What SD 194/ Steger, Illinois does

Steger School District 194 is a public K-8 school district organized under Illinois state law as a political subdivision of the state, serving approximately 1,400 students across three school buildings in Steger and South Chicago Heights, Illinois: Steger Primary Center (Pre-K through grade 1), Steger Intermediate Center (grades 2-4), and Columbia Central (grades 5-8). The district employs 277 staff (140 certified and 133 classified) and operates on a $25.5 million annual budget funded through local property taxes, Illinois state per-pupil allocations, and federal grants. The district offers a comprehensive program portfolio including special education services via SPEED 802 Cooperative membership, English Language Learner programming, three-tiered Response to Intervention (RTI), Section 504 accommodations, and McKinney-Vento services for students experiencing homelessness.

The district's technology stack is built on standard commercial education platforms: PowerSchool for student information and enrollment, ParentSquare for family communication, Clever for single sign-on, EasyIEP for special education management, Skyward for HR/payroll, Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 for productivity, and adaptive learning tools (IXL, DreamBox, Pearson Envision Math). A 1:1 device program supports student technology access. The district is governed by a seven-member elected Board of Education led by Superintendent Dr. Anthony McConnell, a published author and former National Blue Ribbon school principal.

Revenue mechanics are entirely tax-based: the district does not accept tuition-paying non-resident students and serves only residents within its statutory geographic boundary. Enrollment is managed through a PowerSchool Enrollment Portal. Distribution is restricted to the three in-district school buildings, supplemented by before/after-school childcare through a new Ivy League Kids partnership launching in 2026-2027 and community resource partnerships with the Village of Park Forest, Louis Sherman Community Center, Prairie State College, and the Steger-South Chicago Heights Library. Recent strategic activity includes a December 2024 PowerSchool data breach response, labor contract execution through 2027, and new family-support programs (free school supplies, childcare) launching in the 2026-2027 school year.

Name

SD 194/ Steger, Illinois

Legal name

Steger School District 194

Website

https://sd194.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Steger School District 194 is a public K-8 school district in Steger and South Chicago Heights, Illinois, serving approximately 1,400 resident students across three schools on a $25.5 million tax-funded annual budget, with comprehensive special education, ELL, and community partnership programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public K-8 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Child Care Services (624410)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Middle Schools (EDAJAAAC), Specialized Programs & Classrooms (Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, Intellectual/Developmental, Multi-Disability) (EDAJAKAH)

Keywords

• Public K-8 education
• Special education services
• English language learner
• Before after school care
• Early childhood programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Steger

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

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. Public Education Funding: Tax-funded public education funded through property taxes, state per-pupil funding, and federal grants. District operates a $25.5 million annual operating budget.
2. Non-Resident Tuition (if applicable): Non-resident tuition charged at $81.63 per day or $14,693.77 for the school year (2025-2026 rate). However, district does not accept students on a tuition basis.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Steger School District 194 is a public K-8 school district operating three neighborhood schools that deliver Pre-K through 8th-grade education, full continuum special education services (IDEA/Section 504), English Language Learner programming, Response to Intervention tiers, and before/after-school care via Ivy League Kids beginning 2026-2027. The district serves approximately 1,400+ resident students within Steger and South Chicago Heights with a $25.5M annual operating budget and charges no tuition to in-district families.

