What Fort Cherry School District does

Fort Cherry School District is a public K-12 school district governed under Pennsylvania school law and headquartered at 110 Fort Cherry Road, McDonald, Pennsylvania, serving residents across 57.82 square miles. It operates two school buildings: Fort Cherry Elementary Center (K-6) and Fort Cherry Junior/Senior High School (7-12), with a 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio. The district is overseen by an elected Board of School Directors and funded primarily through local property taxes (collected by Mt. Pleasant Tax Collector and Keystone Collections Group), earned income taxes (Keystone Collections), Pennsylvania Department of Education state funding, and monthly natural gas drilling payments from Range Resources. No tuition is charged to district residents.

The district's core digital infrastructure is built on third-party, non-proprietary platforms: Schoology as the Learning Management System for course delivery, assignments, and parent-teacher communication; Clever Portal for single sign-on across educational applications; a 1:1 Device Program that issues personal computing devices to students; the Fort Cherry mobile app for district communications; and the Sapphire Community Portal for parent access to student records. Academic offerings include 11 Advanced Placement courses (with 66% qualifying scores reported), dual enrollment partnerships with six universities (University of Pittsburgh, CCAC, Pennwest, Beaver Area, Carnegie Mellon, and Pennsylvania College of Technology), and career technical education through Western Area Career and Technology Center and Parkway West Career and Technology Center. Co-curricular and support services span athletics (with NFHS Network livestreaming and GoFan ticketing), special education (2026-2029 plan), transportation, food service (including summer feeding), health services, gifted/STRIVE programs, Title I, and Safe2Say Something safety reporting.

The business model is that of a government state entity rather than a commercial enterprise: revenue is collected via taxation and intergovernmental transfers, not customer transactions. Ancillary transactional revenue is generated from athletic event tickets ($7.00 general admission through semi-finals), special-event ticket sales (e.g., Kennywood Day at $32.99), and substitute labor postings (e.g., custodial substitutes at $16.00/hr). Customer-facing communications flow through a multi-channel mix including the district website, Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube (Fort Cherry Television), the mobile app, Schoology, and publicly broadcast Board of Directors meetings. The district is certified under FERPA and Title IX and holds the Pennsylvania Purple Star School designation for military-connected student support.

Name

Fort Cherry School District

Legal name

Fort Cherry School District

Website

https://www.fortcherry.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Fort Cherry School District is a public K-12 school district in McDonald, Pennsylvania, operating an Elementary Center (K-6) and Junior/Senior High School (7-12) across 57.82 square miles with a 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio, funded by local taxes, state aid, and Range Resources drilling payments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

akta.pro primary industry

Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB), Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD), Public Middle Schools (EDAJAAAC)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• Career technical education
• Special education services
• School athletics programs
• Advanced placement courses

Headquarters

HQ city

McDonald

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Local Tax Revenue: School property tax revenue collected through tax collectors (Mt. Pleasant Tax Collector and Keystone Collects). Property tax due dates include discount period (Aug 1 - Sep 30), face period (Oct 1 - Nov 30), and penalty period (after Nov 30).
2. Earned Income Tax: Local earned income taxes collected through Keystone Collections Group from district residents and workers
3. Range Resources Revenue: Natural gas drilling revenue payments received monthly from Range Resources. District receives recurring payments documented for 2025 and 2026.
4. State Funding (PDE): Pennsylvania Department of Education state funding based on student enrollment and district metrics
5. Activity and Program Fees: Revenue from athletics tickets, special events (Kennywood Day tickets $32.99), and other student activities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fort Cherry School District is a public K-12 school district serving district residents in McDonald, Pennsylvania through two school buildings: Fort Cherry Elementary Center (grades K-6) and Fort Cherry Junior/Senior High School (grades 7-12). The district delivers core academic instruction, 11 Advanced Placement courses, career technical education partnerships, dual enrollment programs with regional universities, special education services, athletics, food service, transportation, and health services to enrolled students.

