Pelican Rapids Public School

What Pelican Rapids Public School does

Pelican Rapids Public School District #548 is a public K-12 school district operating under Minnesota state law, headquartered at 310 S Broadway in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. The district serves approximately 2,500+ community residents across western Otter Tail County through a unified Pre-K through Grade 12 educational continuum comprising Viking Preschool (Early Childhood Education including ECFE and Head Start via WCMCA partnership), Viking Elementary School (K-6), and Pelican Rapids High School (7-12). It employs approximately 54 staff and is governed by an elected six-member School Board chaired by Jon Karger, with Brian Korf serving as Superintendent.

The district's product portfolio extends beyond core academics to include academic support services (Viking Student Success K-6 and 7-12, Credit Recovery 9-12, English Language Learners, Special Education), Club Vikes before/after school childcare, Community Education (driver's ed, adult basic education, learning/recreation), E-Learning Days for remote instruction during inclement weather, School-Linked Behavioral Health Services via Lakeland Mental Health Center, athletics and activities under MSHSL membership, and a student-run Viking Butikk store. The technology stack consists entirely of off-the-shelf administrative and communication tools — Skyward/Qmlativ SIS, Microsoft Office 365, ParentSquare, and Finalsite CMS — with no proprietary technology, AI/ML capabilities, or differentiating technical assets.

The business model is enrollment-based public education funding: revenue derives primarily from state aid, local property taxes, and federal categorical grants allocated on a per-pupil basis, with minor ancillary income from facility rentals, activity fees, vending (Viking Coca-Cola), and yearbook services (Jostens). There is no tuition for district residents. Distribution is direct-to-student through district schools within a geographically defined service territory, supported by community engagement via district newsletters, Facebook, YouTube livestream, and events such as the Viking Gala and Vikings Hall of Fame. Strategic partnerships with Lakes Country Service Cooperative, MSHSL, MREA, MSBA, Christianson Bus Company, and local government entities (Otter Tail County, City of Pelican Rapids) extend operational capacity.

Name

Pelican Rapids Public School

Legal name

Pelican Rapids Public School District #548

Website

https://pelicanrapids.k12.mn.us

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Pelican Rapids Public School District #548 is a Minnesota public K-12 district serving Pre-K through Grade 12 students in the Pelican Rapids community. It operates Viking Preschool, Viking Elementary, and Pelican Rapids High School, funded by state aid and local property taxes on an enrollment-based per-pupil model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• Early childhood education
• Special education services
• Community education programs
• School-aged childcare

Headquarters

HQ city

Pelican Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: Funded primarily through state and local tax revenues, state aid, and federal grants based on enrollment and categorical programs. Revenue model is enrollment-driven with per-pupil funding allocation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pelican Rapids Public School District #548 delivers publicly funded Pre-K through Grade 12 education to residents of the Pelican Rapids area in western Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Core offerings include classroom instruction across elementary and secondary levels, academic support programs (Viking Student Success, Credit Recovery, ELL, Special Education), community education, school-aged childcare, E-Learning Days for remote instruction, and co-curricular athletics and activities. The district also partners with external providers to deliver Head Start and school-linked behavioral health services.

