What Glendale Elementary School District does

Glendale Elementary School District (GESD), legally Glendale Elementary School District No. 40, is a public K-8 school district operated under Arizona state law and governed by a five-member elected board serving the city of Glendale, Arizona. The district operates 12 neighborhood schools, 1 online school (Glendale Elementary Online Learning), and 1 alternative program, enrolling approximately 8,000-8,500 students and employing over 1,200 staff. It is a government state entity, not a private company, and is funded primarily through Arizona state per-pupil aid, federal entitlement grants (Title I, IDEA/Special Education), local property taxes, and Arizona state income tax credit donations.

GESD's product portfolio is organized into signature programs (each school carries a distinct thematic focus such as Spanish Dual Language Immersion at Horizon and William C. Jack, STEAM Careers at Glenn F. Burton and Harold W. Smith, Performing and Digital Arts at Glendale American, Fine Arts at Glendale Landmark, Exercise Science and Athletics at Challenger, Civic Leadership at Don Mensendick and Desert Spirit, Digital Media and Communications at Discovery, Innovative Learning/Makerspace at Sunset Vista, and Career Technology Exploration at Bicentennial South), core academic programs (Free Full-Day Kindergarten, Language Acquisition/ELD, Gifted Education, Title I, Library Services, McKinney-Vento homeless education, Extended Day Care), and operational services (Food and Nutrition with free meals for all students under the Community Eligibility Provision, Student Transportation with GPS/RFID-tracked buses via Edulog, Student Technology support on Chromebooks with Clever single sign-on, and the GESD System of Care Center for behavioral health and wraparound services).

The district runs on a conventional K-12 ed-tech stack rather than proprietary platforms: Chromebooks and Google Workspace for Education, Clever for student single sign-on, Edulog for bus tracking, Destiny (Follett) for library management, Finalsite for website/communications, ParentVUE for parent access, Peachjar for digital flyer distribution, LINQ Connect for meal payments, and Duo Security for staff SSO. GESD's go-to-market is direct-to-consumer and community-led: families enroll directly through the district's enrollment system, with open enrollment allowing out-of-boundary students and in-district transfers to attend non-assigned schools. The district actively markets through its website, social media (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram), Peachjar digital flyers, and community engagement events, positioning each campus as a community hub. Pricing to families is effectively zero for core instructional services, with optional Arizona tax credit donations (up to $200 individual / $400 joint) supporting extracurricular activities. Annual purchasing volume for goods, services, materials, and supplies is approximately $33 million, and average teacher salary is budgeted at $55,539 for FY2027.

Name

Glendale Elementary School District

Legal name

Glendale Elementary School District No. 40

Website

https://www.gesd40.org

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Glendale Elementary School District No. 40 is a public K-8 school district in Glendale, Arizona, operating 12 schools, an online school, and an alternative program serving approximately 8,000-8,500 students with over 1,200 employees through signature-themed campuses, free full-day kindergarten, free meals, and wraparound behavioral and social-emotional services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-8 Public Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA), Public Virtual & Blended Learning Programs (District-Run) (EDAJAAAI), Special Education Evaluation & Assessment (Psychoeducational, Speech/Language, OT/PT) (EDAJAKAA), Behavioral Intervention & PBIS Supports (Tiered, Gen Ed) (EDAJAGAL)

Keywords

• K-8 public education
• Elementary school services
• Special education programs
• Language acquisition instruction
• Student transportation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Glendale

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, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. State Funding: Arizona state funding for public education based on student enrollment and attendance formulas.
2. Federal Grants: Federal funding through programs including Title I, Special Education, and other entitlement grants for specific educational programs and services.
3. Tax Credit Donations: Arizona state income tax credits for donations to support extracurricular activities - up to $200 for individuals, $400 for married couples filing jointly.
4. Property Taxes: Local property tax revenues that support district operations, maintenance, and capital improvements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Glendale Elementary School District provides free K-8 public education to approximately 8,000 students across 12 schools, one online school, and one alternative program in Glendale, Arizona. The district offers signature specialty programs (STEAM, dual-language immersion, performing arts, civic leadership), core academic programs (full-day kindergarten, English language development, gifted education, Title I), and wrap-around support services including transportation, food and nutrition, behavioral health, and technology support.

