Faribault School District

What Faribault School District does

Faribault School District (Independent School District No. 656) is a public K-12 school district headquartered in Faribault, Minnesota, operating under state authorization as a government entity. The district serves approximately 3,100 students across nine school buildings and employs approximately 648 staff. Its core function is the delivery of compulsory primary and secondary public education to resident families, supplemented by specialized programming such as dual-language immersion, AVID college-readiness coursework, the Falcons Online Academy for remote learners, and a 1:1 iPad Initiative that places an individual Apple device in every student's hands.

Operationally, the district supplements in-house instructional capacity through third-party partnerships — notably Taher for food service management and HealthFinders Collaborative for on-site student health services. On the technology side, the district has adopted a defined set of third-party generative AI tools (MagicSchool.ai, Diffit, ChatGPT, and Google Gemini) for educator lesson planning and administrative tasks, and is executing a 2025 Vision Plan that frames its near-term strategic direction. Superintendent Jamie Bente, in role since 2022, leads the organization.

The district's "revenue model" is public-school finance rather than commercial sales. Funding flows through Minnesota's per-pupil state aid formula, federal program allocations (Title I, IDEA, etc.), and voter-approved local property tax levies that fund operating referendums and facility debt. There is no commercial pricing model, no go-to-market motion, and no enterprise sales cycle; the customer base is the resident school-age population of the district's statutory boundary, and capacity is set by facility count and licensed staffing rather than market demand.

Name

Faribault School District

Legal name

Faribault Public Schools (Independent School District No. 656)

Website

https://faribault.k12.mn.us

Company type

Public

Founded year

1856

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Faribault School District (ISD 656) is a public K-12 school district in Faribault, Minnesota, serving approximately 3,100 students across nine buildings with dual-language immersion, the Falcons Online Academy, AVID programming, and a 1:1 iPad initiative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized Programs & Classrooms (Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, Intellectual/Developmental, Multi-Disability) (EDAJAKAH), Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM)

Keywords

• Public K-12 education
• Early childhood education
• Special education services
• Adult community education
• Online learning academy

Headquarters

HQ city

Faribault

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public School Funding: District operates primarily through state and federal education funding, local property tax levies, and grant funding. Revenue supports all district operations including instruction, facilities, and student services.
2. Grant Funding: Multiple state and federal grants support specific programs including 21CCLC for after-school programming, CDC grants for health initiatives, DEED for adult education, and USDA/ODE for nutrition programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Faribault Public Schools (Independent School District No. 656) delivers tuition-free Pre-K through 12th-grade public education to approximately 3,000+ students across nine school facilities in Faribault, Minnesota, including early childhood, K-5 elementary, middle school, high school, alternative learning, online academy, and adult education offerings. Core programmatic offerings include special education, gifted and talented, multilingual/dual-language immersion, AVID college readiness, career and technical education, athletics, and a 1:1 iPad initiative for grades 6–12, supported by a School-Based Health Center, food service, and transportation.

Product overview

Faribault Public Schools (Independent School District No. 656) is a public school district serving Faribault, Minnesota with a comprehensive educational portfolio spanning early childhood through adult education. The district operates eight distinct schools: Roosevelt Early Learning Center (Pre-K and Kindergarten), Jefferson Elementary and Lincoln Elementary (K-5, approximately 500 students each), Faribault Middle School (grades 6-8, approximately 800 students), Faribault Senior High School (grades 9-12, approximately 1,200 students), Area Learning Center (alternative education for grades 9-12), and Falcons Online Academy (virtual program for grades 7-12). The district also manages the Faribault Education Center for adult learners. Key programs include the 1-to-1 iPad Initiative providing devices to grades 6-12, Falcon Flex Day e-learning system for weather closures, Summer STEAM enrichment, Falcons Beyond out-of-school programming, AVID college readiness, and multilingual/immersion programs. The district has partnered with Taher for food services and HealthFinders Collaborative for the School-Based Health Center. Community Education provides programming across all age groups.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Falcons Online Academy: Online learning program for students in grades 7-12
• Falcons Beyond
• Falcon Pride

