation service with GPS tracking on all buses, trained drivers and aides, safety cameras, and specialized transportation for IEP and special needs students.
• Nutrition Services School meals program providing one free breakfast and one free lunch daily to all students under the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, with digital menus via School Cafe and a la carte purchases available.
• ARMC School-Based Health Center On-campus health center offering well-child visits, sick visits, vaccinations, screenings, sports physicals, and chronic condition care for students, staff, and families.
• Health Services School nursing services including health screenings (vision, hearing), immunization enforcement, and health education, delivered by a team of 5 licensed school nurses.
• Special Education and Student Services Comprehensive special education services including IEP development, Section 504 plans, Child Find evaluations, school psychology, and McKinney-Vento homeless assistance.
• PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) District-wide framework promoting positive behavior, social-emotional learning, and school climate improvement, with all 7 buildings receiving 2023-2024 PBIS recognition awards.
• Title I State and Federal Programs Federal funding program supporting high-poverty schools with supplemental staff, instructional technology, family engagement, English language services, professional development, and summer school programming.
• Gifted and Talented Education Gifted services including Early Entrance to Kindergarten, subject and grade acceleration, Resource Room for grades 3-6, AP courses, College Credit Plus, and Honors classes.
• Safe School Helpline 24/7 anonymous reporting hotline and mobile app for safety concerns including bullying, violence, drugs, alcohol, suicidal thoughts, weapons, and theft.
• District Technology Services Technology department delivering one-to-one instructional device support, district operations technology, and technology helpdesk ticketing.
• Athletics (Lakeside Dragons) Interscholastic athletic program including multiple sports with a mission focused on character development, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

Quantifiable outcome

• 78.5% graduation rate
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dragon Empowerment CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity resource hub providing support services for students and families. Located in district service area with focus on meeting basic needs and connecting families to community resources. Affiliated with community action agency.
• 2-1-1 Ashtabula CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity information and referral service connecting residents to local resources. District refers families to 2-1-1 for community services and support.
• ARMC (Ashtabula Regional Medical Center) School-Based Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-site health center at district campus offering well-child visits, sick visits, vaccinations, screenings, sports physicals, and chronic condition management. Open Monday-Friday 8:30am-noon. Phone: 440-997-6969.
• Ashtabula County Educational Service CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty-level educational service provider offering shared services, professional development, and support for local school districts.
• Ashtabula County Sheriff's Department - School Resource OfficerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool Resource Officers (SROs) assigned to district campuses for school safety, law enforcement presence, and student support. MOU agreement 2025-2027.
• City of Ashtabula Police Department - School Resource OfficerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity police SRO program for campus safety. Agreement signed June 17, 2026 for 2026-2027 school year.
• USDA - Community Eligibility ProvisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal program allowing high-poverty districts to provide free meals to all students. District participates providing free breakfast and lunch to all students.
• Safe School HelplineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnonymous reporting service for safety concerns. Phone: 800-418-6423, Text: 614-426-0240, Online: safeschoolhelpline.com. Operated by Security Voice third-party service.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Painesville City Local Schools: Ohio public K-12 district in Lake County operating Title I programming with comparable enrollment scale (~2,500-3,500 students) and PBIS frameworks.
• Erie City School District: Neighboring public K-12 school district in Erie, Pennsylvania serving a similar Rust Belt, high-poverty urban population. Comparable in operating model, demographics, and reliance on Title I and federal nutrition programs.
• Akron Public Schools: Mid-sized Ohio urban K-12 district with Title I and CEP programming, comparable scale and demographic profile. Peer for graduation rate, attendance, and PBIS benchmarking.
• Lorain City Schools: Adjacent Ohio public K-12 district in Lorain County serving similar socioeconomic demographics with Title I funding and CEP meal programs. Direct competitor for open-enrollment students.
• Cleveland Metropolitan School District: Large Ohio urban public K-12 district with similar Title I, high-poverty demographics and state oversight profile. Compare-and-contrast for performance trajectory and urban district reform strategies.
• Youngstown City School District: Ohio urban public K-12 district facing similar Rust Belt poverty, enrollment decline, and state-takeover-adjacent dynamics. Useful peer for benchmarking fiscal sustainability and academic recovery.

Regional players

• Conneaut Area City Schools: Neighboring Ashtabula County public K-12 district serving similar small-city Rust Belt demographics. Direct competitor for open enrollment and shared county educational service center resources.
• Geneva Area City Schools: Adjacent Ashtabula County public K-12 district with similar enrollment scale and demographic profile. Competes for retention of students within the county.

Others

• Ohio Department of Education: State regulatory and funding authority for all Ohio public school districts. Not a peer in the competitive sense, but the entity that sets academic standards, allocates state foundation aid, and certifies AACS's PBIS and Step Up To Quality awards.
• Ashtabula County Educational Service Center: County-level ESC providing shared services, professional development, and special education support to AACS and other Ashtabula County districts. Ecosystem partner rather than competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AACSDistrict
• Facebookfacebook.com/AACSDistrict
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ashtabula-area-city-schools

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 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 ASHTABULA AREA CITY SCHOOLS