Product overview

Glendale Elementary School District is a public elementary school district serving approximately 8,000 students across 12 schools, one online school, and one alternative program in Glendale, Arizona. The district offers a unified portfolio of educational programs and services organized around its core mission of fostering academic excellence through innovative learning. The district's programs include 12 distinct signature programs (e.g., Glendale American School of Performing and Digital Arts, Glenn F. Burton School of STEAM Careers, Horizon and William C. Jack dual language immersion schools), core academic programs (Free Full-Day Kindergarten, Language Acquisition/ELD, Gifted Education, Title I), and wrap-around support services (Desert Garden Preschool, Extended Day Care, McKinney-Vento homeless services, Library Services). Operational services include Student Transportation with GPS/RFID bus tracking, Food and Nutrition Services (providing free meals via Community Eligibility Provision), Student Technology support via Chromebooks and Clever SSO, and the GESD System of Care Center for behavioral health and social-emotional support. The district also operates Glendale Elementary Online Learning as a fully-supported online school option, and maintains a Careers and Employment Portal for recruiting staff.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Free Full-Day Kindergarten

Quantifiable outcome

• All students receive free meals (breakfast and lunch) eliminating food insecurity barriers to learning
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GUSTO FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGUSTO Foundation supports GESD through staff appreciation events and initiatives, including prize giveaways at staff ceremonies. The foundation engages with the district to enhance community connections and student opportunities.
• La FronteracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity behavioral health agency providing counseling support during school hours at Harold W. Smith school as part of GESD's mental health and wellness services.
• Southwest Behavioral Health ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBehavioral health agency providing school-based counseling services at Glenn F. Burton, Glendale Landmark, and William C. Jack schools.
• Touchstone Health ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth services provider offering counseling support at Glendale American and Horizon schools during school hours.
• Free Life Wellness CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWellness center providing mental health services at Sunset Vista and Bicentennial South schools through school-based counseling programs.
• Living and Balance Wellness CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWellness services provider offering counseling support at Don Mensendick school as part of GESD's behavioral health partnerships.
• Greater Phoenix Purchasing Consortium of Schools (GPPCS)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPurchasing cooperative allowing GESD to access pre-negotiated pricing and contracts for goods and services.
• Arizona State Procurement OfficeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorState purchasing office providing access to government contracts for procurement of goods and services.
• Mohave Educational Services Cooperative (MESC)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEducational services purchasing cooperative providing volume pricing for school supplies and services.
• ClevercoreTechnology or IntegrationSingle sign-on platform integrated with GESD's student accounts, providing access to all educational tools and resources through one portal.
• GooglecoreTechnology or IntegrationGoogle Chrome platform and Google Workspace for Education providing student accounts, Chromebooks, and educational applications.
• Arizona Department of EducationcoreOthersState education department providing compliance guidance, procedural safeguards, and resources for special education programs.
• Arizona State University (ASU Conexiones)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership providing summer technology programs for migrant education students as part of extended learning opportunities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Washington Elementary School District: Adjacent Phoenix-area public K-8 elementary school district of similar scale, serving a comparable urban-suburban population with traditional schools, signature programs, and wraparound services. Direct peer in grade band, funding model, and operating model.
• Alhambra Elementary School District: Phoenix-based public K-8 elementary district serving a comparable demographic, with similar state-aid funding model and traditional neighborhood schools plus specialized programs. Direct peer in size, geography, and mission.
• Cartwright Elementary School District: West Phoenix K-8 public elementary district with similar enrollment band, dual-language and signature programs, and reliance on Arizona per-pupil funding. Direct peer operating in the same metro.
• Kyrene Elementary School District: Tempe/Chandler-area public K-8 elementary district known for signature programs (e.g., traditional academies, dual language, STEM) and similar magnet/signature enrollment model. Comparable in programmatic structure though in a different sub-market.
• Phoenix Elementary School District: Central Phoenix public K-8 district of similar enrollment scale, comparable urban demographic, and similar dependence on state and federal funding streams. Closely comparable in operating profile.
• Roosevelt Elementary School District: South Phoenix public K-8 elementary district with a comparable student demographic, dual-language and signature program offerings, and similar Title I and state-aid funding mix.
• Isaac Elementary School District: West Phoenix public K-8 elementary district serving a comparable demographic with similar signature programs and state-funding model; close peer for size and community profile.
• Litchfield Elementary School District: West Valley (Litchfield Park, AZ) public K-8 elementary district in the same metro with similar grade band, signature programs, and per-pupil state funding exposure.

Broad incumbents

• Peoria Unified School District: Larger K-12 public district serving the broader Peoria/Glendale West Valley area. While broader (includes high schools), it operates overlapping elementary programs and competes for the same open-enrollment families in the Glendale sub-market.

Emerging players

• BASIS Charter Schools: Large Arizona-based charter network (BASIS Phoenix, BASIS Peoria) competing for the same K-8 open-enrollment families via STEM-focused programs; relevant as an emerging competitor for differentiated curriculum-driven enrollment in the Glendale sub-market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/glendaleelementary
• Facebookfacebook.com/GESD40
• Instagraminstagram.com/gesd40
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/glendale-elementary-school-district-no-40

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles26 records

Subsidiaries16 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 Glendale Elementary School District