Product overview

Fort Cherry School District operates as a K-12 public education institution providing a comprehensive range of academic and support services. The district's core educational delivery is supported by Schoology LMS as the primary learning management system, complemented by the Fort Cherry App for mobile communications and Sapphire Community Portal for parent access. Technology infrastructure includes a 1:1 Device Program providing personal computing devices to students. Academic programs feature AP and College-in-High-School courses across 11 subject areas, career readiness partnerships with regional technology centers, and special education services. The district also provides athletics programs with home and away competition schedules, livestreaming via NFHS Network, food services including summer feeding programs, transportation, health services, and extra-curricular activities. District coverage spans 57.82 square miles serving the McDonald, PA area with approximately 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Elementary Education (Grades K-6) Foundational K-6 education at Fort Cherry Elementary Center covering reading, writing, mathematics, science, technology, arts, and character development for district resident students; includes 1:1 student devices and Schoology LMS access.
• Secondary Education (Grades 7-12) Grades 7-12 education at Fort Cherry Junior/Senior High School covering core academics, Advanced Placement courses, career technical education, dual enrollment, and extracurricular programming for district resident students.
• Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Enrollment Programs College-level coursework in statistics, calculus, pre-calculus, biology, chemistry, physics, English, American government, U.S. history, psychology, and computer science principles; includes dual enrollment partnerships with University of Pittsburgh, Community College of Allegheny County, Pennwest University, Beaver Area Community College, Carnegie Mellon, and Pennsylvania College of Technology. 11 AP courses offered.
• Career Readiness Programs Career and technical education including building trades, cosmetology, quantity foods/culinary arts, apprenticeship programs, power motorsports, and diesel mechanics delivered through partnerships with Western Area Career and Technology Center and Parkway West Career and Technology Center.
• Special Education Services Individually-designed educational programs for students with special needs, including in-house emotional support and life skills support programs. District Special Education Plan covers 2026-2029.
• Athletics Programs Comprehensive interscholastic athletic program for Fort Cherry Rangers covering fall, winter, and spring sports including home and away competitions. Athletic department philosophy promotes physical, mental, social, emotional, and moral well-being of participants.
• Food Service District cafeteria operations serving daily school lunches with published menus, plus a summer feeding program for eligible students at the Elementary Cafeteria.
• Transportation Services Student bus transportation including route scheduling and coordination for district resident students attending Fort Cherry schools.
• Health Services School nursing services including student health screenings, medication administration, and health-related support, with periodic nursing newsletters published for families.
• Extra-Curricular Programming After-school clubs and activities beyond standard academic coursework, including STEAM programs, aquaponics lab experiences, and various student organizations for enrolled students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 66% qualifying scores on AP Exams
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of PittsburghcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for educational services and programs. Students have access to college-level coursework and dual enrollment opportunities.
• Community College of Allegheny CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual enrollment and college credit opportunities for Fort Cherry students through partnership programs.
• Pennwest UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership providing college credit and transition opportunities for students.
• Beaver Area Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual enrollment partnership for career and college readiness.
• Carnegie Mellon UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for educational services providing advanced learning opportunities.
• Pennsylvania College of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical and career-focused educational partnership for student workforce development.
• Western Area Career and Technology CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer technical education partnership offering building trades, cosmetology, quantity foods, and apprenticeship programs.
• Parkway West Career and Technology CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer technical education partnership for power motorsports and diesel mechanics programs.
• SchoologycoreTechnology or IntegrationLearning management system (LMS) used by students, parents, and staff for coursework, assignments, and communication.
• ClevercoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital identity platform providing single sign-on access to educational applications and resources.
• Keystone Collections GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTax collection services for real estate taxes, earned income taxes, per capita taxes, and employer payroll withholding for the district.
• Heritage Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community library partnership providing additional educational resources to students and families.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Burgettstown Area School District: Small rural K-12 public school district in Washington County, PA. Comparable size, geographic footprint, and reliance on local property tax plus state funding in the same Pennsylvania regulatory environment.
• Avella Area School District: Small rural K-12 public school district in Washington County, PA. Operates with similar two-building structure and serves a comparable small-population footprint in the same energy-producing region of Pennsylvania.
• Chartiers Valley School District: Adjacent suburban K-12 public school district in the Pittsburgh metro area, comparable in size and scope (two middle schools and a high school). Operates under similar Pennsylvania school-code framework with overlapping CTE and athletics offerings.
• Montour School District: K-12 public school district in the Pittsburgh western suburbs. Comparable AP and college-credit program offerings, 1:1 device initiatives, and Pennsylvania public school district funding structure.
• West Mifflin Area School District: K-12 public school district in the Pittsburgh metro area operating under Pennsylvania school code. Similar grade-band organization, AP offerings, and athletics programs.
• Cornell School District: K-12 public school district serving Coraopolis and surrounding western Pennsylvania communities. Comparable size, two-building K-12 structure, and similar reliance on property tax and state aid.
• Highlands School District: K-12 public school district serving the Natrona Heights area of Pennsylvania. Comparable district size, AP and CTE offerings, and Pennsylvania public school funding model.
• Carlynton School District: Small western Pennsylvania K-12 public school district serving the Carnegie/Collier area. Comparable rural-suburban mix, two-building structure, and similar reliance on state and local tax revenue.
• South Fayette Township School District: Suburban Pittsburgh-area K-12 public district offering AP programs, dual enrollment, and 1:1 device initiatives. Comparable Pennsylvania public district structure with similar grade-band organization.

Others

• Pennsylvania Department of Education: State-level regulator and primary funding source for Fort Cherry's state-aid stream. Not a competitor, but a key counterpart that shapes funding formulas, compliance frameworks (FERPA, Title IX), and Purple Star designations referenced by the district.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/FCSDInfo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/fortcherrytelevision
• Facebookfacebook.com/fortcherryschooldistrict

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Fort Cherry School District