What Clarkston Community Schools does

Clarkston Community Schools is a public K-12 school district organized under Michigan state law and headquartered at 6389 Clarkston Road, Clarkston, Michigan, with the district tracing its origins to 1832. It serves approximately 6,500-7,100 students across 12 schools — seven elementary schools (K-5), one middle school (grades 6-7), Clarkston Junior High School (grades 8-9), Clarkston High School (grades 10-12), Clarkston Virtual academy, Renaissance High School (alternative education), and the Early Childhood Center (ages 3-5) — supported by approximately 1,300 staff across 418 acres and 1.5 million square feet of facilities spanning 63 square miles of North Oakland County (Independence Township, Springfield Township, and the City of the Village of Clarkston).

The district operates a platform-plus-modules academic portfolio built on a traditional in-person K-12 core, augmented by specialty academic programs including the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, CSMTech (a STEAM academy founded in 1994), Career Immersion Pathways with six endorsement areas (Business Administration, Computer Science, Engineering, Finance, Education, and Marketing), and a Construction Technology skilled-trades pathway. Co-curricular programs span 35 interscholastic sports with 1,274 student-athletes and comprehensive fine and performing arts (band, orchestra, choir, theatre, visual arts). The district runs a 1:1 Technology Initiative providing district-owned devices to every student and teacher, supported by instructional technologists. Adult transition services include LIFE Skills and Project SEARCH Clarkston, the latter placing students with disabilities at McLaren Hospital for workplace experience. Operational technology integrates ParentSquare (communications), Nutrislice (menus), e-Funds for Schools (payments), and ParentVue/StudentVue (academic portals).

Clarkston Community Schools is funded as a public school district — no tuition is charged to district residents — through a mix of local property taxes (Non-Homestead Millage), the Oakland County Enhancement Millage, Michigan state per-pupil foundation allowance, and federal grants. Non-resident students may enroll through Schools-of-Choice programs, and the Clarkston Virtual academy extends online enrollment beyond district boundaries. Capital is raised through voter-approved bond measures, most notably a $76 million bond approved in 2016 and a 2022 bond supporting ongoing facility, safety, and technology upgrades. The district is governed by an elected Board of Education and led by Superintendent Dr. Shawn Ryan, with no parent company or equity investors. Strategic positioning is anchored by three National Blue Ribbon School awards, six Michigan Exemplary Blue Ribbon Schools, the OAA Director's Cup won three consecutive years, and a 2024 MSPRA Superintendent Communicator of the Year award for Dr. Ryan.

Name

Clarkston Community Schools

Legal name

Clarkston Community Schools

Website

https://clarkston.k12.mi.us

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Clarkston Community Schools is a public K-12 school district in North Oakland County, Michigan, serving approximately 6,500-7,100 students across 12 schools with 1,300 staff through traditional, virtual, alternative, and specialized academic programs funded by property taxes and state aid.

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), Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD), Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH), Online Credit Recovery & Alternative Pathways (Virtual) (EDAJADAF), Community & Adult Education (Municipal/Community Schools) (EDAAAEAB)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• Public school district
• Elementary secondary education
• Specialty academic programs
• Virtual learning academy

Headquarters

HQ city

Clarkston

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Public School Funding: Traditional public school district funded primarily through property taxes (Non-Homestead Millage), state per-pupil funding, federal grants, and special levies including Oakland County Enhancement Millage.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Clarkston Community Schools is a Michigan public K-12 school district delivering free, tax-funded education to nearly 6,500 students across 12 campuses: seven elementary schools (K-5), one middle school (6-7), one junior high (8-9), Clarkston High School (10-12), Renaissance High School (alternative education), Clarkston Virtual (online academy), and an Early Childhood Center (ages 3-5). The district supplements core academics with specialty programs including the IB Diploma Programme, CSMTech STEAM academy, Career Immersion Pathways, Construction Technology, LIFE Skills, and Project SEARCH, along with athletics (35 sports) and fine/performing arts.

