PALADIN CAREER & TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL

What PALADIN CAREER & TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL does

Paladin Career & Technical High School (PCTHS) is a tuition-free public charter school founded in 2003 and based in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, serving students in grades 9 through 12+, including adult learners. It operates a relationships-first, alternative-education model built around six complementary learning modalities — Project-Based Learning, Experiential Learning, a College & Careers program, Seminar-Based Learning, Self-Paced Learning, and a Blended Learning model combining asynchronous courses with project work. Students progress at their own pace with support from Student Success Coordinators, and outcomes include a 97% one-year graduation rate and a 99% family recommendation rate. The school was recognized as MAAP (Minnesota Association of Alternative Programs) School of the Year.

The school's core technology stack is conventional learning-management infrastructure rather than a proprietary platform: HeadRush for student management and portfolio tracking, Google Sites for student and staff homepages, and asynchronous course tools that support the blended learning environment. The school recently opened a new building and an outdoor classroom space built with support from the Minnesota Department of Education, Catalyst for Systems Change, Tree Trust, and EdVisions.

As a public charter nonprofit, PCTHS is funded primarily by per-pupil state allocations from Minnesota, supplemented by grants from partners such as MDE, Catalyst for Systems Change, Tree Trust, and EdVisions. There is no tuition revenue and no disclosed venture or institutional ownership; governance sits with the Paladin Board, and a related entity, PCTHS Building Co., manages facilities. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer enrollment through the school's website, supported by school tours and word-of-mouth referrals — 99% of families reportedly recommend the school. With 19 employees and a single campus, the organization operates at small-scale charter economics and is structurally exposed to Minnesota's per-pupil funding formula and charter authorization terms.

Name

PALADIN CAREER & TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL

Legal name

Paladin Career & Technical High School

Website

https://paladincareertech.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Paladin Career & Technical High School is a tuition-free public charter school in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, serving grades 9-12+ through project-based, experiential, self-paced, and blended learning models, funded by per-pupil state allocations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charter High School Education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools (EDAJACAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Portfolio, Capstone & Project-Based Program Support (EDAMAKAD)

Keywords

• Charter high school education
• Alternative education programs
• Project-based learning services
• Experiential learning programs
• Self-paced high school

Headquarters

HQ city

Coon Rapids

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, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil State Funding: As a public charter school, Paladin receives per-pupil state funding based on enrollment. This is the primary revenue stream for operational costs, teacher salaries, and educational programs.
2. Grant Funding: The school receives grant funding from partners such as the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), Catalyst for Systems Change (CSC), Tree Trust, and EdVisions for specific programs and facilities like the outdoor learning space.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Paladin Career & Technical High School is a tuition-free public charter school serving grades 9-12+ in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. It delivers personalized, interest-driven secondary education through multiple complementary learning modalities — including project-based, experiential, seminar-based, self-paced, blended, and college & career-focused programs — supported by Student Success Coordinators and tools such as HeadRush for student management and Google Sites for student and staff homepages.

Product overview

Paladin Career & Technical High School is a tuition-free public charter school serving grades 9-12+ that offers a unified educational platform built around multiple complementary learning modalities. The school provides six interconnected learning approaches—Project-Based Learning, Experiential Learning, College & Careers Program, Seminar-Based Learning, Self-Paced Learning, and Blended Learning—that students combine to obtain academic credits. Students progress through their academic journey by selecting from these modalities, with support from Student Success Coordinators and access to tools like HeadRush for portfolio tracking and Google Sites for student/staff portals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Project-Based Learning
• Experiential Learning
• College & Careers Program
• Seminar-Based Learning
• Self-Paced Learning
• Blended Learning Model

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% 1-year graduation rate
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMDE is a key partner providing funding and support for educational initiatives including the outdoor learning space project. The partnership enables implementation of innovative learning environments and programs that align with state educational standards and objectives.
• Catalyst for Systems Change (CSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSC partnered with Paladin on the outdoor learning space project, supporting the transformation of unused land into a vibrant educational environment. CSC's involvement indicates a shared commitment to innovative, experiential education approaches.
• Tree TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTree Trust provided generous support for the outdoor learning space project, contributing to the creation of the wooded outdoor classroom. Tree Trust focuses on environmental and workforce development initiatives that align with Paladin's experiential learning philosophy.
• EdVisionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdVisions supported the outdoor learning space initiative and is associated with Paladin's mission of innovative education. EdVisions likely provides consulting and support for alternative education program development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Success Academy Charter Schools: Success Academy operates a large NYC-based charter network including high schools with rigorous academic outcomes. Comparable as a high-performing public charter operator, though its scale and geography differ from Paladin.
• Connections Academy: Connections Academy operates tuition-free online public schools, including high school programs, serving families seeking alternatives to traditional schooling. Comparable to Paladin as a public alternative education provider but with a fully online delivery model.
• KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program): KIPP is one of the largest U.S. charter management organizations serving K-12 students, including high schools. It is comparable as a public charter operator serving non-traditional student populations but with national scale and a much broader portfolio.
• BASIS Charter Schools: BASIS operates a national network of tuition-free public charter schools with rigorous academic programs. It serves a similar tuition-free charter high school audience but operates at significantly greater scale and geographic breadth.
• National Heritage Academies: National Heritage Academies is a charter management organization operating tuition-free public charter schools across multiple states. Comparable to Paladin as a tuition-free public charter high school operator, but with multi-state scale.

Direct peers

• Big Picture Learning: Big Picture Learning is a national network of project-based, personalized-learning schools centered on internships, mentorship, and student-driven learning. Its pedagogical model closely mirrors Paladin's project-based and experiential approach.
• Summit Public Schools: Summit Public Schools operates charter high schools using a personalized learning model that combines self-paced, project-based, and mentoring components—closely aligned with Paladin's blended and self-paced modalities.
• High Tech High: High Tech High is a well-known charter network using project-based, interdisciplinary learning. It is comparable to Paladin in its emphasis on project-based and experiential learning models for high school students.
• EdVisions: EdVisions is a Minnesota-based organization that supports student-centered, project-based charter schools. It is a current strategic partner of Paladin and operates a directly comparable alternative education model with similar pedagogy and target student population.

Others

• MAAP (Minnesota Association of Alternative Programs): MAAP is the Minnesota industry association for alternative education programs of which Paladin is a member and a School of the Year recipient. While not a direct operating competitor, it represents the cohort of alternative programs against which Paladin is benchmarked.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paladin-career-&-technical-high-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 PALADIN CAREER & TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL