What Summit Technology Academy does

Summit Technology Academy (STA) is a career-focused public high school academy operated by the Lee's Summit R-7 School District in Missouri, delivering half-day capstone programs to juniors and seniors from 44 public and private high schools across 18 sending districts. Students enroll through an application process (November-March) that requires endorsement from their public school of residence; the $3,500 annual tuition is paid by sending districts rather than by families, and weighted high school credit is granted to participants. STA does not accept private tuition funds under LSR7 policy.

The curriculum portfolio spans six career clusters (Engineering, Business & IT, Health Science, Human Services, Arts & Communication, Natural Resources) anchored by Project Lead The Way (PLTW) engineering and biomedical coursework, Cisco Networking Academy-aligned network operations/security/cyber courses, and industry-recognized certifications (IFSTA Firefighter I/II, CompTIA Security+, CCNA, FAA Remote Pilot). STA is physically co-located with the University of Central Missouri on the Missouri Innovation Campus, supporting accelerated degree pathways (e.g., bachelor's degree two years after high school via MIC, Accelerated BSN through MCC, Accelerated Aviation through UCM Aviation, Summit2Success bachelor's + master's in business/accounting via UMKC Bloch). Three campuses support specialized delivery: Missouri Innovation Campus (main), Paradise Park Campus (Hospitality/Tourism and Environmental Studies, opened 2023-24), and KC-LS Regional Airport Campus (Aerospace Academy, opened 2025-26).

The business model is a per-seat public-sector subscription with no commercial monetization, no equity ownership, and no venture or PE capital; STA is a government education entity whose revenue derives from district-paid tuition, embedded within the host district's broader operating budget. Its principal go-to-market is direct relationship-building with school counselors, Open House events, and an online application portal, supplemented by an ecosystem of 300+ industry partners (Burns & McDonnell, Black & Veatch, Oracle, Cerner, Lead Bank, LSFD, Lee's Summit Municipal Airport, Paradise Park, etc.) that provide internships, capstone projects, certifications, and hiring pipelines.

Name

Summit Technology Academy

Legal name

Summit Technology Academy

Website

https://sta.lsr7.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Summit Technology Academy is a public career-focused high school academy operated by Lee's Summit R-7 School District, delivering half-day capstone programs in engineering, IT, health science, and other fields to juniors and seniors from 18 sending districts across three campuses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Career and Technical Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gifted, Advanced & Acceleration Centers (Honors/AP/IB Enrichment) (EDANAHAL), Accelerated Learning & Grade Advancement Programs (EDAJAGAE)

Keywords

• Career technical education
• High school academy
• Career-focused programs
• Technical skills training
• Professional certifications

Headquarters

HQ city

Lees Summit, Missouri

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Public School District Tuition: Sending school districts pay tuition for students to attend Summit Technology Academy. The tuition rate is $3,500 per academic year. Lee's Summit R-7 School District policy does not allow STA to accept private funds for tuition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Summit Technology Academy (STA) is a career-focused public high school academy operated by Lee's Summit R-7 School District, delivering half-day capstone courses and accelerated college programs to juniors and seniors from 44 schools across 18 districts. STA offers 37 distinct programs across six career pathways (Engineering, Business & IT, Health Science, Human Services, Arts & Communication, Natural Resources), supplemented by accelerated degree pathways through university partnerships. Tuition is $3,500 per academic year, paid by sending public school districts.