Product overview

Steger School District 194 operates as a traditional public K-8 school district with three schools: Columbia Central (grades 5-8), Steger Intermediate Center (grades 2-4), and Steger Primary Center (Pre-K through grade 1). The district offers educational programs including special education services, English Language Learner (EL) programming, Response to Intervention (RTI) multi-tiered support, and Section 504 accommodations. The district partners with Ivy League Kids for before/after-school care starting 2026-2027. Technology infrastructure includes PowerSchool for student enrollment and grades, ParentSquare for family communication, and various instructional platforms including IXL, DreamBox, and Go Math.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Columbia Central School Middle school serving grades 5-8 in Steger School District 194, delivering core academics and the A.R.E. (academics, relationships, environment) framework at 94 W. Richton Rd., Steger, IL 60475. Open to district-resident students.
• Steger Intermediate Center Elementary school serving grades 2-4 in Steger School District 194 at 3411 Hopkins Street, Steger, IL, focused on intermediate-level academic, social, and personal growth. Open to district-resident students.
• Steger Primary Center Early childhood and primary school serving Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Grade 1 at 3341 Miller Ave, South Chicago Heights, IL 60411, with emphasis on early literacy and foundational skills. Open to district-resident students.
• Preschool for All Program Grant-funded at-risk preschool screening program for children birth through age five using DIAL-4 developmental assessment, available to district-resident families.
• Special Education Services Full continuum of IDEA special-education services for students with disabilities, including consultation, push-in support, co-taught classrooms, pull-out support, and direct instruction; related services include speech, OT, PT, social work, counseling, vision, hearing, and audiology.
• English Language Learner (EL) Program EL program for English language learners delivered by EL teachers and bilingual paraprofessionals, with a documented program manual, available to district-resident students.
• Response to Intervention (RTI) Three-tiered intervention framework for academic and behavioral outcomes: Tier 1 universal differentiated instruction, Tier 2 targeted small-group interventions, and Tier 3 intensive individual support.
• Section 504 Accommodations Section 504 accommodations providing free appropriate public education with uniquely tailored services for students with physical or mental impairments affecting major life activities who do not qualify for an IEP.
• Ivy League Kids Before/After School Care Before and after-school care partnership with Ivy League Kids offering homework assistance, enrichment, recreation, and leadership development for Steger School District 194 students beginning the 2026-2027 school year.

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

Integration19 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ivy League KidscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeginning 2026-2027 school year, district partners with Ivy League Kids to provide high-quality before and after-school care for District 194 students. Ivy League Kids is a trusted regional provider serving school districts across the south suburban area offering safe, engaging, and enriching environment with academic support, recreation, and leadership development programs.
• SPEED 802 CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSteger SD 194 is a member of the SPEED 802 Cooperative. District partners with SPEED SEJA to provide additional supports and educational placement options as needed for students with disabilities.
• Louis Sherman Community CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partnership providing resources to families including Camp Out, Cartwheel Club, Craft Fair, Fitness Classes, Game Night, Youth Energy Summit, and other community programs. Information shared through district community resources page.
• Village of Park ForestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partnership offering youth programs including Nerf Battles, Spring Basketball Camp, Spring Spike Volleyball Camp, and Summer Camp. Information shared through district community resources page.
• Prairie State CollegeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for free ESL Classes offered February through May 2026. Information distributed through district community resources.
• Steger-South Chicago Heights LibraryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partnership for library services and programs. July events shared through district community resources page.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Will County School District 92: Nearby Illinois K-8 district in Will County. Comparable K-8 grade structure, public funding model, and small-district scale; relevant benchmark for operations, staffing ratios, and per-pupil cost.
• Peotone School District 207-U: Rural K-12 public school district in Will County. Comparable in K-12 structure, property-tax funding base, and small-district scale, with similar reliance on cooperatives for specialized services.
• Rich Township High School District 227: South suburban Illinois public high school district serving Park Forest, Richton Park, and Matteson—directly adjacent to SD 194's footprint. Comparable because it absorbs SD 194's graduates into grades 9-12, making it the natural feeder and a competitor for the same community's tax base and family attention.
• Ivy League Kids: Regional before/after-school care provider in the south suburban Chicago area. Comparable because SD 194 is launching a partnership with Ivy League Kids in 2026-2027 to deliver wraparound childcare, making it both a service provider and a regional peer in K-8 family services.

Direct peers

• Park Forest School District 163: Adjacent K-8 public school district in the same south suburban Chicago market. Highly comparable size, grade structure, and demographic; families in the Steger/Park Forest/South Chicago Heights area often choose between SD 163 and SD 194.
• Crete-Monee School District 201-U: Neighboring south suburban Illinois K-12 public school district serving Crete, Monee, and surrounding areas. Closest geographic and demographic peer—similar K-12 structure, comparable funding mix from property taxes and state aid, and similar competition for enrollment in the south suburbs.
• Chicago Heights School District 163: Public K-8 district serving Chicago Heights, directly adjacent to SD 194. Comparable in grade range, funding model (property tax + state aid), and community demographics, making it a direct competitor for resident families at the boundary.

Others

• SPEED 802 Cooperative: Special education cooperative of which SD 194 is a member. Comparable because it is the entity that delivers a meaningful share of SD 194's special education services and placements—an upstream partner whose pricing and capacity directly affect SD 194's cost structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/mcconnellaw

Compliance9 records

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 SD 194/ Steger, Illinois