Mt. Scott Learning Center

What Mt. Scott Learning Center does

Mt. Scott Learning Center (also operating as Mt. Scott High School or MSLC) is an accredited nonprofit alternative high school serving grades 9-12 students in SE Portland who benefit from a non-traditional learning environment, including those with credit deficiency or social/emotional challenges. Founded in 2004 when it began leasing space at the former Laurelwood United Methodist Church, the school has continuously expanded its physical footprint, including purchasing the church facility in 2013, converting the sanctuary into classrooms in 2010-2012, and building a multipurpose room in 2016. Core programmatic offerings include personalized Academic Advisory services, Counseling, a Service Learning program with monthly off-campus community engagement, and a Transitions Program that prepares students for post-secondary education and career pathways.

The organization is structured as a small 13-person team operating from a single site at 6148 SE Holgate Blvd, with students admitted on a rolling-enrollment basis through a Student Interest Form, transcript review, interview, and two-week trial. There is no proprietary technology stack; the operation runs on a standard WordPress website and community-driven intake processes. Revenue is generated through two primary streams: a contracting relationship with Portland Public Schools (PPS) that effectively serves as per-pupil funding for enrolled students, and supplementary foundation and donor contributions that underwrite programs, services, and the planned Youth Center capital project. The school partners with 25+ community organizations, including Portland Community College, Warner Pacific University, Future Connect, OMSI, and trades apprenticeships, to provide college scholarships, career exposure, and post-graduation support. A planned 5,500 square-foot Youth Center is slated for groundbreaking in summer 2027, pending sufficient fundraising.

Name

Mt. Scott Learning Center

Legal name

Mt. Scott High School

Website

https://mtscott.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mt. Scott Learning Center (Mt. Scott High School) is an accredited nonprofit alternative high school in SE Portland serving grades 9-12 students through a Portland Public Schools contract, funded by PPS revenue and donor support, with no tuition charged to students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alternative Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Remedial & Credit Recovery Learning Centers (EDANAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

K–12 Core Curriculum Small-Group Tutoring Centers (Math/ELA/Science/Social Studies) (EDANAHAA), K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

Keywords

• Alternative high school
• Credit recovery programs
• Youth education services
• Alternative education
• Nonprofit secondary education

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Portland Public Schools Contract: Contracted alternative high school program funded through PPS. Operates as accredited nonprofit contracting with Portland Public Schools to offer an alternative path to graduation.
2. Foundation and Donor Support: Additional funding from foundations and individual donors to supplement PPS contract. Donations support student programs, services, and capital improvements (Youth Center construction).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mt. Scott Learning Center operates an accredited nonprofit alternative high school (Mt. Scott High School) for grades 9-12 in SE Portland, contracting with Portland Public Schools to provide a non-traditional path to graduation. Core offerings include personalized academic advising, counseling services, a Transitions Program for post-graduation success, and a mandatory Service Learning program. Students do not pay tuition; the program is funded through the PPS contract and donor support.

Product overview

Mt. Scott Learning Center operates as a single unified offering: Mt. Scott High School, an accredited nonprofit alternative high school contracting with Portland Public Schools. The school serves students in grades 9-12 who benefit from a non-traditional learning environment. Core components include the Transitions Program for post-high school preparation, Service Learning for community engagement, and Academic Advisory/Counseling Services. All services are integrated under one roof in a small learning community model. A planned Youth Center expansion would add physical education and CTE facilities pending funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mt. Scott High School

