Columbia Heights Public Schools

What Columbia Heights Public Schools does

Columbia Heights Public Schools (Independent School District #13, or ISD #13) is a Minnesota public school district serving approximately 3,400 PreK-12 students across five schools in Columbia Heights, South Fridley, and Hilltop — communities located immediately north of Minneapolis and bordering Fridley, St. Anthony, and New Brighton. The district operates Columbia Heights High School (grades 9-12), Columbia Academy (grades 6-8), Highland Elementary (K-5), North Park School for Innovation (K-5, STEM-focused), Valley View Elementary (K-5), the Family Center for early childhood programs (PreK 3, PreK 4, ECFE), and Virtual Heights as an online learning option. Founded in 1926, the district employs approximately 500 staff and reports an average class size below the Metro Area average per the 2024-25 Brightworks study. Programming beyond core academics includes English Learner services, Special Education, Gifted Services, Title I, Native American Education, STEM curricula (Project Lead the Way), performing and instrumental arts, athletics, Community Education (adult basic education, ENCORE after-school, Mini Adventures child care, Adventure Club, driver's education, swimming), and a Blooming Heights Edible Schoolyard outdoor classroom. District operations are governed by an elected Board of Education with the Superintendent of Schools (Zena Stenvik) as chief executive.

The district's core technology stack is conventional K-12 infrastructure: 1-to-1 Chromebook deployment for grades 4-12, wireless networking, Synergy as the Student Information System, ParentVUE/StudentVUE portals, Google Workspace, MySchoolBucks for meal payments, MealViewer for menu publishing, BoardBook for board agenda management, Applitrack for applicant tracking, Kelly Education for substitute staffing, Public Surplus for asset disposition, and SolarEdge for monitoring the multi-building solar array funded by a 2025 Minnesota Department of Commerce Solar for Schools grant. Five buildings host SolarEdge-monitored PV systems. There is no proprietary AI/ML technology in the stack; capability development is centered on operational modernization (sustainability curriculum, virtual learning, E-Learning continuity) rather than algorithmic differentiation.

The business model is statutory public education funding rather than commercial revenue capture. Approximately 76% of the operating budget comes from State of Minnesota formula aid, with the remainder sourced from local property taxes via voter-approved Operating and Capital Project Levies, federal Title I and special education pass-through, and fee-based Community Education programs. The Operating Levy currently stands at $827 per pupil (raised from $308.93 via a 2023 'revoke and replace' referendum), with a Capital Project Levy at 5.67% of net tax capacity raising ~$1,994,898 annually. The district is a Community Eligible District, providing free meals at all school sites. The customer base is the resident population within the attendance boundary, with no commercial go-to-market motion; enrollment occurs through the district's ENROLL program and families qualify for additional benefits on application. There is no venture capital, private equity, or public equity ownership — the district is a government state entity. The 2026 proposed Operating Levy referendum (additional $550/pupil) and the 19th consecutive ASBO International Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting frame the current financial trajectory.

Name

Columbia Heights Public Schools

Legal name

Columbia Heights Public Schools

Website

https://colheights.k12.mn.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Columbia Heights Public Schools (ISD #13) is a Minnesota public school district serving approximately 3,400 PreK-12 students across five schools in Columbia Heights, South Fridley, and Hilltop, funded primarily by state aid and voter-approved local property tax levies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized Programs & Classrooms (Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, Intellectual/Developmental, Multi-Disability) (EDAJAKAH), Title I & Compensatory Education Programs (EDAJAGAJ), Head Start & Public Pre-K Programs (EDACABAK), District Student Services Administration (Special Ed, Counseling, Health) (EDADABAJ), Early Intervention Academic Readiness (Pre-K–Early Elementary) (EDAKADAG)

Keywords

• Public K-12 education
• Early childhood programs
• Special education services
• Community education
• Student transportation

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. State Education Funding: The largest share of revenue comes from the State of Minnesota, currently funding 76% of the district budget. State funding is determined using a complex formula considering student count, special needs, property wealth, and other factors.
2. Operating Levy (Voter-Approved): Voter-approved property tax levy for day-to-day operating costs including teachers, support staff, classroom materials and school operations. Current rate is $827 per pupil (increased from $308.93 per pupil in 2023). Term length is 10 years.
3. Capital Project Levy (Voter-Approved): Voter-approved renewal levy for maintenance of district buildings and grounds, technology acquisition and maintenance, and safety/security improvements. Amount is 5.67% times net tax capacity, raising approximately $1,994,898 annually.
4. Bond Referendum: Voter-approved bonds for capital construction projects. In 2018, voters passed $17,013,311 in bonds for safety, security and modernization at North Park Elementary and Columbia Heights High School.
5. Federal COVID Relief Funding: Federal pandemic relief funds that are expiring, creating funding decreases in the district budget.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Columbia Heights Public Schools provides free public PreK-12 education and ancillary student services to approximately 3,400 students across five schools and a Family Center in Columbia Heights, South Fridley, and Hilltop, Minnesota. Core offerings include classroom instruction, English Learner and Special Education support, Gifted Services, Title I, free meals under CEP, transportation, health services, athletics, arts programs, and Community Education (lifelong learning, after-school enrichment, child care). Operations are supported by voter-approved levies, state aid, and bond referendums, and delivered by approximately 500 staff.

Product overview

Columbia Heights Public Schools (ISD #13) is a small, diverse public school district serving approximately 3,400 PreK-12 learners across five schools in Columbia Heights, South Fridley, and Hilltop, Minnesota. The district operates as a unified educational platform comprising six school facilities: Columbia Heights High School (grades 9-12), Columbia Academy (grades 6-8), Highland Elementary, North Park School for Innovation (STEM-focused), Valley View Elementary, and Family Center (early childhood). Supporting the core academic mission, the district provides extensive supplementary programs including E-Learning for snow day instruction, Community Education with ENCORE after-school enrichment and Adult Basic Education, English Learners services, Special Services, Title I academic support, Gifted Services, Health Services, Food Services (CEP program), and Transportation with MyStop tracking. The district also offers specialized initiatives such as Blooming Heights Edible Schoolyard, Native American Education with Dakota land acknowledgment, and Sustainability Curriculum. Operational infrastructure includes Technology & Security services, Buildings & Grounds with solar panel installations (2025), and Finance operations recognized with 18+ consecutive ASBO International financial reporting awards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Columbia Heights High School: High school serving grades 9-12 with mascot Hylander
• Columbia Academy
• Highland Elementary
• North Park School for Innovation
• Valley View Elementary
• Family Center
• Virtual Heights
• ENCORE
• Mini Adventures Child Care
• Adventure Club
• Blooming Heights Edible Schoolyard & Outdoor Classroom

Products and services

• Columbia Heights High School
• Columbia Academy
• Highland Elementary
• North Park School for Innovation
• Valley View Elementary
• Family Center
• Virtual Heights
• Community Education
• E-Learning
• English Learners (EL) Program
• Special Services
• Food Services
• Transportation Services
• Gifted Services
• Title I Program
• ENCORE
• Blooming Heights Edible Schoolyard & Outdoor Classroom
• Native American Education
• Student Support Services
• Health Services
• Sustainability Curriculum

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1,000,000 in scholarships awarded to Hylander graduates since 1998
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Kelly EducationminorOthersPartnership with Kelly Education (formerly Teachers on Call) to fill Substitute Teacher, Educational Assistant, Custodial, and Food Service positions. Contact: 800-713-4439.
• EhlersminorOthersMunicipal Advisory Firm providing financial advisory services including tax impact calculations for referendum planning and annual budget hearings.
• BerganKDVminorOthersIndependent auditing firm conducting annual comprehensive audits of the district's financial management and operations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Minnesota Department of Education: State education agency that administers the funding formula providing 76% of Columbia Heights' budget. Not a competitor but the primary regulator and funder whose policy decisions directly drive the district's revenue trajectory and compliance requirements.

Broad incumbents

• Anoka-Hennepin School District: Largest Minnesota school district serving the same northern Minneapolis metro region. Both are public K-12 districts funded through the same state aid formula and voter-approved levies, with overlapping community boundaries and competing for the same family enrollment pool.
• Mounds View Public Schools: Larger but neighboring public K-12 district in the same northern Minneapolis metro region. Both are public school districts with overlapping residential recruitment areas and operate under identical Minnesota state aid structures.
• Osseo Area Schools: Larger suburban public K-12 district in the same northwest Minneapolis metro corridor. Both districts compete for families in the same regional labor market and operate under the same Minnesota school finance framework.
• Minneapolis Public Schools: Urban public school district directly adjacent to Columbia Heights' service area. Both are Minnesota public K-12 districts operating under the same state funding framework, with overlap in student demographics and English Learner populations.
• Robbinsdale Area Schools: Mid-sized public K-12 district in the western Minneapolis metro area sharing demographic and English Learner characteristics with Columbia Heights. Both rely on voter-approved levies and operate under the same state funding framework.

Direct peers

• Brooklyn Center Community Schools: Nearby small public K-12 district with similar demographic profile (highly diverse, significant English Learner population). Operates under the same Minnesota funding formula and competes for similar urban-suburban families.
• Fridley Public Schools: Direct neighbor public school district sharing the South Fridley community where Columbia Heights operates North Park School for Innovation. Both are small Minnesota K-12 districts operating schools in overlapping census tracts and competing for the same families.
• Spring Lake Park Schools: Comparable-sized public K-12 district in the same northern Minneapolis metro area. Both districts share demographic characteristics, fund operations through voter-approved levies, and operate community education programs of similar scope.
• St. Anthony-New Brighton Schools: Small neighboring public K-12 district in the same northern Minneapolis metro corridor as Columbia Heights. Both districts are of similar size, share demographic profiles, and operate under the same Minnesota state funding and levy framework.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ColHeightsNews
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@HeightsTube13
• Facebookfacebook.com/chpsisd13
• Instagraminstagram.com/chpsisd13
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/columbia-heights-public-schools

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries7 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 Columbia Heights Public Schools