Product overview

Pelican Rapids Public School District #548 operates as a unified K-12 educational institution consisting of Viking Preschool (Early Childhood Education), Viking Elementary School (K-6), and Pelican Rapids High School (7-12). The district provides a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs including academic support services (Viking Student Success, Credit Recovery, ELL, Special Education), community education programs, Club Vikes school-aged childcare, E-Learning Days for remote learning, Head Start partnership, and School-Linked Behavioral Health Services. The district also offers co-curricular programs including athletics, activities, summer programs, and the Viking Butikk student store. Students graduate prepared for post-secondary education, workforce, or military service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Viking Preschool (Early Childhood Education) Early childhood education program for pre-kindergarten students, including Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE), preschool registration, and early childhood screening services. Serves young children and families in the Pelican Rapids area.
• Viking Elementary School Elementary school serving students in grades K through 6, featuring Viking Student Success academic support programs. Delivers core academic instruction to local children within the Pelican Rapids School District.
• Pelican Rapids High School (7-12) High school serving students in grades 7-12 with unique course offerings, college/career planning, and activities/sports programs. Prepares students for post-secondary education, military, or workforce entry.
• Academic Support Programs Academic support services including Viking Student Success K-6, Credit Recovery 9-12, English Language Learners (ELL), and Special Education programs. Supports diverse learning needs for district students.
• Community Education Lifelong learning programs for adults and families including driver's education, adult basic education, learning/recreation activities, and community events. Serves broader Pelican Rapids community members.
• Club Vikes School-Aged Care School-aged childcare program providing before and after school care for students. Addresses working family childcare needs in the Pelican Rapids community.
• E-Learning Days Online learning days providing remote education during snow days or inclement weather, with specific programs for Viking Elementary and Pelican Rapids High School.
• Head Start Program Early childhood development program serving preschool-aged children and families in partnership with WCMCA Head Start. Provides foundational learning services for qualifying families.
• School-Linked Behavioral Health Services Mental health and behavioral health services provided in partnership with Lakeland Mental Health Center. Supports student wellbeing and mental health across the district.
• Summer Programs Summer educational and recreational programs including summer theatre, summer meals, and summer rec activities for students and community members.
• Athletics & Activities Sports and activity programs for students including fall sports, Viking Athletics, and various extracurricular activities through MSHSL membership.
• Viking Butikk Student Store Student-run store providing entrepreneurial learning experiences for students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of students ready for kindergarten based on teacher assessment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Eide BaillycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngaged for annual audit services. Professional auditing firm providing independent financial audit for the school district.
• Lakes Country Service Cooperative (LCSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative partnership for technology integration, business manager services, early childhood support services, and various district support functions. Multiple annual agreements including health and safety, ECFE consortium, CTE, and community education.
• Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in MSHSL for athletics and activities. Annual membership resolutions and foundation grants for student activities.
• Minnesota Rural Education Association (MREA)minorOthersAnnual membership renewal for rural education advocacy and resources
• Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA)minorOthersAnnual membership for school board governance resources and advocacy
• WCMCA Head StartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative agreement for Head Start program providing early childhood services. Annual lease and service agreements.
• Lakeland Mental Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployee Assistance Program (EAP) agreement providing mental health and counseling services for district employees. Multi-year contract agreements.
• Christianson Bus Company / Pelican Bus CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransportation contractor providing student bus services. Multi-year bus service contracts.
• Viking Coca-Cola Bottling CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVending machine contract for beverages in district facilities
• JostensminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYearbook agreement providing yearbook services for high school students
• Otter Tail CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU for various collaborative services including transportation of children in foster care
• City of Pelican RapidsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU for collaborative community initiatives including tax abatements and shared services

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Battle Lake Public Schools: Public K-12 district in Battle Lake, MN, in the same lake-region west-central Minnesota area as Pelican Rapids. Operates at similar small scale with comparable rural community profile and per-pupil funding dynamics.
• Perham-Dent Public Schools: Public K-12 district serving Perham and Dent, MN, within roughly 25 miles of Pelican Rapids. Similar small-town rural profile, comparable enrollment scale, and shared regional cooperative relationships make this a closely comparable peer.
• Fergus Falls Public Schools: Public K-12 district headquartered in Fergus Falls, MN, in adjacent Otter Tail County. Comparable regional labor market, similar Lakes Country Service Cooperative footprint, and analogous PreK-12 programming structure make this a direct peer.
• Henning Public Schools: Public K-12 district in Henning, MN, another small rural Otter Tail County community. Closely comparable in enrollment scale, community demographics, and reliance on regional cooperative services like LCSC.
• New York Mills Public Schools: Public K-12 district in New York Mills, MN, a small rural community in Otter Tail County. Operates with similar scale, similar enrollment-driven funding model, and serves as a direct comparator for very small rural Minnesota districts.
• Detroit Lakes Public Schools: Public K-12 school district serving Detroit Lakes, MN, in the same west-central Minnesota region. Operates with similar rural lake-country demographics, PreK-12 structure, and reliance on state aid, making it a direct operating comparator to Pelican Rapids.
• Underwood Public Schools: Public K-12 district in Underwood, MN, in western Otter Tail County. Closely comparable small rural district profile, similar programming structure, and shared participation in regional cooperative services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCYKyiIGEH3tjHtQL3ww29Nw
• Facebookfacebook.com/100057488776486
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/pelican-rapids-public-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Pelican Rapids Public School