Houghton Central High School

What Houghton Central High School does

Houghton-Portage Township Schools (HPTS) is a Michigan public K-12 school district headquartered at 1603 Gundlach Road, Houghton, Michigan. It is a government state entity under the oversight of the Michigan Department of Education, operating three wholly-owned subsidiary schools: Houghton Elementary School (K-5), Houghton Middle School (grades 6-8), and Houghton Central High School (grades 9-12). The district does not charge tuition; primary funding derives from state aid and local property tax revenue. No private ownership structure exists, and the entity is governed by a Board of Education with Superintendent Anders Hill leading day-to-day operations.

The district's instructional model centers on a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) layered with the proprietary GRIT behavioral framework (Goals, Respect, Integrity, Teamwork), designed to scaffold student behavior and academic intervention consistently across grade transitions. Academic and student-support programs include standard 9-12 coursework with graduation requirements, college and career counseling, driver education (Segments 1 and 2), media center/library services, JROTC, robotics, and a behavioral health coordination function. Food service operates under the USDA National School Lunch Program, with free meals provided to all students for 2023-24 via the Michigan School Meals initiative. Auxiliary revenue streams are immaterial to scale: the All-Sports Booster Club contributes over $20,000 annually in athletic support, and ala carte meal pricing ($2.00-$5.25) generates minor transactional revenue.

Distribution is exclusively domestic, with enrollment open to district residents and accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis through School of Choice for non-residents. Marketing and community engagement leverage the district website (hpts.us), Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, YouTube, email ListServ bulletins, an Alumni Association, and the HPTS Foundation. Award pedigree includes a U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon Award (elementary), Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School designation, U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools listing, and NCA-CASI accreditation.

Name

Houghton Central High School

Legal name

Houghton-Portage Township Schools

Website

https://hpts.us

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Houghton-Portage Township Schools is a Michigan public K-12 district operating Houghton Elementary, Middle, and Central High School, serving resident students tuition-free using an MTSS/GRIT framework and supported by state funding and community booster organizations.

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 High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• Secondary education services
• College preparation programs
• School athletics programs
• Student counseling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Houghton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Houghton Central High School, part of Houghton-Portage Township Schools, provides public secondary education for grades 9-12 in Houghton, Michigan. The school delivers a comprehensive academic program with course offerings, graduation requirements, and college preparation, supported by a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) using the GRIT behavioral framework (Goals, Respect, Integrity, Teamwork). Supporting services include school counseling, food service through the National School Lunch Program, media center/library resources, driver education, athletics, and extracurricular programs.

Product overview

Houghton Central High School operates as part of Houghton-Portage Township Schools district, offering a comprehensive high school program for grades 9-12. The school provides academic programs including standard coursework, driver education, and a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) for behavioral and academic intervention. Supporting services include counseling, food service through the National School Lunch Program, and library/media center resources. The school is accredited by NCA-CASI and has received National Blue Ribbon recognition. The academic program operates alongside athletics, alumni engagement, and various student support services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• High School Academic Program Comprehensive academic program for grades 9-12 students at Houghton Central High School, including course offerings, graduation requirements, academic policies, student handbook, and college preparation. This is the core education offering for the high school division.
• School Counseling Services College and career counseling, academic advising, and social-emotional support services for students in grades 9-12 at Houghton High School, delivered by dedicated counselors.
• Driver Education Program Segment 1 and Segment 2 driver education programs for high school students at Houghton High School, providing classroom and behind-the-wheel training to prepare students for licensing.
• Food Service Program National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs offering free meals to all students grades Pre-K to 12 through the Michigan School Meals initiative, with ala carte options available from the Gremlin Café for additional purchases.
• Media Center / Library Services Library resources including catalog access, MeL databases, Google Books, and research tools to support lifelong learning for middle and high school students.
• Athletics Program Comprehensive interscholastic athletics program for 9th-12th grade students at Houghton High School, including multiple sports teams and physical education. Approximately 71% of 9th-12th grade students participate in school sports, supported by the Houghton All-Sports Booster Club.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Houghton High School Gremlins All Sports Booster ClubcoreOthersThe All-Sports Booster Club is a parent and community organization that fundraises to support athletic programs and promotes school spirit through sports. The Booster Club has allowed the school to avoid a pay-to-play situation and has purchased safety equipment, uniforms, and other athletic items. The club spends over $20,000 annually supporting athletics.
• HPTS FoundationcoreOthersThe Houghton-Portage Township Schools Foundation supports the district through fundraising and alumni engagement. The foundation is referenced as a resource for alumni and community giving.
• Keweenaw Community FoundationminorOthersThe Bernard F. Gaffney Scholarship Fund is administered by the Keweenaw Community Foundation, located at 235 Quincy Street, Hancock, MI 49930. Alumni and community members can contribute to the scholarship fund through the Foundation's website.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Munising Public Schools: K-12 public school district in Alger County in Michigan's central UP. Comparable as a small-town UP public district with a similar athletics-and-academics mix and state funding profile.
• Hancock Public Schools: Neighboring K-12 public school district in Houghton County, Michigan, serving a similar small UP community with comparable grade configuration, athletics, and public funding model. The most directly comparable peer for enrollment, budget scale, and program mix.
• Ontonagon Area School District: K-12 public school district serving Ontonagon County in Michigan's western UP. Comparable as a rural, geographically isolated public district facing similar demographic and funding dynamics.
• L'Anse Area Schools: K-12 public school district serving L'Anse and surrounding Baraga County communities in Michigan's UP. Comparable as a small rural public district with similar athletics and extracurricular profile.
• Calumet-Laurium-Keweenaw Public Schools: Adjacent K-12 public school district in Houghton County, Michigan, serving a similar small-town Upper Peninsula population. Highly comparable in scale, governance, athletics offerings, and reliance on state foundation allowance.
• Gwinn Area Community Schools: K-12 public school district in Marquette County, Michigan's central UP. Comparable in scale and rural-UP community context, and relevant for benchmarking program offerings and budget outcomes.
• Lake Linden-Hubbell Public Schools: Small neighboring K-12 public school district in Houghton County, Michigan. Comparable as a small rural UP district with a similar student population size, athletic program breadth, and public funding exposure.
• Chassell Township Schools: Very small K-12 public school district located in Houghton County immediately adjacent to Houghton. Useful as a peer for understanding the small end of the size distribution and the implications of declining rural enrollment.
• Baraga Area Schools: K-12 public school district in Baraga County, Michigan, on the western UP. Comparable in scale, community role, and reliance on state and local tax funding in a rural UP setting.
• Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Area Schools: Small K-12 public school district in Houghton County, Michigan, operating in a similar rural UP setting. Comparable in scale, program mix, and the structural challenges of small-district K-12 operations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/houghtonhigh
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@houghtonhighdigitalpublish2251
• Facebookfacebook.com/HoughtonHighSchool
• Instagraminstagram.com/hhsgremlins
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/houghton-central-high-school

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Houghton Central High School