Quantifiable outcome

• 9 students from Class of 2025 awarded Future Connect Scholarships from over 1,000 applicants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Portland Public Schools (PPS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner25+ year contracting relationship with Portland Public Schools to offer an alternative path to graduation. Mt. Scott is an accredited nonprofit high school contracting with PPS.
• Future Connect (City of Portland and Portland Community College)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScholarship program that works to eliminate barriers to attending college for low-income and first-generation college students. Offers financial scholarship for two years, career pathway planning, success coach, job and internship opportunities, and transfer support. Since 2011, Future Connect has been important in increasing college retention and degree achievement.
• Portland Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing pathways to college enrollment and career training for Mt. Scott graduates.
• Warner Pacific UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts annual graduation ceremony at McGuire Auditorium. Provides higher education pathway for graduates.
• Transition ProjectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates Laurelwood Center shelter in SE Portland. Mt. Scott students participate in monthly service learning at the shelter, preparing and serving lunch for residents.
• Black United FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing resources and support for students.
• Portland YouthBuildersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth workforce development partner.
• Portland Workforce AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer pathway and workforce development partner.
• OMSIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience and education partner providing enrichment activities.
• Oregon Tradeswomen Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides career pathways in trades for female students.
• NECA/IBEW Local 48 Electrical Apprenticeship Training ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer pathway partner for electrical trades.
• Pacific Northwest Carpenters InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer pathway partner for carpentry and construction trades.
• Mt. Hood Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity college partnership for dual enrollment and transfer pathways.
• Pacific Northwest College of ArtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt education pathway partner.
• Portland Art MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partner providing art education experiences.
• Portland Center StageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater partner for performing arts education.
• SE WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoutheast Portland workforce development partner.
• Sackcloth & AshesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission-driven business partner that teamed up with Mt. Scott during Willamette Week Give!Guide campaign to donate 100 blankets to Laurelwood Center shelter.
• Laurelwood United Methodist ChurchcoreOthersFormer church congregation. Mt. Scott leased the education center space starting in fall 2004, then purchased the entire facility and adjoining property in 2013. The building celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2024.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Portland Waldorf School: Independent private K-12 school in Portland offering an alternative Waldorf educational philosophy. Competes for Portland families seeking non-traditional educational environments, though targeting a different demographic than Mt. Scott's at-risk youth population.
• Oregon Charter Academy: Statewide online charter school offering flexible, self-paced high school education to at-risk and credit-deficient students across Oregon. Overlaps with Mt. Scott's mission of serving non-traditional learners, though delivered virtually across a broader geography.

Direct peers

• Portland YouthBuilders: Portland-based nonprofit serving at-risk youth (ages 17-24) through alternative education and workforce training. Mt. Scott lists Portland YouthBuilders as an explicit partner and they serve overlapping populations with complementary academic and vocational pathways.
• Helensview High School: PPS-operated alternative high school providing credit recovery and graduation pathways to students who have struggled in comprehensive high schools. Competes with Mt. Scott for the same PPS-referred student population.
• Rosemary Anderson High School: PPS-sponsored alternative high school in North Portland serving students ages 14-20 who have not succeeded in traditional settings. Most direct functional competitor to Mt. Scott within Portland Public Schools' alternative education portfolio.
• Open School: Portland-area alternative private school emphasizing student-driven, project-based learning for grades K-12. Comparable model of small cohorts, individualized pacing, and non-traditional environment serving families seeking alternatives to conventional schooling.
• Alliance High School at Meek: PPS alternative high school focused on college preparatory curriculum for students seeking a non-traditional environment. Competes for similar PPS-referred students who need a smaller, more personalized setting than traditional comprehensive high schools.
• Metropolitan Learning Center: PPS-sponsored K-8 alternative school in Portland offering individualized project-based learning. Shares Mt. Scott's small-learning-community model and alternative-education philosophy, though serving younger grades.
• De La Salle North Portland: Catholic alternative high school in Portland serving at-risk youth through small cohorts, personalized support, and college/career pathways. Operates as a private nonprofit in the same Portland metro alternative education space as Mt. Scott.

Others

• Warner Pacific University: Small private university in SE Portland that hosts Mt. Scott's annual graduation at McGuire Auditorium and serves as a higher-education pathway partner. An ecosystem participant rather than a competitor, providing the next-step educational outcome for Mt. Scott graduates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/user33028998
• Facebookfacebook.com/MtScottLearningCenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/mtscottlc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mt-scott-learning-ctr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Mt. Scott Learning Center