What Waterford Graded School District does

Waterford Graded School District (legal entity: Waterford Graded School District Joint No. 1, Racine County, Wisconsin) is a public K-8 school district headquartered at 819 W. Main Street, Waterford, Wisconsin. It operates four schools — Trailside Early Primary (4K–1st), Woodfield Primary (2nd–3rd), Evergreen Intermediate (4th–5th), and Fox River Middle School (6th–8th) — serving approximately 1,500 students with a 13:1 student-to-teacher ratio supported by 219 staff. Core academic programming aligns to Wisconsin Model Academic Standards and includes state-mandated Act 20 early literacy screening via aimswebPlus, a Talented and Gifted (TaG) advanced learner program, Title I support, English Language Learner services, and special education delivered through the shared Waterford Education Cooperative. Supplementary programs include free district-resident summer school, before/after care via Mukwonago YMCA (Y BASE), school-based dental services through Bridging Brighter Smiles, and no-cost counseling through Aurora's Student and Family Assistance Program.

The district's technology stack consists of off-the-shelf K-12 infrastructure rather than proprietary systems: Skyward Family Access for student information and enrollment, e~Funds for Schools for online payments, aimswebPlus for literacy assessment, Finalsite for the district website, Zonar MyView for real-time bus tracking, BoardDocs for board governance, WeGlot for website translation, and P3 Campus for anonymous safety reporting. Technology support is outsourced to a third-party provider. Non-instructional services are similarly outsourced: Dousman Transport for busing, Kelly Education for substitute staffing, and WECAN for employment postings.

The district's revenue model is governed by Wisconsin's per-pupil revenue limit under Statute 121.91 and is funded through three primary streams — local property taxes (mill rate $5.33 per $1,000 for 2024-25), state aid from the Wisconsin DPI, and federal grants (Title I, IDEA, and previously ESSER III, which expired September 30, 2024). Ancillary revenue includes activity fees ($25–$75 per sport/activity), course fees ($25–$30), meal payments ($1.95–$3.25), open enrollment tuition from non-resident students, and summer school tuition ($40–$80 for non-residents; free for residents). Per-pupil funding has lagged inflation by approximately $2,200 since 2013, producing structural deficits that culminated in $1.75M in budget reductions, the district's first short-term borrowing in its history, and ultimately passage of its first operational referendum on April 1, 2025 (3,639 YES to 3,437 NO), authorizing $3M per year above the revenue limit for school years 2025-26 through 2028-29.

Name

Waterford Graded School District

Legal name

Waterford Graded School District Joint No. 1, Racine County, Wisconsin

Website

https://www.waterford.k12.wi.us

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Waterford Graded School District operates four public schools serving approximately 1,500 students from 4K through 8th grade in Waterford, Wisconsin. The district delivers core academics, special education, summer school, and wraparound care, funded primarily through state aid and local property taxes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-8 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

District Student Services Administration (Special Ed, Counseling, Health) (EDADABAJ), Specialized Programs & Classrooms (Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, Intellectual/Developmental, Multi-Disability) (EDAJAKAH), Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)

Keywords

• K-8 public education
• Early childhood education
• Elementary school services
• Middle school programs
• Public school district

Headquarters

HQ city

Waterford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Local Property Tax Revenue: The district's primary revenue source is local property tax levies, governed by state-imposed revenue limits under Wisconsin Statute 121.91. The district operates under a revenue limit cap that constrains combined state aid and local tax revenue, requiring periodic operational referendums to exceed the limit. Mill rate was $5.33 for 2024-2025.
2. State Aid (Wisconsin DPI): Revenue received from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, consisting of per-pupil aid and categorical aids. Per-pupil funding has fallen behind inflation by approximately $2,200 per student since 2013, creating structural budget deficits.
3. Federal Funding (Title I, IDEA, ESSER): Federal grants including Title I Part A (allocated by formula similar to ESSER III), IDEA for special education, and previously ESSER III COVID relief funds which have now expired. ESSER III funding term ended September 30, 2024.
4. Student Activity and Course Fees: Fees collected for student activities including sports ($75 per sport), student council ($25), yearbook ($25), forensics ($35), WSMA Solo and Ensemble ($30 per discipline), and course fees for Art Fund ($25), FACS ($25), FAB Lab ($30). Meal prices: Breakfast $1.95, Elementary Lunch $3.10, Middle School Lunch $3.25.
5. Open Enrollment Tuition: Non-resident students may enroll via the state's open enrollment program, paying tuition to the district. Summer school also charges tuition to non-residents ($80 per two-week class or $40 per one-week class plus material fees).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Waterford Graded School District operates four public schools serving approximately 1,500 students from 4-year-old kindergarten through 8th grade in the Waterford, Wisconsin area. The district provides core academic instruction aligned to Wisconsin Model Academic Standards, state-mandated Act 20 early literacy screening and intervention, special education services via the Waterford Education Cooperative, Talented and Gifted programming, free district-resident summer school, and before/after school care through a Mukwonago YMCA partnership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Waterford Education Cooperative: A cooperative that provides special education services to North Cape, Washington Caldwell, Waterford Graded, and Waterford Union High School districts.

