SMOKY VALLEY USD400

What SMOKY VALLEY USD400 does

Smoky Valley USD 400 is a public K-12 unified school district headquartered in Lindsborg, Kansas, operating as a political subdivision of the State of Kansas. The district serves four central Kansas communities — Lindsborg, Marquette, Smolan, and Falun — through four school operations: Soderstrom Elementary School (Pre-K through 4th grade), Smoky Valley Middle School (grades 5–8), Smoky Valley High School (grades 9–12), and the Smoky Valley Virtual Charter School (grades 6–12, adult learners, and credit recovery). Operating under a Kansas 4A classification with a "Viking" mascot, the district supplements core academics with Career and Technical Education (CTE), driver's education, special education delivered through the McPherson County Special Education Cooperative, on-site mental health services via Prairie View, ESOL programs, Title I support, fine arts rooted in the community's Swedish heritage ("Little Sweden USA"), and athletics. The institution is accredited through the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) program and complies with Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, ADA, and the McKinney-Vento Act.

The technology stack is composed entirely of third-party education software rather than proprietary builds: PowerSchool as the student information system, Canvas as the learning management system (accessed via Clever single sign-on), Google Workspace for collaboration, Lexia for literacy intervention, Xello for career readiness, OdysseyWare for credit recovery, Read Live for reading intervention, ImPACT for athletic concussion assessment, RevTrak for fee payments, Skyward for HR/payroll, Thrillshare/Apptegy for communications and mobile app delivery, and a custom SV Live Stream platform for event broadcasting (graduations, board meetings). The district operates iOS and Android apps, maintains an active Facebook and X/Twitter presence, and uses email/newsletter channels for parent outreach.

The operating model is typical of a Kansas USD: revenue is sourced from state aid (Kansas Department of Education), local property taxes, and federal grants (Title I, McKinney-Vento, special education). Auxiliary fee revenue comprises student meals (breakfast $2.75–$3.00, lunch $3.60–$4.00 K–4, $3.75 grades 5–8, $4.00 high school, $5.00 adult), activities/sports ($30, fee-waived for free-meal qualifiers), laptop rental ($50), driver's education ($150 in-district, $225 out-of-district), credit recovery ($50 in-district, $100 out-of-district), and summer school ($100/$150). Non-resident open enrollment generates additional tuition revenue. Governance is by an elected seven-member Board of Education (President Chris Bauer, Vice President Chris Baker, plus members Karla Pihl, Penny Rauchholz, Daniel Rauchholz, Bryce Wampler, Joe Ryan, Dwight Swisher), with Quentin Breese serving as Superintendent following his appointment in March 2025. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

SMOKY VALLEY USD400

Legal name

Smoky Valley Public Schools No. 400

Website

https://smokyvalley.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Smoky Valley USD 400 is a Kansas public K-12 school district operating four schools — elementary, middle, high, and a virtual charter — that serves Lindsborg, Marquette, Smolan, and Falun with academic, CTE, special education, and fine arts programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Virtual & Blended Learning Programs (District-Run) (EDAJAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Head Start & Public Pre-K Programs (EDACABAK)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• Virtual charter school
• Special education services
• Career and technical education
• School food services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lindsborg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: State funding from Kansas Department of Education and local tax revenue supporting core educational operations
2. Federal Programs: Title I, McKinney-Vento homeless assistance, federal special education funding, and other federal grants
3. Student Meals: Meal service revenue from student and adult breakfast/lunch programs, with free and reduced meal subsidies
4. Activity and Course Fees: Fees for athletics, activities ($30), driver's education ($150 in-district, $225 out-of-district), summer school, credit recovery, and laptop rental ($50)
5. Open Enrollment Tuition: Non-resident student enrollment with tuition arrangements for students outside district boundaries

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Smoky Valley USD 400 provides comprehensive Pre-K through 12th grade public education across four schools — Soderstrom Elementary, Smoky Valley Middle School, Smoky Valley High School, and Smoky Valley Virtual Charter School — serving students in the central Kansas communities of Lindsborg, Marquette, Smolan, and Falun. The district supplements core academics with career and technical education, driver's education, special education cooperative services, health services, food service, and a fine arts and athletics program grounded in the area's Swedish heritage.