Products and services

• Falcons Online Academy Online K-12 education program for students in grades 7-12, offering virtual coursework as an alternative to in-person schooling at Faribault Public Schools. Students enroll through the district and access courses remotely.
• Falcons Beyond Out-of-school-time academic and enrichment program for district students, including summer programming such as Summer STEAM. Funded through the 21CCLC grant.
• 1-to-1 iPad Initiative District-wide technology program providing iPads to students in grades 6-12 for educational use at school and home, with optional iPad Protection Plan ($15/year, $30 family cap) covering one accidental damage per device per year.
• Summer STEAM Summer enrichment program combining science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics activities for district students, supported by 21CCLC grant funding.
• Falcon Flex Day E-Learning E-learning day system used during weather closures or emergencies; students access assignments via SeeSaw (elementary) or Schoology (middle/high school), with teachers posting assignments by 10:00 a.m. and available from 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) Early childhood program serving children ages 0-5 and their families, including Pre-K programming at Roosevelt Early Learning Center and McKinley Early Childhood Center.
• School-Based Health Center On-campus health center providing preventive care, health education, and connections to community resources for students, operated in partnership with HealthFinders Collaborative.
• Community School Program Community school strategy implementation at the Area Learning Center and Jefferson Elementary, providing programming, resources, and staffing to support family and student needs; funded through Full-Service Community School grants.
• Food Service Program District food service operation providing meals to students district-wide, with free breakfast and lunch available to all students; operated in partnership with Taher food service and menus published via Nutrislice.
• FPS Vision Plan (Strategic Plan) Comprehensive district strategic plan adopted by the School Board on July 21, 2025, covering six vision areas: Enhance Student Achievement, Maintain and Grow Financial Health, Enhanced High-Quality Facilities, Advanced High-Quality Technology, Grow Professional Development & Human Resources, and Effective Communications.
• AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) College readiness program preparing students for college success, implemented at Faribault High School with community service components.
• Multilingual Programming / Immersion Program Dual-language immersion programs and multilingual support services for English language learners, supported by the Closing Educational Opportunity Gaps grant; includes ASL Communication Procedures for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.
• Special Education Services Specialized instruction, related services, and accommodations for students with disabilities, including ASL interpretation services, in compliance with IDEA, Section 504, and ADA Title II.
• Adult and Community Education Adult education, continuing education, youth programs, and community classes delivered through the Faribault Education Center and Community Education program for community members.
• Family Engagement & Interpreters (FACES) Family and community engagement services including interpretation and translation support for multilingual families (Spanish and Somali) and the broader Faribault community.
• Free and Reduced School Meal Program Free and reduced-price meals provided to income-qualified students district-wide through the Educational Benefits (educational benefits form) process, also tied to federal USDA nutrition program funding.
• School Supplies for All Community-supported program providing school supplies to students in preschool through 8th grade at no cost to families, with a $35/student contribution suggested (waived for qualifying families); supported by Supply Our Children and Community Action Center.
• Transportation Services District-operated student transportation services between home and school facilities for enrolled students across the district.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving approximately 3,000+ students across 9 school facilities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 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

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Taher Food ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTaher Food Service is a food service management company that partners with Faribault Public Schools to provide meal services to students. The district announced a new partnership with Taher for food service operations.
• HealthFinders CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthFinders Collaborative is a community health partner working with Faribault Public Schools to operate the new School-Based Health Center. The partnership increases access to care, removes barriers, and supports student health and well-being.
• Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)coreOthersMDE administers multiple grants for the district including 21CCLC for after-school programming, Closing Educational Opportunity Gaps grants, and Multi-Purpose Community Facility grants.
• Supply Our ChildrenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner supporting the School Supplies for All program that provides school supplies to students in preschool through 8th grade at no cost to families.
• Community Action CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner collaborating on School Supplies for All program and receiving meal kit donations from student service projects.
• Faribault Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business organization partnering with the district on community engagement events and supporting local business connections to schools.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Stride Inc. Online K-12 learning provider (formerly K12 Inc) operating tuition-free online public schools in multiple states. Comparable as a competitor for online K-12 enrollment that could divert students from Faribault's Falcons Online Academy and other district schools.
• Connections Academy: National operator of tuition-free online public schools and blended learning programs. Comparable as a direct competitor for K-12 online enrollment, particularly relevant to Faribault's Falcons Online Academy offering for grades 7-12.

Broad incumbents

• Anoka-Hennepin School District: Independent School District 11, the largest Minnesota public school district. Comparable as a public K-12 district under the same state funding system, providing scale-comparable reference for technology, special education, and operational programs.
• Lakeville Area Public Schools: Independent School District 194 serving Lakeville and surrounding suburbs. Comparable as a larger Minnesota public K-12 district operating with the same state funding model, broader programmatic offerings, and stronger demographic tailwinds.
• Rochester Public Schools: Independent School District 535 serving Rochester, MN. Comparable as a larger Minnesota public K-12 district operating under the same state funding framework, with broader programming and substantially greater scale.

Direct peers

• Albert Lea Area Schools: Independent School District 241 serving Albert Lea, MN. Similar-sized southern Minnesota public school district with comparable grade span, community-based funding model, and operational footprint.
• Northfield Public Schools: Independent School District 659 serving Northfield and surrounding areas in Rice County, MN. Directly comparable as a similarly sized Minnesota public K-12 district operating multiple schools with comparable program mix and funding model.
• Owatonna Public Schools: Independent School District 761 serving Owatonna, MN and Steele County. Comparable as a nearby Minnesota public K-12 district of similar size and demographic profile, with similar reliance on state aid and property tax levies.
• Red Wing Public Schools: Independent School District 256 serving Red Wing, MN. Comparable as a similarly sized Minnesota public K-12 district in a similar demographic and economic context with equivalent state funding mechanisms.

Regional players

• Mankato Area Public Schools: Independent School District 77 serving Mankato, MN and surrounding areas. Comparable as a regional Minnesota public K-12 district in the same geographic region, operating at somewhat larger scale with similar program portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/frbofalcons
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/isd656
• Facebookfacebook.com/faribaultpublic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/faribault-school-district
• Instagraminstagram.com/faribault_falcons

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries8 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 Faribault School District