Mount Airy City Schools

What Mount Airy City Schools does

Mount Airy City Schools (MACS) is a public K-12 school district and political subdivision of the State of North Carolina, founded in 1895 and operating four schools within the city of Mount Airy: B.H. Tharrington Primary (K-2), J.J. Jones Intermediate (3-5), Mount Airy Middle (6-8), and Mount Airy High (9-12). The district serves approximately 1,895 students and is governed by an elected Mount Airy City Board of Education, with operational leadership under Superintendent Phillip Brown and an executive team spanning academics, operations, exceptional children, federal programs, finance, and school nutrition. Its core educational product is a K-12 STEAM Framework integrating science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics across all grade levels, supplemented by a district-wide Dual Language Immersion program, Career and Technical Education pathways, and Pre-K programs (NC PreK and Cubs PreK). Performance data places the district in the top 15% of NC districts for graduation rate, 3rd statewide for Biology EOC, and 1st in the Piedmont-Triad region for 8th-grade ELA EOG and Biology EOC, with 90% AP exam college-credit pass rate for 2024-2025.

The technology stack is centered on commercial ed-tech platforms rather than proprietary systems: Canvas (Learning Management System, Instructure) for instruction and family communication; Infinite Campus for student information and the Parent Portal; Edlio for the district website; LINQ Connect for meal payments; School Cash Online for fee collection; Here Comes the Bus for transportation tracking; Bark for Parents for online safety; Branching Minds for MTSS intervention tracking; Ellevation for multilingual learner and DLI support; Follett Destiny for library management; SafeSchools Training for staff compliance; and NCEdCloud for identity and access management. The district integrates the NC Cardinal library consortium to provide 6th-12th grade students free access to databases such as ProQuest Central, eBook Central, Films on Demand, and Mango Languages. Auxiliary systems include Timekeeper for staff time tracking, an 11-bus fleet managed via tracking applications, and a school-based health clinic operated on a rotating weekly schedule at each campus.

The district's revenue model is dominated by North Carolina state funding and local appropriations, with no commercial pricing. Operationally relevant funding streams include: (i) state and local per-pupil appropriations; (ii) out-of-district tuition set by the Board for discretionary admission students, with structured payment plans and hardship waivers (Virginia tuition waivers discontinued beginning 2026-2027); (iii) School Nutrition Program revenue from second meals, adult meals, and a la carte items, with all student meals free under Community Eligibility Provision (CEP); (iv) annual athletics passes at $125 (general admission) and $175 (with special parking); and (v) fundraising through the Mount Airy City Schools Foundation 501(c)(3), including a 50/50 Split the Pot raffle targeting $100,000 ($50,000 to athletics). Service delivery is augmented by community partnerships with Surry Medical Ministries (on-campus health), Surry Community College (career pathways), Wake Forest University CERTL (MAPSS grant), Surry-Yadkin EMC (Hungry Bear food program), Reeves Community Center (community 5K), and Hanban/Confucius Institute (Chinese language expansion). Multiple administrative reorganizations in FY2025 and FY2026 reflect ongoing realignment under federal budget pressure.

Name

Mount Airy City Schools

Legal name

Mount Airy City Schools

Website

https://mtairy.k12.nc.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1895

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Mount Airy City Schools is a North Carolina public K-12 school district operating four schools serving approximately 1,895 students. It delivers a STEAM framework, dual language immersion, and career-technical programs funded primarily by state and local appropriations within a defined geographic attendance area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJAAAE

Public K–12 Combined Schools

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Public K–12 Schools & Districts

SECONDARYEDAJAAAB

Public Elementary Schools

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Public K–12 Schools & Districts

SECONDARYEDAJAAAC

Public Middle Schools

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Public K–12 Schools & Districts

SECONDARYEDAJAAAD

Public High Schools

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Public K–12 Schools & Districts

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• STEAM curriculum
• Dual language immersion
• Career technical education
• Special education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Mount Airy

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. State and Local Public Funding: Primary revenue source from North Carolina state funding and local government appropriations for public education operations.
2. Out-of-District Tuition: Discretionary admission students residing outside district boundaries pay tuition as established by the Board of Education. Payment plans available (50% due August, 50% due January). Hardship waivers can be requested and must be approved annually. Virginia tuition waivers not accepted starting 2026-2027 school year.
3. School Nutrition Program: CEP (Community Eligibility Provision) district where all meals are free. Revenue generated from second meals, adult meals, reduced-price meals, and a la carte items (beverages and snacks). Additional $25 service charge on returned checks. Debit account system and LINQ Connect online payment processing available.
4. Athletics and Activities Fees: Annual sports passes sold for admission to regular season home games at Mount Airy Middle and High School. $125 pass provides free admission for one person; $175 pass includes special parking at varsity football games.
5. 50/50 Raffle/Athletics Fundraising: Split the Pot raffle drawing held during halftime of home football games, with proceeds split between athletics and the winner. Goal of $100,000 with up to $50,000 for athletics.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Mount Airy City Schools is a public K-12 school district operating four schools (primary, intermediate, middle, and high school) that delivers comprehensive classroom instruction to approximately 1,895 students. The core offering centers on a district-wide K-12 STEAM Framework integrated with a Dual Language Immersion program, supplemented by Career and Technical Education with workforce credentials and internships, Pre-Kindergarten programs, and supporting services including free school nutrition (CEP), transportation, and exceptional children services.