Product overview

Clarkston Community Schools operates as a traditional K-12 school district with a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering is traditional in-person education across seven elementary schools, one middle school, one junior high, and Clarkston High School. The district extends its portfolio through specialized programs including Clarkston Virtual (online academy), the Early Childhood Center (ages 3-5), and Renaissance High School (alternative education). Specialty programs include CSMTech (STEAM academy), the IB Diploma Programme, Career Immersion Pathways with six career endorsement areas, and Construction Technology. The district also offers robust co-curricular programs in athletics (35 sports) and fine and performing arts (band, orchestra, choir, theater, visual arts). Adult transition services include LIFE Skills and Project SEARCH Clarkston. All students and teachers are provided district-owned devices as part of a 1:1 technology initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Traditional K-12 Education Traditional in-person education delivered across seven elementary schools (K-5), one middle school (grades 6-7), one junior high (grades 8-9), and Clarkston High School (grades 10-12), serving district residents free of tuition.
• Clarkston Virtual Virtual academy offering flexible online learning schedules for students seeking alternative educational arrangements outside traditional campuses.
• Early Childhood Center Early childhood education facility serving children ages 3-5, including Young Fives kindergarten preparation program available at all elementary schools.
• Renaissance High School Alternative high school and community education facility offering alternative pathways to graduation, GED preparation, and adult education.
• CSMTech (Science, Mathematics, Art & Technology Academy) STEAM academy providing integrated curriculum with acceleration and technology tools applied to mathematics and sciences.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme Comprehensive two-year pre-university program focusing on international perspectives, welcomed by leading universities worldwide.
• Career Immersion Pathways Career-focused program where students earn a Career Diploma endorsement in Business Administration, Computer Science, Engineering, Finance, Education, or Marketing.
• Construction Technology Hands-on STEAM and construction technology curriculum leading to careers in skilled trades, construction management, and related fields, supported by industry partners.
• LIFE Skills Adult transition services program for students with special needs providing life skills training and employment preparation.
• Project SEARCH Clarkston Transition program providing employment preparation and workplace experience for students with disabilities, with students placed at McLaren Hospital.
• Athletics Programs Competitive athletic programs offering 35 sports with 1,274 student-athletes, including multiple district, regional, and state championship teams.
• Fine & Performing Arts Comprehensive arts programs including band, orchestra, choir, marching band, theater, and visual arts (drawing, painting, ceramics, photography, digital illustration).

Quantifiable outcome

• Third in Oakland County for 11th grade M-Step Science scores
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• LaFontaine Automotive GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLaFontaine Automotive Group donated $100,000 over five years to support the LaFontaine Pack of Dogs therapy dog program in Clarkston schools.
• Clarkston FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClarkston Foundation supports the LaFontaine Pack of Dogs program and provides summer camp scholarships to district students.
• Orion Oaks Animal HospitalminorOthersOrion Oaks Animal Hospital supports the LaFontaine Pack of Dogs program to keep therapy dogs fed and healthy.
• Marketplace PetsminorOthersMarketplace Pets supports the LaFontaine Pack of Dogs program.
• McLaren HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject SEARCH partnership with McLaren Hospital where students with disabilities completed first year with two students being fully employed at the hospital.
• Commercial Contracting CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports the Clarkston Construction Trades Program.
• Albaugh Masonry Stone and TileminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports the Clarkston Construction Trades Program.
• Clarkston Area Optimist ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction Tech students partner with Clarkston Area Optimist Club to set up ice skating rink in Depot Park.
• Daughters of the American RevolutionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents worked with Daughters of the American Revolution to create a searchable database of veterans buried in Lakeview Cemetery.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rochester Community Schools: Oakland County K-12 district of similar scale (~14,000+ students across multiple schools). Comparable as a neighboring public district competing for Schools-of-Choice students and serving similarly affluent suburban communities.
• Troy School District: Oakland County K-12 district known for academic rigor, advanced programs, and high post-secondary outcomes. Direct competitor for Schools-of-Choice enrollment and benchmark for IB and STEM specialty program quality.
• Huron Valley Schools: Adjacent Oakland County K-12 district serving Milford and Highland. Comparable scale and suburban demographic profile, competing for the same labor pool of teachers and overlapping enrollment boundaries.
• Waterford School District: Oakland County K-12 district of similar scale serving the Waterford area. Comparable suburban public-district model with similar mix of traditional and alternative programming.
• Holly Area Schools: Nearby K-12 district in the Holly area with similar scale and demographic blend. Comparable as a smaller Oakland/Genesee border public district with a full K-12 footprint.
• Oxford Community Schools: Northern Oakland County K-12 district serving Oxford and adjacent communities. Similar scale, suburban-to-rural blend, and competing for the same regional Schools-of-Choice pool.
• Brandon School District: Oakland County K-12 district of comparable size serving Brandon Township. Similar suburban/rural demographic mix and direct geographic neighbor for Schools-of-Choice competition.
• Lake Orion Community Schools: Adjacent Oakland County K-12 district of comparable scale (~7,000+ students) serving Lake Orion and Oxford-adjacent communities. Directly comparable in size, demographic mix, and suburban public-district profile.
• Bloomfield Hills Schools: Nearby Oakland County K-12 district with strong academic reputation and similarly affluent demographic. Direct competitor for high-achieving families and benchmark for Blue Ribbon-style recognition.
• Walled Lake Consolidated Schools: Adjacent Oakland County K-12 district of larger scale serving Commerce Township, Wixom, and Walled Lake. Comparable suburban public-district structure and competing for Schools-of-Choice students.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ClarkstonCommunitySchools
• Facebookfacebook.com/clarkstoncommunityschools
• Instagraminstagram.com/clarkstonschools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clarkston-community-schools

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Clarkston Community Schools