What University High School does

University High School is a tuition-free public laboratory school serving grades 9-12 on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, operating as part of the ISU Laboratory Schools alongside Thomas Metcalf School. The institution serves approximately 625 students with a 14:1 student-to-teacher ratio and reports a 99% graduation rate, offering a college-preparatory curriculum that includes AP courses, dual credit options through Heartland Community College (College NOW program), and career exploration via the Bloomington Career Academy and structured internship placements. The school also functions as a clinical training site for ISU pre-service teachers, hosting year-long internships across multiple subject areas.

The school's technology stack is conventional and consumer-grade rather than proprietary: every incoming student receives a laptop with access to Google Workspace and Office 365, and operations run on standard K-12 platforms including Skyward, Infinite Campus, TeacherEase, Frontline Education, Snap, and Parchment. Library resources include Gale databases, Sora e-books, and Swank K-12 streaming. There are no proprietary technology products or in-house software assets identified.

As a government state entity under ISU's College of Education, University High School generates no tuition revenue; operating funding flows from public/state sources through ISU, supplemented by donations through the U-High Boosters organization and the Pillar of Support giving tiers ($500-$2,500+). Go-to-market is non-commercial: admissions are selective and application-based with a fixed capacity of approximately 625 spaces, supported by an annual open house, prospective student shadow days, and website/social media outreach. The student body, families, and ISU pre-service teachers constitute the primary segments served.

Name

University High School

Legal name

University High School

Website

https://uhigh.ilstu.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

University High School is a tuition-free public laboratory school on the Illinois State University campus in Normal, Illinois, serving approximately 625 students in grades 9-12 with AP courses, dual credit, and ISU pre-service teacher clinical training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

Keywords

• Public secondary education
• Laboratory school
• College preparatory
• Dual credit courses
• Teacher education

Headquarters

HQ city

Normal

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public School Funding: As a tuition-free public school part of Illinois State University's Laboratory Schools, funding comes from public/state sources. No tuition is charged; only standard public school fees are applied.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Parent and community donations through the Boosters organization, corporate sponsors, and annual donor campaigns at various giving levels ($25,000+ to $1-99 tiers).
3. Pillar Donations Program: Booster Club 'Pillars of Support' Club with giving levels: Pillar 1 ($500-999), Pillar 2 ($1,000-$2,499), Pillar 3 ($2,500+).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

University High School is a tuition-free public laboratory high school serving grades 9-12 on the Illinois State University campus in Normal, Illinois. The school delivers college-preparatory academics including AP and dual credit courses, 21 interscholastic sports, over 50 clubs, theatre, summer camps, counseling and mental health services, library resources, and technology-rich learning with student-issued laptops. It also serves as a clinical training site for ISU pre-service teachers.

Product overview

University High School is a tuition-free, public laboratory school on the Illinois State University campus. The school operates as a single unified educational institution offering comprehensive academic programs including AP and dual credit courses, college preparation counseling, mental health services, and technology-rich learning environments. The school provides athletics (21 sports programs), activities and clubs (over 50), theatre productions, summer camps, and serves as a training ground for ISU teacher education candidates. Key services include the U-Link Learning Center for academic support, College NOW dual credit programs, and technology helpdesk services. All incoming students receive laptops with access to Google Workspace and Office 365.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Academic Programs Comprehensive high school curriculum with AP courses and dual credit offerings with Heartland Community College and Illinois State University, graduating approximately 99% of students with a 14:1 student-teacher ratio.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration16 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Illinois State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a laboratory school on the ISU campus, University High School maintains a deep operational partnership with Illinois State University. The school is part of ISU's Laboratory Schools division, providing educational opportunities for students while also supporting ISU's teacher education programs through clinical experiences, observations, and internships for pre-service teachers.
• Thomas Metcalf SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister laboratory school serving preschool through high school students. Thomas Metcalf and University High School together comprise the ISU Laboratory Schools, offering comprehensive educational programs and promoting ongoing teacher education.
• Heartland Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual credit partnership allowing U-High students to earn college credit while in high school. Students can earn their Associates degree from HCC during high school through the College NOW program. HCC staff assist with advising and registration dates.
• Bloomington Career AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing real-world, hands-on career experience opportunities for U-High students while still in high school, complementing classroom learning with practical skills.
• Illinois State University Internship ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGives secondary education majors a full year of hands-on experience at U-High, leading up to student teaching in the second semester. Internships available in Art, Business, Counseling, English, Foreign Language, Math, Music, Science, and Social Science.
• Lab Schools Advisory Council (LSAC)minorOthersAdvisory council consisting of nine parents, two PTO representatives from Metcalf, two Boosters representatives from U-High, two faculty members (one from each school), and a University representative. Meets to provide guidance on laboratory school operations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• University of Illinois Laboratory High School (Uni High): Laboratory high school at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign operating under a near-identical model: tuition-free public secondary school serving as a clinical training site for university pre-service teachers. Most direct comparable peer for U-High given similar university affiliation and selective admissions.
• University of Chicago Laboratory Schools: Nationally recognized university laboratory school offering Nursery through Grade 12 education with deep research university integration. Comparable to U-High in serving as a teacher-preparation site and maintaining selective admissions, though UChicago Lab operates private rather than tuition-free.
• Thomas Metcalf School: Sister ISU Laboratory School serving preschool through 8th grade alongside U-High to form the ISU Laboratory Schools. Direct operational peer under shared governance with Lab Schools Advisory Council representation and complementary grade-level coverage.
• Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA): Illinois public residential magnet school for grades 10-12 with selective admissions focused on STEM and college preparation. Highly comparable to U-High in selective public admissions, college-prep mission, AP and dual credit offerings, and Illinois-based public funding model.
• Adlai E. Stevenson High School: Top-ranked public high school in Lincolnshire, Illinois with strong AP, dual credit, and college-prep offerings. Comparable to U-High as a high-performing Illinois public secondary school with selective reputation and broad extracurricular programming.
• New Trier Township High School: Consistently top-ranked public high school in Illinois with rigorous college-prep curriculum, extensive AP offerings, and high graduation outcomes. Comparable peer for U-High given similar selective reputation and strong academic outcomes in Illinois.
• North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics: Public residential STEM-focused high school for grades 11-12 in North Carolina with selective admissions. Comparable peer as a tuition-free public selective secondary institution with university partnerships and STEM emphasis.
• Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology: Virginia public magnet secondary school with selective admissions focused on STEM and college preparation. Comparable peer for U-High in mission, selective admissions rigor, AP and dual enrollment emphasis, and strong graduation outcomes.

Emerging players

• BASIS Charter Schools: Network of high-performing public charter schools emphasizing STEM, AP coursework, and college preparation. Comparable peer in academic rigor and selective appeal, though BASIS operates a multi-campus charter model rather than a single university lab school.
• Purdue Polytechnic High School: Indiana public charter high school operated in partnership with Purdue University with focus on STEM and project-based learning. Comparable peer in university-affiliated public secondary model with selective admissions and STEM/college-prep emphasis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@uhighisu
• Facebookfacebook.com/UniversityHighSchool.Normal.IL
• Instagraminstagram.com/uhighpioneers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/university-high-school-25

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 University High School