Products and services

• K-8 Public Education Program (Four Schools)

Quantifiable outcome

• Student-to-teacher ratio of 13:1, significantly better than state averages
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mukwonago YMCAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMukwonago YMCA provides on-site Before/After School Care (Y BASE) at all three WGSD elementary schools (Evergreen, Trailside, Woodfield) from 6:30 AM until school start and after school until 6:00 PM, as well as 4K PM Wrap-Around Care at Trailside Elementary. The partnership enables district families to access licensed childcare integrated with the school schedule. Registration is through the YMCA's online system and monthly/bi-weekly pricing is listed on the YMCA website.
• Dousman Transport Company (DTC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDousman Transport Co. Inc provides all school bus transportation for WGSD students, including mid-day 4K-only busing for half-day kindergarten students. All 4K students are eligible for district-provided busing. DTC is also hiring school bus drivers for the Waterford district, with part-time split-shift opportunities and competitive wages including CDL training. The partnership includes a new real-time bus tracking app (MyView/Zonar) for parent convenience.
• Waterford Education CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Waterford Education Cooperative provides special education services jointly to four districts: North Cape, Washington Caldwell, Waterford Graded, and Waterford Union High School. Services include speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, school psychology, special education evaluation (Child Find), and early childhood screening for children ages 3-5. The cooperative is directed by Michael Rosandich, shared across member districts.
• Bridging Brighter SmilesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBridging Brighter Smiles provides on-site dental services at WGSD schools at no cost to families. Services include teeth cleanings, oral screenings, fluoride varnish, sealants, SDF applications, and dental health education. All students without a family dentist are encouraged to enroll. Visits are held throughout the school year.
• Kelly EducationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKelly Education recruits and manages substitute teachers for WGSD, providing substitute teacher and substitute paraprofessional staffing. Interested candidates apply through Kelly Education's portal or contact [email protected].
• Aurora Student and Family Assistance ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAurora's Student and Family Assistance Program is available at no charge to all WGSD students and families residing in the same household. Services include phone consultation with professional counselors, confidential appointments, and referrals to community-based resources. All services are confidential with no information shared with school personnel without permission.
• Wisconsin Education Career Access Network (WECAN)coreTechnology or IntegrationWGSD utilizes the Wisconsin Education Career Access Network (WECAN) website to post all employment opportunities for certified staff, non-certified staff, and substitute positions. WECAN is a free service for applicants to create accounts and apply for district positions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Burlington Area School District: Wisconsin K-12 district serving a similar southeastern Wisconsin demographic profile; comparable enrollment scale, comparable Wisconsin revenue-limit funding structure, and a direct competitor for open-enrollment students.
• Waterford Union High School District: Same-town feeder high school district that shares a buildings-and-grounds director and special education director with WGSD, and is a member of the same Waterford Education Cooperative; functionally WGSD's downstream peer.
• Muskego-Norway School District: Wisconsin K-12 district of similar suburban profile and enrollment size; competes for the same open-enrollment families in the Waukesha-Racine corridor and faces the same per-pupil funding constraints.
• Elkhorn Area School District: Wisconsin K-12 district in Walworth County of comparable size and demographic mix; similar reliance on state aid and local property tax under Wisconsin revenue limits, and overlapping open-enrollment geography.
• East Troy Community School District: Wisconsin K-12 district of similar size in Walworth County; comparable per-pupil funding dynamics, similar 4K-12 program structure, and overlapping open-enrollment catchment area.
• Mukwonago Area School District: Neighboring Wisconsin K-12 district of comparable size; shares the Mukwonago YMCA partner ecosystem that WGSD uses for Y BASE wraparound care, making program offerings and overhead structure directly comparable.
• Washington-Caldwell School District: Small Wisconsin K-8 district also participating in the Waterford Education Cooperative; comparable scale, funding profile, and operational model.
• North Cape School District: Tiny Wisconsin K-8 district that co-funds and shares special education services through the Waterford Education Cooperative; directly comparable as a small cooperative-partner peer with similar programmatic constraints.
• Kettle Moraine School District: Wisconsin K-12 district of similar enrollment scale serving Waukesha County suburbs; comparable open-enrollment competition, similar revenue-limit exposure, and similar program breadth.

Broad incumbents

• Racine Unified School District: Larger incumbent Wisconsin K-12 district serving Racine County; offers broader programmatic scale and urban resources that contrast with WGSD's small-district model and represent the natural alternative for families in the WGSD catchment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/waterfordschools
• Instagraminstagram.com/waterfordgraded

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 Waterford Graded School District