Product overview

Smoky Valley USD 400 is a public school district offering a comprehensive PK-12 educational program through four distinct school operations: Soderstrom Elementary School (Pre-K through 4th grade), Smoky Valley Middle School (grades 5-8), Smoky Valley High School (grades 9-12), and Smoky Valley Virtual Charter School (grades 6-12 with adult education options). The district supplements its core academic programs with specialized offerings including Career and Technical Education (CTE), driver's education, special education cooperative services, health services, food service, and mental health partnerships. The district utilizes digital learning platforms including PowerSchool for student information management and Canvas for learning management, with additional support through programs like Title I, ESOL services, and credit recovery options. A mobile app and communication platform enable parent engagement across all schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Soderstrom Elementary School Traditional elementary school serving Pre-K through 4th grade students in Lindsborg, KS, providing foundational academic instruction along with Pre-K, Title I support, and special education services.
• Smoky Valley Middle School Traditional middle school serving grades 5-8 in Lindsborg, KS, offering a comprehensive academic curriculum with extracurricular activities and athletics programs.
• Smoky Valley High School Traditional high school serving grades 9-12 in Lindsborg, KS, providing college preparatory academics, career and technical education programs, fine arts, and competitive athletics.
• Smoky Valley Virtual Charter School Online virtual education program serving Kansas students in grades 6-12, including adult education and credit recovery options.
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) Career and technical education programs including agriculture, skilled trades, and business courses aligned with Kansas CTE standards, featuring community partnerships and hands-on learning opportunities.
• Open Enrollment Program Non-resident enrollment program allowing students living outside district boundaries to attend Smoky Valley schools, with applications accepted annually through district policy JBCC.
• Special Education Services Special education programs through the McPherson County Special Education Cooperative, serving students from birth through age 21 with developmental delays, disabilities, and giftedness across multiple districts.
• Food Service Program School meal program offering breakfast and lunch at all schools, including free and reduced meal subsidies and meal modifications for dietary restrictions.
• Health Services District health services including nursing staff, medication administration, immunization tracking, health screenings, and coordination with the McPherson County Health Department.
• Prairie View Mental Health Partnership On-site mental health therapy and case management services for students provided through partnership with Prairie View healthcare organization, reducing time away from classroom instruction.

Quantifiable outcome

• Kansas State Department of Education accreditation through KESA (Kansas Education Systems Accreditation)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• McPherson County Special Education CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative partnership serving students from birth through age 21 across multiple school districts including Smoky Valley USD 400, McPherson USD 418, Canton-Galva USD 419, Moundridge USD 423, and Inman USD 448. Provides identification, evaluation, and placement services for students with developmental delays or special needs.
• Prairie ViewcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnsite therapy and case management services for students, providing convenient mental health support while reducing time away from classroom instruction.
• Bethany CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in Lindsborg, Bethany College maintains Swedish Lutheran heritage connection to the community. College provides cultural resources including the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery, and serves as a bridge between educational generations with shared Swedish cultural programming.
• Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)coreOthersHealth and safety guidelines followed by the district for immunization requirements, communicable disease protocols, and general public health standards.
• Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE)coreOthersAccreditation through KESA (Kansas Education Systems Accreditation) program. State reporting and accountability through Kansas Building Report Cards.
• Exploration PlaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraveling STEM camp programs hosted at Smoky Valley Middle School, providing hands-on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics experiences for students.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Inman USD 448: Partner district in the McPherson County Special Education Cooperative. Comparable as a small Kansas USD with comparable enrollment scale and reliance on cooperative special education delivery.
• Hesston USD 460: Kansas 4A-classified public school district similar in size and classification to Smoky Valley. Comparable as a small central-Kansas USD offering PK-12 education with strong athletic and community programming.
• Chapman USD 473: Kansas 4A-classified public school district serving communities in Dickinson County. Comparable as a similarly classified central-Kansas USD with analogous athletic and curricular scope.
• McPherson USD 418: Neighboring Kansas public school district and core partner in the McPherson County Special Education Cooperative. Comparable as a small-to-mid-size Kansas USD operating multiple school buildings with shared special education infrastructure.
• Buhler USD 313: Central-Kansas public school district serving communities near Hutchinson. Comparable as a similarly sized Kansas USD with PK-12 programming and an open enrollment posture.
• Moundridge USD 423: Partner in the McPherson County Special Education Cooperative and a similarly sized Kansas public school district. Comparable as a small rural Kansas USD sharing special education services and operating under the same state funding framework.
• Canton-Galva USD 419: Partner in the McPherson County Special Education Cooperative. Comparable as a small rural Kansas USD sharing back-office and special education services with Smoky Valley.

Broad incumbents

• Salina USD 305: Larger central-Kansas public school district serving the Salina area. Comparable as a geographically proximate K-12 USD that competes for open-enrollment students and operates a similar mix of elementary, middle, high, and supplemental programs.

Others

• PowerSchool: Vendor providing the student information system that Smoky Valley uses (PowerSchool SIS). Relevant as a technology ecosystem partner rather than a competitor — comparable to other EdTech vendors the district relies on (Canvas, Clever, Apptegy).
• Apptegy: Provider of the district's website, mobile apps, and parent communication platform. Comparable as a K-12-specific communications infrastructure vendor supporting school districts nationwide.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/USD400
• Facebookfacebook.com/SoderstromElementary

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries4 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 SMOKY VALLEY USD400