UNION GROVE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

What UNION GROVE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT does

Union Grove Independent School District is a public prekindergarten-through-12th-grade school district operating since 1907 in Upshur County, Texas, classified as a 2A district under the University Interscholastic League (UIL) framework. The district operates three campuses — an Elementary campus serving PK through 4th grade (10920 Union Grove Road), a Junior High, and a High School — under a single administration building at 11220 Union Grove Rd, Gladewater. As a non-profit government entity, it is governed by an elected seven-member Board of Trustees and currently led by Superintendent Dr. Greg Bower (Ed.D.), with approximately 120 staff across all campuses. The district serves district-resident families as a statutory provider of public K-12 education, augmented by complementary programs in career and technical education (CTE), special education, fine arts (notably a band program with 36 consecutive UIL Sweepstakes awards), competitive athletics, FFA agricultural studies, and free prekindergarten for eligible four-year-olds.

The district's operational technology stack centers on a Finalsite-powered public website serving as the communications and enrollment hub, integrated with Skyward/ASCENDER student information systems for enrollment and gradebook management (district code 230908), ClassLink for single sign-on, Google Workspace for Education for staff and student collaboration, and Blackboard for multi-channel parent notification. The buildout extends across 20+ specialized platforms: CompassLearning (adaptive learning), TumbleBooks (digital library), BrainPOP (instructional video), United Streaming / Discovery Education, Screencastify (lesson video creation), Follett Destiny (library catalog), PaySchools Central and Lunch Money Now (meal payments), TEKS Resource System (curriculum alignment), DMAC (data management), NWEA (assessment), and EduHero (staff professional development). Procurement relies on nine cooperative purchasing agreements (ESC Region 7, TIPS, BuyBoard, OMNIA Partners, PACE, TX Smart Buy, TCPN, Allied States, Choice Partners) for state and federal procurement compliance.

Financially, the district operates as a tax-and-grant-funded government entity rather than a commercial enterprise. Primary funding streams are local property taxes (2025 rate of $1.047200 per $100 valuation, split $.07551 Maintenance & Operations and $.2921 Debt Service), per-pupil state funding tied to average daily attendance, federal grants (Title I, II, IV), and USDA-supported meal services (free for all elementary students; JH/HS breakfast $1.70 and lunch $3.15). A $500 per-family transfer fee applies to out-of-district students for the 2026-2027 school year, with applications accepted April through June. The district has been designated as a District of Innovation (renewed August 1, 2022 – July 31, 2027), recognized at all levels under House Bill 5 Self Evaluation, and holds memberships in International Baccalaureate, EARCOS, JCIS, and NWEA.

Name

UNION GROVE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

Legal name

Union Grove Independent School District

Website

https://ugisd.org

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Union Grove Independent School District is a 2A-classified Texas public school district operating since 1907, serving prekindergarten through 12th-grade students across three campuses in Upshur County with approximately 120 staff.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE)

Keywords

• Public K-12 education
• Prekindergarten programs
• Special education services
• Career technical education
• Student transportation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Gladewater

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Local Property Taxes: Primary funding source from local property taxes. The 2025 property tax rate is $1.047200 per $100 valuation, comprising $.07551 for Maintenance and Operations and $.2921 for Debt Service.
2. State Funding: Per-pupil state funding based on average daily attendance and ADA2 funding formulas under Texas Education Code.
3. Federal Grants: Federal funding through grants including Title I, Title II, Title IV, and other federal education programs. Public notices for federal grant applications are filed annually.
4. Meal Services: District serves meals under USDA programs. Currently providing breakfast and lunch at no charge to all students. Reduced and paid meal prices for qualifying families.
5. Student Transfer Fees: $500 per family transfer fee for out-of-district students seeking to attend UGISD schools.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Union Grove Independent School District operates public PK-12 schools providing comprehensive educational programs across three campuses (Elementary, Junior High, and High School) for students in Upshur County, Texas. The district delivers core academic instruction, career and technical education (CTE), special education services, fine arts programs (band, theater), athletics, FFA agricultural education, and prekindergarten, supported by cafeteria, transportation, and technology services.

