Oak Ridge Schools
Oak Ridge Schools is a public K-12 district in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, operating 10 schools from preschool through high school, funded by state and local taxes, with a STEM-focused curriculum, Cognia STEM Certification, and top-tier state academic ratings.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1943
- HeadquartersOak Ridge, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Oak Ridge Schools does
Oak Ridge Schools is a public K-12 school district headquartered at 304 New York Ave in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, serving students from preschool through 12th grade across ten schools: one preschool, four elementary schools (Glenwood, Linden, Willow Brook, Woodland), one charter academy (Secret City Academy), two middle schools (Jefferson, Robertsville), and Oak Ridge High School. The district was founded in 1943 during the Manhattan Project era and operates under the authority of the Tennessee Department of Education with a locally elected Board of Education, currently led by Superintendent Dr. Bruce Borchers.
The district's core technology infrastructure centers on the AccessOR 1:1 device initiative, which provides laptops to every student in grades 5-12 and integrates with the Clever single sign-on platform and Canvas learning management system. Student records and family access are managed through Skyward. Curriculum delivery emphasizes STEM, supported by Cognia STEM Certification earned by every school in the district since the 2014-15 school year and maintained through ongoing external review.
Oak Ridge Schools is funded primarily through state per-pupil allocations, federal education grants, and local property taxes, providing tuition-free K-12 education to enrolled families. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The district's go-to-market is direct enrollment of resident families, with extended child care offered for additional fees and free summer meal programs provided through community partnerships. Marketing and community engagement operate through the district website (ortn.edu), Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, WBIR local news partnerships, and community events such as the annual Turkey Trot and STEM Nights. The district has earned consistent top-tier recognition including Level 5 District designation from TDOE, National Blue Ribbon School status for Glenwood Elementary (2024), and a #1 Niche ranking for Tennessee school districts.
Oak Ridge Schools firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Oak Ridge Schools
- Legal name
- Oak Ridge Schools
- Website
- https://ortn.edu
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1943
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Oak Ridge Schools is a public K-12 district in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, operating 10 schools from preschool through high school, funded by state and local taxes, with a STEM-focused curriculum, Cognia STEM Certification, and top-tier state academic ratings.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Oak Ridge Schools industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Public Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)
Keywords
Where Oak Ridge Schools is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oak Ridge
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Oak Ridge Schools business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Public Education Funding: Primary funding through state and local tax revenue, federal education grants, and per-pupil state allocations. District operates as a government entity providing free public education to residents.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Free public K-12 education |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Oak Ridge Schools product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Oak Ridge Schools is a public K-12 school district operating ten schools from preschool through high school, delivering free state-funded education with a STEM-focused, Cognia-certified curriculum. The district complements classroom instruction with the AccessOR 1:1 laptop program for grades 5-12, food services, extended child care, and a broad range of extracurricular and career-readiness programs including the Wildcat Manufacturing pathway.
Product overview
Oak Ridge Schools is a public school district serving the Oak Ridge, Tennessee community, operating on a traditional school-district structure with multiple schools at different grade levels rather than a unified software product platform. The district offers a comprehensive K-12 educational program including preschool, four elementary schools (Glenwood, Linden, Willow Brook, Woodland), two middle schools (Jefferson, Robertsville), Oak Ridge High School, and Secret City Academy. The district's primary technology initiative is AccessOR, a 1:1 laptop program for grades 5-12, supported by the Canvas learning management system and Skyward student information system. The district maintains a strong focus on STEM education with Cognia STEM Certification across all schools, supplemented by extensive teacher resources and professional development programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Oak Ridge Schools Preschool Pre-kindergarten program serving young learners in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
- Elementary Schools (Glenwood, Linden, Willow Brook, Woodland) Four elementary schools serving kindergarten through 5th grade with focus on STEM education, literacy, and foundational academics. Glenwood Elementary was named a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School.
- Middle Schools (Jefferson, Robertsville) Two middle schools serving grades 6-8, offering STEM programs, career exploration, and college readiness preparation.
- Oak Ridge High School Comprehensive high school offering college preparatory courses, career and technical education (CCTE), STEM programs, and career readiness pathways including the award-winning Wildcat Manufacturing program.
- Secret City Academy Alternative school option within the district serving students requiring alternative educational approaches.
- Food Services District food service program providing breakfast and lunch during the school year and free summer meals for children 18 and under through partnerships with ETHRA and Southwest Food Excellence.
Quantifiable outcome
- Level 5 District designation from TDOE - highest available rating
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Oak Ridge Schools
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Oak Ridge Schools technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
Oak Ridge Schools partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ETHRAcoreEast Tennessee Human Resources Agency partnership providing the Sunshine Bus for summer meal distribution. Program provides free, nutritious lunches to anyone 18 and under throughout Anderson County.
- Southwest Food Excellence (SFE)corePartnership to provide free, healthy meals for children during summer months. SFE General Manager Kristina Barnard stated commitment to supporting students and families year-round. Meals served through ETHRA Sunshine Bus at multiple locations.
- Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation (ORPSEF)coreNon-profit foundation providing grant funding to educators. Surprised ORS educators with fourteen grants totaling over $36,000 for the 2024-25 school year. Has raised and contributed over $1,036,000 in grants for teachers since 2005.
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)coreLocal national laboratory supporting STEM education through partnerships including ORISE/ORAU competitions, Y-12 Development Mechanical Engineer Ben Green's 3D printing participation, and DOE involvement in STEM Nights. Students learn about Spallation Neutron Source through LEGO models.
- Burns & McDonnellminorArchitectural, Engineering, and Construction firm in Oak Ridge offering STEM grant program for teachers with grants ranging from $500 to $5000. Representatives available for STEM Nights or classroom presentations.
