What Howell Public Schools does

Howell Public Schools is a K-12 public school district headquartered at 411 N. Highlander Way in Howell, Michigan, operating as a government entity under the authority of an elected Board of Education and led by Superintendent Erin J. MacGregor, Ed.D. The district serves families across 167 square miles in the heart of Livingston County (population 160,000+) and runs 11 schools: six elementary schools serving grades K-5 (Challenger, Hutchings, Northwest, Southwest, Three Fires, Voyager), two middle schools serving grades 6-8 (Highlander Way, Parker), a comprehensive high school serving grades 9-12 (Howell High School, with a Freshman Campus), and a non-traditional high school (Innovation Academy). Beyond K-12 instruction, the district operates the Little Highlanders Learning Center for early childhood education (ages six weeks to five years), Kids Kare before/after-school care, Highlander Virtual online learning, a Spanish Dual Language Immersion program branded Academia Bilingüe at Three Fires Elementary, and a broad Career Prep catalog including Construction Trades, Culinary Arts, EMT, Firefighters, Health Occupations, Manufacturing & Engineering, Private Pilot Ground School, and five FIRST Tech Challenge robotics teams.

The district's technology stack is built on third-party SaaS rather than proprietary systems: PowerSchool serves as the student information system with a single sign-on parent portal; Schoology is the learning management system; the 1:1 Chromebook program (launched 2018-2019 for grades 6-12) provides district-wide device access; RingCentral provides cloud communications with Google credential integration; Nutrislice handles menu publishing; Meal Magic Family Portal handles meal payments; RevTrak processes web store and fee payments; FMX manages facility scheduling; and SchoolMessenger handles mass parent notifications via phone, email, and SMS. No proprietary or AI/ML capabilities are documented. The district has earned the 2026 NSPRA Gold Medallion Award for its bus driver recruitment campaign and a MASB/SET SEG Education Excellence Award.

Howell Public Schools operates as a government entity funded primarily through three streams: Michigan state school aid (per-pupil foundation allowance and categorical funding), local property tax via a non-homestead millage (with renewal and restoration on the November 3, 2026 ballot), and federal categorical grants (Title I, special education, and others). Ancillary revenue includes facility rental fees through the FMX system and, through the Michigan School Meals program, universal free breakfast and lunch is provided to all students for the 2026-2027 school year. Core K-12 education is delivered at no cost to families; fee-based services are limited to facility rentals and certain childcare programs. Customer acquisition is purely geographic - families enroll students within defined attendance area maps - making the district a regulated monopoly within its catchment and one of the largest employers in Livingston County.

Name

Howell Public Schools

Legal name

Howell Public Schools

Website

https://howellschools.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Howell Public Schools is a Michigan K-12 public school district operating 11 schools across 167 square miles in Livingston County, serving resident families with elementary, middle, and high school education, career technical programs, and early childhood services, funded primarily by state aid and local property taxes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH), Outdoor / Nature-Based Before/After Care Programs (EDACAHAJ)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• Career technical education
• Early childhood learning
• Dual language immersion
• School nutrition services

Headquarters

HQ city

Howell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. State School Aid: Primary funding from Michigan state school aid based on per-pupil foundation allowance and categorical funding for specific programs
2. Local Property Tax (Millage): Local property tax revenue through non-homestead millage renewal and restoration, proposed for November 3, 2026 ballot
3. Federal Funding: Federal categorical funding including Title I, special education, and various grant programs
4. Child Nutrition Program: Michigan School Meals program providing universal free breakfast and lunch to all students; funded through state budget and federal programs
5. Facility Rental Fees: Rental fees for community use of district buildings and athletic facilities through Facilities Management Express (FMX) system

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Howell Public Schools is a public K-12 school district operating 11 schools across 167 square miles of Livingston County, Michigan, providing free public education from kindergarten through grade 12. The district also delivers early childhood education for children ages 6 weeks through 5 years, before- and after-school childcare (Kids Kare), career technical education pathways, a Spanish dual language immersion program (Academia Bilingüe), the Highlander Virtual online learning option, and community services such as the Highlander Reading Express book bus and the Highlander Aquatic and Fitness Center.

Product overview

Howell Public Schools is a public school district serving approximately 167 square miles in Livingston County, Michigan. The district operates a unified portfolio of educational services organized as a network of schools (6 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high schools including a non-traditional alternative) plus specialized programs. The core offering is K-12 education across physical campuses, supplemented by early childhood programs at Little Highlanders Learning Center (infant to preschool), before/after-school Kids Kare childcare, career technical education through Career Prep programs, and technology-enabled learning via the 1:1 Chromebook Program (grades 6-12) and Highlander Virtual online learning. Additional district-run community services include the Highlander Reading Express mobile book bus, Highlander Aquatic and Fitness Center, student-run credit union, and Highlander Restaurant culinary enterprise. The district uses integrated operational platforms including PowerSchool (student information), Schoology (learning management), Meal Magic (food service payments), RevTrak (general payments), RingCentral (communications), and FMX (facility scheduling).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Highlander Reading Express: Mobile book lending program operated by the district, featuring a book bus that serves various community locations during summer months.
• Little Highlanders Learning Center
• Highlander Virtual
• Academia Bilingüe
• Innovation Academy
• Highlander Robotics