Product overview

Mount Airy City Schools operates as a traditional K-12 public school district with 4 schools serving approximately 1,895 students. The district's core educational offering is its K-12 STEAM Framework, which integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics across all grade levels. The district also offers specialized programs including Dual Language Immersion (DLI) for multilingual education, Career and Technical Education (CTE) with workforce development credentials and internships, and Pre-Kindergarten programs (NC PreK and Cubs PreK). Supporting services include school nutrition (4 cafeterias providing free meals under CEP), transportation (11 buses), exceptional children services, and the Mount Airy City Schools Foundation for charitable support. Surry Med Mobile provides on-campus health services to students at no cost.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-12 STEAM Framework A Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics educational framework integrated across grades K-12 in all four district schools, providing students with cross-disciplinary learning experiences emphasizing real-world application and problem-based learning.
• Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program A district-wide program supporting multilingual learners and World Languages from kindergarten through 12th grade, designed to build bilingual and biliterate skills alongside cultural competence and academic achievement pathways.
• School Nutrition Program Provides hot breakfast and lunch meals daily to students across 4 school cafeterias. As a CEP (Community Eligibility Provision) district, all meals are provided at no cost to students, with revenue generated from second meals, adult meals, reduced-price meals, and a la carte items.
• Transportation Services Bus transportation services for students using an 11-bus fleet providing routes to and from schools, with the Here Comes the Bus app enabling parents to monitor bus locations in real time.
• Exceptional Children Services Special education services and support for students with disabilities, including speech-language pathology, social-emotional learning, EC compliance, and Title IX coordination, led by the Director of Exceptional Children.
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs preparing students for career readiness through workforce development credentials and internship opportunities; Mount Airy High School students earned 716 credentials and 61 students participated in internships in 2024-2025.
• Pre-Kindergarten Programs NC PreK and Cubs PreK programs for eligible four-year-olds, providing early childhood education preparation aligned with district readiness goals.
• Mount Airy City Schools Foundation A 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation supporting the district through charitable contributions to enhance student experiences and educational programs, organizing fundraising events including the 50/50 Split the Pot raffle benefiting athletics.
• Surry Med Mobile School-based health care service provided by Surry Medical Ministries offering free medical care to students at school sites on a rotating weekly schedule (Monday at JJ Jones, Tuesday at BHT, Wednesday at MAHS, Thursday at MAMS), including vision and dental services regardless of insurance status.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92.4% graduation rate ranked 7th in NC
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Surry Medical MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSurry Med Mobile provides convenient healthcare services to students and staff directly at school campuses on a rotating weekly schedule. Monday at JJ Jones Intermediate (7:15am-3:15pm), Tuesday at BH Tharrington Primary (7:15am-3:15pm), Wednesday at Mount Airy High School (7:45am-4:45pm), Thursday at Mount Airy Middle School (7:45am-4:45pm). Services are free to all students regardless of insurance status.
• Surry Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop career pathways and workforce development opportunities for students. The collaboration meets the needs of students transitioning between secondary and post-secondary education, with Surry Community College providing resources and opportunities aligned with MACS STEAM initiatives.
• Reeves Community CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual 5K on the Greenway event partnership. MACS and Reeves Community Center co-host the community fitness event at Emily B. Taylor Greenway, with schools competing to have the most runners participate.
• Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership CorporationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated 330 bags of food to support Mount Airy Middle School's Hungry Bear Food Program serving students with inconsistent food access. Additionally provided Christmas sponsorship including clothing (pants, shirts, shoes) and toys for program participants.
• Mount Airy City Schools FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that accepts contributions to support Mount Airy City Schools. The foundation organizes fundraising events including the 50/50 Split the Pot raffle benefiting athletics, and sells tickets for athletics and other school activities.
• Hanban/Confucius InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to expand Chinese language program in the district at little to no cost. District was invited to participate in Global Confucius Institute Conference in Shanghai, China to deepen the partnership and create relationships for program expansion.
• Wake Forest University CERTLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the MAPSS (Math and Problem-based and Project-based Learning for Student Success) three-year grant. Teachers from multiple districts participated in professional development at Wake Forest University focused on implementing problem-based and project-based learning in K-8 mathematics classrooms.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Wake County Public School System: Large North Carolina public K-12 district. Comparable under the same NC accountability and funding framework, but operates at much greater scale and is a statewide benchmark for outcomes.
• Forsyth County Schools: Larger Piedmont-Triad public K-12 district (Winston-Salem area). Comparable as a same-region NC public district under the same accountability framework, but operates at substantially greater scale.
• Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools: North Carolina city-based public K-12 district. Comparable structurally as a city-based NC public district, but operates in a higher-income demographic context with different discretionary demand dynamics.
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: Largest North Carolina public K-12 district (Charlotte area). Comparable as a North Carolina public K-12 district under the same funding and accountability framework, but at urban scale very different from Mount Airy.

Direct peers

• Surry County Schools: Adjacent county-based public K-12 district serving the broader Surry County area outside Mount Airy. Directly comparable as the principal competing public school district in the same labor market and region.
• Elkin City Schools: Small North Carolina city-based public K-12 district in Surry County region. Highly comparable in scale and structure to Mount Airy City Schools as a small, geographically constrained NC public district.

Regional players

• Yadkin County Schools: Neighboring North Carolina public K-12 district sharing state funding dynamics and regional accountability comparisons. Comparable as a small NC rural district.
• Alleghany County Schools: Small northwest NC public K-12 district. Comparable in scale and rural-community context to Mount Airy City Schools.
• Ashe County Schools: Northwest North Carolina public K-12 district in the same regional labor market. Comparable as a small-to-mid rural NC public district serving a similar demographic profile.
• Stokes County Schools: Piedmont-Triad regional public K-12 district sharing the same accountability rankings framework and state funding model. Comparable as a same-region NC public district with similar student demographics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MACSchoolsNC
• Facebookfacebook.com/MACSchools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mount-airy-city-schools
• Instagraminstagram.com/macschools

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 Mount Airy City Schools