Product overview

Union Grove ISD operates as a traditional public school district offering a comprehensive educational program for students from prekindergarten through 12th grade. The district's product portfolio centers on its Finalsite-powered website as the primary communication and information hub, integrated with student information systems (ASCENDER/Skyward) for enrollment and grade management. Beyond core academics, the district offers athletic programs, award-winning fine arts (particularly the band program with 36 consecutive Sweepstakes awards), CTE courses, special education services, prekindergarten programs, and FFA agricultural education. The district provides additional services including cafeteria management, transportation, technology support, and the Grove Gazette newsletter, all accessible through the unified district portal and mobile app.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PreK-12 Public Education Program
• Prekindergarten Program
• UG Band Program
• Athletics Program
• Theater and Debate Program
• Career and Technical Education (CTE)
• Special Education Services
• FFA Agricultural Program
• Transportation Services
• Cafeteria Services

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration30 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Region VII Purchasing Cooperative (ESC Region 7)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEducation Service Center Region VII Purchasing Cooperative used for most district purchases. Phone: (903) 988-6859. The district uses cooperative purchasing to comply with state and federal purchasing statutes.
• TIPS ESC Region 8 PurchasingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTIPS (The Interlocal Purchasing System) ESC Region 8 cooperative purchasing program available for district procurement.
• Allied States Co-op (Region 19)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAllied States Cooperative purchasing program (Region 19) available as a vendor option for district purchases.
• Choice Partners Purchasing Co-opminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChoice Partners cooperative purchasing program available for district procurement compliance.
• BuyBoard (TASB)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTexas Association of School Boards BuyBoard cooperative purchasing platform available for vendor procurement.
• OMNIA PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOMNIA Partners public sector purchasing cooperative available for contracts and vendor search.
• PACE Purchasing CooperativeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPACE Cooperative purchasing program available for district procurement.
• TX Smart BuyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTexas Smart Buy state purchasing program available for vendor search and procurement.
• TCPN - National IPA (OMNIA Partner)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTCPN (The Cooperative Purchasing Network) National IPA cooperative available through OMNIA Partners.
• Office Depot Business SiteminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOffice Depot business account used for office supplies procurement. Login provided through district email.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUGISD displays International Baccalaureate logos indicating membership in IB programs for college-preparatory education. District participates in International Spanish Academy Program.
• East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational educational consortium membership providing networking and professional development opportunities.
• Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNWEA partnership for assessment and educational measurement tools.
• Japan Council of International Schools (JCIS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational school consortium membership supporting global education initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Gilmer Independent School District: Gilmer ISD is headquartered in Upshur County and operates a comparable small-district PK-12 program with similar UIL athletics and band traditions. As the county's other primary ISD, it is a direct functional comparable in funding model, scale, and program mix.
• New Diana Independent School District: New Diana ISD is a small East Texas 2A public school district in Upshur County with a closely comparable rural operating model, similar co-curricular programs, and parallel tax-funding structure to UGISD.
• Big Sandy Independent School District: Big Sandy ISD operates within Upshur County as a small 2A public school district. It mirrors UGISD's rural East Texas setting, small staff, and tax-funded operating model, and competes indirectly for transfer students and instructional talent.
• Gladewater Independent School District: Gladewater ISD is a small East Texas public school district located adjacent to UGISD along the Gregg/Upshur County line, serving a comparable rural-to-suburban catchment. It offers the same PK-12 public school product, UIL athletics, and fine arts programs at a similar classification size, making it the closest geographic and demographic comparable.
• Ore City Independent School District: Ore City ISD is a small 2A public school district in Upshur County offering a similar PK-12 product mix and UIL competition footprint. The overlap in geography and student demographics makes it a tight operational peer.

Regional players

• Hawkins Independent School District: Hawkins ISD is a small East Texas public school district in Wood County offering a comparable 2A/3A PK-12 product, UIL athletics, and similar rural-district operating dynamics. It is a useful regional comparable for funding and scale benchmarking.
• Harmony Independent School District: Harmony ISD is a small East Texas public school district operating in a similar rural setting with comparable PK-12 and fine arts programming. While outside Upshur County, its size, funding model, and program portfolio are closely aligned with UGISD.
• Winona Independent School District: Winona ISD is a small East Texas 2A public school district in Smith County serving a comparable rural-to-small-town catchment. Its product offering, athletics footprint, and tax-funded model are tightly aligned with UGISD.
• Sabine Independent School District: Sabine ISD is a small East Texas public school district in Smith County operating a similar PK-12 program with a strong fine arts and athletics tradition. Its scale and funding structure make it a useful regional comparable.
• Union Hill Independent School District: Union Hill ISD is a small East Texas 1A/2A public school district with a rural operating profile closely matching UGISD's small-district dynamics. It provides a useful smaller-scale reference point on per-pupil economics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Funiongroveisd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8llxfL_mlFp_6ZI8e9amDg
• Facebookfacebook.com/uglions
• Instagraminstagram.com/uniongroveisd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 UNION GROVE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT