RCPS

What RCPS does

Roanoke City Public Schools (RCPS) is a public school division and government entity operating under the authority of the City of Roanoke, Virginia. The division delivers K-12 public education across a network of 17 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 2 high schools (Patrick Henry and William Fleming), and 5 specialized programs including technical education centers, alternative academies, and the regional Roanoke Valley Governor's School. It employs between 1,001 and 5,000 staff and currently operates under Superintendent Dr. Verletta White, who has announced retirement at the end of the 2026-27 school year.

The district's underlying technology stack combines standard K-12 education platforms — Canvas LMS, ParentVue/StudentVue, Clever single sign-on, ClassLink Launchpad, ScholarChip visitor management, MySchoolBucks and SchoolCafe meal payment systems, Destiny Library Catalog, and Office365 — with a notable energy infrastructure layer. RCPS maintains an existing 10.1 MW solar installation across 32 locations and in 2026 announced Virginia's first K-12 solar-powered microgrid with battery storage at its two high schools, each hosting 1 MW of solar capacity and 4 MWh of battery storage, with the ability to sell energy storage services back to the PJM grid.

As a government entity, RCPS does not operate a commercial revenue model. Funding flows primarily from City of Roanoke allocations and Virginia state sources, including a $450,000 Virginia Department of Emergency Management grant for the microgrid project, supplemented by private investment from developer Secure Solar Futures ($2.1 million). The microgrid is projected to cover 46.1% of annual power usage and save $60.2 million over 35 years. The district's go-to-market is non-existent in the commercial sense; community engagement is conducted through the district website, social media, the RCPS Education Foundation, and family engagement programs serving the Roanoke Valley.

Name

RCPS

Legal name

Roanoke City Public Schools

Website

https://breckinridge.rcps.info

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Roanoke City Public Schools (RCPS) is a government K-12 school division operating 24 schools and 5 specialized programs serving students and families in Roanoke City, Virginia. It is funded by municipal and state allocations and is deploying Virginia's first K-12 solar-powered microgrid.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Education Authorities & Municipal Education Offices (EDADABAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• Public school district
• Primary secondary education
• Alternative education programs
• Career technical education

Headquarters

HQ city

Roanoke

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, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

RCPS (Roanoke City Public Schools) operates a public K-12 school division serving students in Roanoke City, Virginia, through 17 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 2 high schools, and 5 specialized programs including technical education centers, alternative academies, and a regional governor's school. The division delivers comprehensive educational services, including core academics, career and technical training, alternative education, gifted programs, summer meal services, and student support services such as counseling and mental health resources. A signature infrastructure initiative includes a solar-powered microgrid with battery storage at two high schools, the first such deployment at any K-12 public school in Virginia.

Product overview

RCPS (Roanoke City Public Schools) is a public school division providing comprehensive K-12 education services in Roanoke, Virginia. The district operates 18 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 2 high schools, and 5 specialized programs including technical education centers, alternative academies, and a regional governor's school. The product portfolio includes core educational services supplemented by technology platforms such as ParentVue/StudentVue for grade access, Canvas LMS for course delivery, VALLSS for reading assessment, and a mindfulness/SEL program. A major infrastructure initiative includes a solar-powered microgrid at Patrick Henry and William Fleming High Schools (each with 1 MW solar capacity and 4 MWh battery storage), part of a 10.1 MW solar installation across 32 locations. The district also provides summer meal services through the USDA SFSP program and operates a 24/7 safety tipline.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-12 Public Education Services
• Career and Technical Education
• Alternative Education Programs
• Roanoke Valley Governor's School
• Summer Meal Service Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Saves $60.2 million over 35 years
• +3 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

Integration20 records

Feature3 records

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Pearson plc: Global education services and content provider supplying curriculum, assessment, and digital tools to K-12 school districts including RCPS competitors. A broad incumbent in the K-12 content and tools market that shapes the environment RCPS operates in.
• Stride Inc. National K-12 online learning provider serving K-12 students across multiple states with virtual and blended instruction. Represents the broader incumbent K-12 education services market that complements and competes with traditional public school divisions like RCPS.

Direct peers

• Chicago Public Schools: Large urban U.S. public school district operating a comparable K-12 network with diverse student populations, similar governance and funding challenges, and comparable reliance on city/state funding for operations.
• Virginia Beach City Public Schools: Another Virginia city-based school division operating K-12 public schools with a comparable scale and governance model to RCPS. Provides a directly comparable peer for enrollment, budgeting, and program design decisions.
• Henrico County Public Schools: Large Virginia public school division serving a suburban-urban community comparable to RCPS's Roanoke footprint. Operates elementary, middle, and high schools with similar program offerings and funding sources.
• Richmond Public Schools: Virginia urban public school division of similar scale to RCPS, with comparable demographics and a directly overlapping state policy environment. Useful peer for benchmarking academic outcomes and funding dynamics.
• Fairfax County Public Schools: Largest school district in Virginia and a direct operational peer to RCPS, operating a similar K-12 public school network with comparable governance structure under a local education authority. Both serve urban Virginia communities with comparable funding models and accountability structures.

Others

• Secure Solar Futures: Solar developer partner on RCPS's microgrid project and an investor in the Patrick Henry and William Fleming high school installations. Directly comparable as a school-focused solar infrastructure partner and adjacent energy services provider.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/roanokeschools
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/roanokecitypublicschools
• Facebookfacebook.com/RoanokeCityPublicSchools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/roanokeschools
• Instagraminstagram.com/roanokeschools

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 RCPS