Product overview

Summit Technology Academy (STA) is a career-focused high school academy operated by Lee's Summit R-7 School District, offering a portfolio of 37 distinct capstone courses and programs organized into career pathways (Engineering, Business & IT, Health Science, Human Services, Arts & Communication, Natural Resources) plus accelerated college programs and career starter initiatives. The academy operates across three campuses (Missouri Innovation Campus, Paradise Park Campus, KC-LS Regional Airport Campus) serving students from 44 public and private high schools across 18 school districts. Programs include traditional capstone courses (e.g., Digital Electronics, Cyber Security, Allied Health), accelerated degree pathways through university partnerships (Missouri Innovation Campus with UCM, ABSN with MCC, Summit2Success with UMKC Bloch School), and career-focused programs (Firefighter Academy, Hospitality/Tourism Management, Digital Media Technology).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Digital Electronics A college-level applied logic course teaching how computers and logic circuits work, covering electronic circuit design, logic circuit design, microcontroller programming, and robot applications using the engineering design process.
• Robotic Automation & Systems Engineering A course covering fundamentals of computerized manufacturing technology including 3D solid modeling, CNC equipment programming, CAM software, robotic arm programming, and flexible manufacturing systems.
• Aerospace Engineering A PLTW course providing fundamental knowledge of aerospace engineering including aircraft and space vehicle design, aerodynamics, propulsion systems, flight simulation, and rocket building.
• Engineering Design and Development A year-long senior engineering capstone combining Engineering Design & Development (EDD) and Engineering Field Experience (EFE), where students tackle real-world engineering challenges and work alongside industry professionals.
• Aerospace Academy An advanced avionics/aviation/aerospace pathway program including FAA Remote Pilot certification preparation, career exploration for seven aerospace workforce pathways, and hands-on learning at Lee's Summit airport.
• Business, Finance, & Data Analytics A course covering financial technology, problem-based learning, data analytics, macroeconomics, financial literacy, corporate finance, and internship opportunities with Microsoft Office certifications.
• Network Operations DevSecOps course covering foundations of network operations, OSI Model, IP addressing, LAN/WAN specifications, preparing students for Cisco Certified Network Associate certification.
• Network Security A comprehensive course on enterprise and wide area network design, implementation, and security including inter-VLAN routing, VLANs, WLANs, and Cisco Certified Network Technician exam preparation.
• Cyber Security A course covering network security protection, attack types, risk management, data privacy, device management, and CompTIA Security+ certification exam preparation.
• Cyber Operations A course covering cybercrime investigation, security operations, security monitoring, host-based analysis, network intrusion analysis aligned with NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework.
• Software Development - Python Programming course covering Python language fundamentals including algorithms, data structures, functions, classes, objects, inheritance, lists, dictionaries, scripting, and Python libraries.
• Software Development - Java