Products and services

• K-5 Elementary Schools Network of six K-5 elementary schools (Challenger, Hutchings, Northwest, Southwest, Three Fires, Voyager) delivering foundational literacy, math (Everyday Math curriculum), social-emotional learning, and supporting early reading programs for students in attendance areas.
• Grades 6-8 Middle Schools Two middle schools (Highlander Way Middle School and Parker Middle School) serving grades 6-8 with career exploration, extracurricular activities, athletics, and 1:1 Chromebooks for each student.
• Howell High School Comprehensive high school for grades 9-12 operating across a 10-12 main campus and Freshman Campus configuration, offering college preparation, career technical education programs, athletics, arts, Advanced Placement, and dual enrollment.
• Innovation Academy Non-traditional high school for grades 9-12 offering alternative educational pathways for students seeking non-traditional learning environments.
• Little Highlanders Learning Center Early childhood education center at 861 E. Sibley Street offering childcare and preschool programs for children ages six weeks through five years, including toddler programs, three-year-old preschool, four-year-old Universal Pre-K/GSRP, and Little Highlanders Lab Preschool.
• Kids Kare Before- and after-school childcare program for school-age children and Summer Kids Kare program operated by the Early Childhood Education Department.
• Career Prep Programs Career and technical education pathways including Air Force JROTC, Construction Trades, Culinary Arts, Early Childhood Education (Teacher Cadet), Emergency Medical Training, Firefighters I & II, Health Occupations, Highlander Robotics, Manufacturing & Engineering, and Private Pilot Ground School.
• Highlander Robotics Competitive robotics teams participating in FIRST Tech Challenge including Team KAOS (8646), Team KILTS (10538), Team KUDOS (15229), Team KRASH (15465), and Team KARMA (21914).
• Dual Language Immersion Program (Academia Bilingüe) Spanish dual language immersion program operated at Three Fires Elementary School, providing integrated bilingual instruction for participating students.
• Highlander Virtual Online virtual learning option providing K-12 online education for Howell Public Schools students within the district.
• Highlander Reading Express Mobile book bus program bringing summer literacy enrichment to community locations including Ravines of Rolling Ridge Playground, Amber Oaks Playground, and Genoa Township Park.
• Highlander Aquatic and Fitness Center Community recreation facility offering youth swim lessons, private swim lessons, fitness classes, yoga, lap swim membership, Silver Sneakers program, and birthday party rentals.
• Student-Run Credit Union Student-operated credit union branch providing financial literacy experience for students in partnership with LOC Federal Credit Union.
• Highlander Restaurant Student-run restaurant offering hands-on culinary arts training and real-world hospitality experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• Gold Medallion Award for Bus Driver Recruitment Campaign (2026)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Livingston Educational Service AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Livingston ESA for special education programs and services. The district works with LESA to provide a continuum of educational environments for students with disabilities.
• ABMminorOthersABM is the district's custodial services provider, hiring custodians for day and evening shifts in schools. All custodial positions are hired and employed through ABM.
• ParentGuidance.orgminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFree resource for parents in Livingston County providing guidance and support resources
• Howell Carnegie District LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local library for student online resources and community engagement
• Howell Education FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit foundation supporting educational programs and initiatives in the district through fundraising and community support
• PowerSchool Group LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationStudent information system provider used for grades, attendance, and parent portal access

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Clarkston Community Schools: Oakland County, Michigan public K-12 district with comparable suburban profile, similar foundation allowance funding, and overlapping CTE/dual enrollment offerings. Useful benchmark for program breadth and per-pupil outcomes.
• Brighton Area Schools: Neighboring Livingston County public school district operating multiple elementary, middle, and high schools on similar Michigan per-pupil funding. Most direct enrollment-area competitor to Howell within the same county.
• Pinckney Community Schools: Livingston County public K-12 district serving the southwest portion of the county. Comparable in scale, funding model, and student demographics; competes for the same regional talent and tax base.
• Lake Orion Community Schools: Oakland County, Michigan K-12 public district with similar suburban demographic profile, foundation allowance funding structure, and comparable scope of CTE, athletics, and special education programming.
• Hartland Consolidated Schools: Adjacent Livingston County, Michigan K-12 public district serving a similar suburban-rural footprint. Directly comparable on funding structure (Michigan foundation allowance + millage), school choice dynamics, and competition for Howell-area families.

Others

• PowerSchool Group LLC: Vendor partner providing Howell's student information system, parent SSO portal, and integrated grade/attendance platform. Not a competitor but a key technology enabler and ecosystem participant for the district's digital stack.

Regional players

• Grand Blanc Community Schools: Genesee County, Michigan public K-12 district operating on the same state foundation allowance framework with overlapping program categories (CTE, dual enrollment, alternative education). Comparable in scale and instructional model.
• Hudsonville Public Schools: Western Michigan public K-12 district with comparable size and program breadth, including strong CTE pathways and community-based funding model. Useful regional benchmark for Michigan public district operating performance.

Broad incumbents

• Walled Lake Consolidated Schools: Larger southeast Michigan K-12 public district with broader program portfolio including extensive CTE and alternative education. Comparable in suburban Michigan operating environment and 1:1 device adoption but at significantly larger scale.
• Ann Arbor Public Schools: Larger Michigan public K-12 district with a wider portfolio including robust magnet, IB, and language immersion programs. Comparable on dual language immersion and CTE dimensions but operates at materially larger scale and urban-suburban mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/howellmischools
• YouTubevimeo.com/howellschools
• Facebookfacebook.com/howellpublicschooldistrict

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Howell Public Schools