- ORISE/ORAUminorProvides monthly lesson plan competition with funds or materials for K-12 educators. Contact Jennifer Tyrell for more information.
- University of Tennessee (UTK)minorDr. Katharine Page from Materials Science and Engineering department looking for school partners for NSF grant focused on Materials Science Outreach with underrepresented Middle School students. East TN STEM Hub associated with UTK.
- Southwest Food Excellence (SFE)corePlatinum sponsor ($500+) of Turkey Trot event. Provides free summer meals program. Committed to supporting students and families beyond the school day.
- Anderson County Health DepartmentminorPlatinum sponsor ($500+) of Turkey Trot event supporting student health and wellness activities.
- East TN OrthodonticsminorPlatinum sponsor ($500+) of Turkey Trot event.
- East TN Pediatric DentistryminorPlatinum sponsor ($500+) of Turkey Trot event.
- ASAP of AndersonminorPlatinum sponsor of Turkey Trot event supporting community health initiatives.
- Beehive IndustriesminorAdditive manufacturing company (formerly Volunteer Aerospace) offering to participate in STEM Nights. Tyler Riley contact for involvement.
- Y-12 National Security ComplexminorDOE facility offering 3D printing demonstrations and participation in STEM Nights through Ben Green, Development Mechanical Engineer.
- CogniacoreGlobal education organization providing STEM certification through rigorous internal and external review processes. Schools in Oak Ridge among first in Tennessee and nation to maintain Cognia STEM certification earned in 2014-15.
- AdvancEDcoreNon-profit organization (now Cognia) conducting rigorous reviews of educational institutions. Partnered with 34,000 educational institutions across US and 70 nations. Every school in Oak Ridge received STEM certification through AdvancED.
- WBIRminorLocal television news featuring Oak Ridge Schools programs including Kindertown USA, student achievements, and Cool School designations.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Oak Ridge Schools competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Knox County Schools: Largest public school district in the Knoxville-East Tennessee region, adjacent to Oak Ridge. Directly comparable as a Tennessee K-12 public school district serving overlapping metropolitan labor market and competing for the same teacher talent pool.
- Maryville City Schools: High-performing East Tennessee public school district frequently cited alongside Oak Ridge in state rankings. Closely comparable as a similarly sized Tennessee K-12 district competing on academic outcomes and STEM reputation.
- Anderson County Schools: Public school district sharing the Anderson County geography with Oak Ridge Schools. Directly comparable as an adjacent Tennessee district serving overlapping community and competing for the same family enrollment base.
- Roane County Schools: Public school district covering the second county (Roane) within Oak Ridge Schools' service area. Directly comparable as a neighboring Tennessee district competing for students and operating under the same TDOE accountability framework.
Broad incumbents
- Riverside Unified School District: California public school district recognized for STEM and college/career pathways. Comparable as a STEM-focused public K-12 district pursuing industry partnerships and work-based learning models similar to Oak Ridge's ORNL/CCTE strategy.
- Williamson County Schools: Top-performing suburban Tennessee public school district consistently ranked among the state's best. Comparable as a high-achievement Tennessee K-12 district competing for the same statewide Top-1 status that Oak Ridge has historically held.
- Hamilton County Schools: Large urban Tennessee public school district based in Chattanooga. Comparable as a Tennessee public K-12 system operating under the same state assessment, TVAAS, and Level 5 accountability regime, though at significantly larger scale.
- Arlington Independent School District: Texas public K-12 district widely recognized for STEM and career-technical education programming, including industry partnerships. Comparable as a STEM-credentialed public district pursuing the same Cognia-style certification and employer pipeline strategy as Oak Ridge.
Emerging players
- BASIS Charter Schools: National charter school network specializing in STEM and college-prep curriculum with strong academic outcomes. Comparable as a STEM-focused K-12 operator pursuing similar Cognia-style rigor and STEM certification, though operating as a charter rather than a public district.
Others
- Cognia: Global education accreditation and STEM certification body that credentialed every Oak Ridge school. Comparable as an ecosystem partner rather than competitor - the entity whose certification framework defines Oak Ridge's STEM differentiation and validates its academic quality externally.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Oak Ridge Schools social profiles
Digital presenceOak Ridge Schools compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Oak Ridge Schools financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Oak Ridge Schools leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Oak Ridge Schools funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Oak Ridge Schools M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Oak Ridge Schools
What does Oak Ridge Schools do?
Oak Ridge Schools is a public K-12 school district operating ten schools from preschool through high school, delivering free state-funded education with a STEM-focused, Cognia-certified curriculum. The district complements classroom instruction with the AccessOR 1:1 laptop program for grades 5-12, food services, extended child care, and a broad range of extracurricular and career-readiness programs including the Wildcat Manufacturing pathway.
Is Oak Ridge Schools a public or private company?
Oak Ridge Schools is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Oak Ridge Schools founded?
Oak Ridge Schools was founded in 1943. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Oak Ridge Schools based?
Oak Ridge Schools is headquartered in Oak Ridge, United States, in the North America region.
How does Oak Ridge Schools make money?
One revenue line is on record: public Education Funding.
Who are Oak Ridge Schools's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Knox County Schools, Maryville City Schools, Anderson County Schools and Roane County Schools. Broad incumbents are Riverside Unified School District, Williamson County Schools, Hamilton County Schools and Arlington Independent School District. BASIS Charter Schools is listed as an emerging player. Cognia is listed as an others.
Does Oak Ridge Schools have an API?
No public API is recorded for Oak Ridge Schools.
What industry is Oak Ridge Schools in?
Oak Ridge Schools's product category is K-12 Public Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAAAE, Public K–12 Combined Schools, with a secondary code of EDAJAAAJ, Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs. Its NAICS code is 61111 and its SIC code is 8200.