Quantifiable outcome

• Students can earn bachelor's degree 2 years after high school graduation through MIC program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Central Missouri - Lee's SummitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTA shares its main campus (Missouri Innovation Campus) with UCM-Lee's Summit, creating a professional collegiate atmosphere. UCM offers bachelor's degree programs, dual credit courses, and the MIC accelerated degree pathway allowing students to earn a bachelor's degree 2 years after high school graduation.
• Metropolitan Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCC is a key partner in the Missouri Innovation Campus initiative, providing community college coursework that allows students to earn college credit while in high school and articulate seamlessly to bachelor's degree programs.
• City of Lee's SummitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with the City of Lee's Summit for the KC-LS Regional Airport Campus housing the Aerospace Academy. The city provides airport facilities for aviation education.
• Lee's Summit Economic Development CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Aerospace Academy collaboration supporting aviation and aerospace career pathway development.
• Lee's Summit Municipal AirportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides facilities at Hangar 2 for the Aerospace Academy aviation program with lab opportunities for students.
• Burns & McDonnellminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering firm providing paid internship opportunities for MIC students in the engineering pathway.
• Black & VeatchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering firm providing paid internship opportunities for MIC engineering students.
• GrundfosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering/manufacturing company providing paid internship opportunities for MIC students.
• KCPL (Kansas City Power & Light)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUtility company providing paid internship opportunities for MIC engineering students.
• EpiqminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany providing paid internship opportunities for MIC cybersecurity and systems engineering students.
• DSTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany providing paid internship opportunities for MIC students in technology programs.
• CernerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare technology company providing paid internship opportunities for MIC students.
• RiskanalyticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany providing paid internship opportunities for MIC students in cybersecurity and technology programs.
• OracleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology company providing paid internship opportunities for cyber operations students.
• Paradise ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTA's Paradise Park Campus is located at Paradise Park, where Hospitality, Tourism & Recreation Management students complete internships and gain hands-on experience at the recreation facility including go karts, batting cages, and mini golf course.
• Missouri State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSU provides dual credit opportunities for Hospitality, Tourism & Recreation Management students through HSP 210 and HSP 215 courses.
• Ozark Technical Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOTC provides dual credit for Allied Health students including HSC 120 Medical Terminology and HSC 110 Introduction to Health Care Careers.
• Lee's Summit Fire DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSFD provides certified firefighter instructors for the Firefighter Academy capstone program, conducting training in fire suppression, search and rescue, and emergency first aid.
• Avila School of NursingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner nursing college in the Accelerated BSN program accepting graduates who complete MCC prerequisites.
• Graceland UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner nursing college in the Accelerated BSN program accepting graduates who complete MCC prerequisites.
• Research College of NursingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner nursing college in the Accelerated BSN program accepting graduates who complete MCC prerequisites.
• Rockhurst University-Saint Luke's College of NursingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner nursing college in the Accelerated BSN program accepting graduates who complete MCC prerequisites.
• UMKC School of NursingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner nursing college in the Accelerated BSN program accepting graduates who complete MCC prerequisites.
• Saint Luke's Health SystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaint Luke's provides nursing assistant training opportunities and clinical shadowing experiences for Professional Nursing students.
• Cisco Networking AcademycoreTechnology or IntegrationNetwork operations curriculum follows Cisco certification standards to prepare students for CCNA certification exams.
• Project Lead The Way (PLTW)coreTechnology or IntegrationNational engineering and biomedical curriculum provider. STA offers PLTW courses including Digital Electronics, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Design and Development, Medical Interventions, and Biomedical Innovation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stride (formerly K12 Inc.): Stride is a large online and blended-learning education provider that competes for CTE/credit-recovery high school students; a partial overlap where families choose digital over in-person capstones like STA's.
• NAF (National Academy Foundation): NAF operates career-themed academies in high schools across the US with industry partnerships and college credit, the closest national analog to STA's career-focused academy model with employer integration.

Emerging players

• Big Picture Learning: Big Picture Learning operates career-focused, internship-driven high schools nationwide; comparable in their emphasis on real-world industry experience over traditional classroom delivery, similar to STA's industry-partner capstone approach.

Others

• Project Lead The Way (PLTW): PLTW is STA's core curriculum provider across engineering and biomedical programs; comparable as the underlying content engine that other PLTW schools nationwide replicate to deliver STEM CTE.
• Metropolitan Community College (Kansas City): MCC is the community college partner providing dual credit and prerequisite coursework feeding the Accelerated BSN and other pathways; comparable as an enabling postsecondary partner whose offerings directly support STA's programs.
• University of Central Missouri - Lee's Summit: STA's primary university co-location partner offering dual credit and the MIC accelerated degree pathway; comparable as a regional postsecondary institution whose articulation strategy directly enables STA's value proposition.

Direct peers

• P-TECH Schools: P-TECH is a network of high schools integrating secondary education, college credit, and industry partnerships (IBM-led) — closely mirroring STA's Missouri Innovation Campus model of bachelor's-degree pathway with employer internships.

Regional players

• Career Academies (various districts): Public-school career academies operating in districts across the US (e.g., Dallas ISD, Chicago Public Schools) offer similar themed capstones with industry partners and dual credit, though typically embedded in larger comprehensive high schools rather than free-standing academies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@lsr7sta233
• Facebookfacebook.com/sta.lsr7
• Instagraminstagram.com/staexcels
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/summit-technology-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Summit Technology Academy