mentor schools

What mentor schools does

Mentor Public Schools is a public K-12 school district organized as a political subdivision of the State of Ohio, headquartered at 6451 Center Street in Mentor, Ohio. The district serves approximately 7,000 students across 11 schools — seven elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school (Mentor High School), and the CARES school (Jacqueline A. Hoynes), a specialized facility for students with autism — supported by roughly 975 staff. Educational delivery is anchored on standard third-party educational technology platforms including Infinite Campus for student information, Schoology as the learning management system, Google Workspace for Education, and Clever for single sign-on, with Cardinal TV providing internal video production. Specialized programs include Career Academies offering college credit and industry credentials, Integrated Preschool, Mentor High School Preschool (CTE-linked), Title I supplemental services, the Third Grade Reading Guarantee, and Credit Flexibility.

The district's revenue model is publicly funded rather than commercial: the majority of operating funding comes from local property taxes (the district has the second-lowest Class 1 effective tax rate in Lake County and has passed only one new-money operating levy in the past 20 years, in 2016), supplemented by Ohio Department of Education state aid, federal Title I and categorical grants, and ancillary revenue from facilities rental, athletics events at the 42,000+ annual-attendance Jerome T. Osborne Sr. Stadium, and community programs. Day-to-day operations are managed by Superintendent Craig Heath and CFO Bill Wade under an elected Board of Education currently chaired by Maggie Cook. A separate 501(c)(3), the Mentor Schools Foundation (established 1985), distributes over $215,000 in annual grants for classroom innovation.

The district is currently operating under financial stress: a May 2026 operating levy failure triggered $6.6 million in budget reductions, with an additional $3.3 million in cuts planned for the 2027-2028 school year, potentially involving school consolidation. A 3.5-mill levy generating $9.6 million annually is on the November 2026 ballot. Educational outcomes remain strong — a 94% graduation rate, 100 AP Scholars annually, and a 4.5-star Ohio Department of Education report card — alongside a defensible territorial franchise and deep community partnerships with Cleveland Clinic, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Cardinal Credit Union, and United Way of Lake County.

Name

mentor schools

Legal name

Mentor Public Schools

Website

https://mentorschools.net

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Mentor Public Schools is an Ohio public K-12 school district serving approximately 7,000 students across 11 schools in Mentor, Ohio. Funded primarily by local property taxes and state aid, it is governed by an elected Board of Education and currently faces structural deficit-driven budget cuts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH), Autism-Specific Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAA)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• Special education services
• Career technical education
• Early childhood education
• Student support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Mentor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Local Property Taxes: The majority of district funding comes from local property taxes. The district has the second lowest class one effective tax rate in Lake County and has only passed one new-money operating levy in the last 20 years (approved in 2016). The district currently has a 3.5-mill levy on the November 2026 ballot generating $9.6 million annually.
2. State Funding: State funding from Ohio Department of Education based on school funding formulas. Revenue stays relatively flat while costs continue to rise, contributing to deficit spending and the need for additional revenue sources.
3. Federal Funding: Federal supplemental programs including Title I funding for at-risk children, grants, and categorical funding for specific educational programs.
4. Advertising and Sponsorship Revenue: Jerome T. Osborne Sr. Stadium hosts more than 42,000 fans annually and offers advertising and sponsorship opportunities for local businesses. The district also pursues alternative revenue sources including advertising partnerships.
5. Program Fees and Facility Rental: Revenue from community use of facilities, athletic programs, and various educational program fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Mentor Public Schools operates a no-tuition K-12 public school district serving students through elementary, middle, high, preschool, and specialized autism programs. It also provides Career Academies, gifted and special education, reading and academic support, credit-flexibility options, athletics, extracurricular activities, family services, and community facility rentals.

Product overview

Mentor Public Schools operates a comprehensive K-12 educational system comprising 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 1 high school, and 1 specialized school (CARES) for students with autism. The district offers career-focused educational programs through its Career Academies, early childhood education via Integrated Preschool and Mentor High School Preschool, and supplemental programs including Title I and the Third Grade Reading Guarantee. The district's technology infrastructure supports student learning through Infinite Campus (student information), Schoology (LMS), Google Drive, and Clever (SSO portal).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-12 Public Education Tuition-free public education delivered through seven elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, and specialized school programs for students in kindergarten through grade 12.
• Career Academies Career-focused educational pathways that provide hands-on learning while enabling students to earn high school credit, college credit, and industry credentials in preparation for life after graduation.
• Integrated Preschool Early-childhood education program at Garfield for young learners within the Mentor Public Schools system.
• Mentor High School Preschool Preschool program at Mentor High School that provides learning experiences for young children while supporting real-world learning for junior and senior high school students pursuing education-related career pathways.
• CARES (Jacqueline A. Hoynes School) Specialized school within Mentor Public Schools serving students with autism.
• Title I Program Supplemental educational assistance that provides financial support to improve language-arts and mathematics opportunities for at-risk children.
• Third Grade Reading Guarantee Reading-proficiency program designed to ensure that all students demonstrate reading competency before advancing to fourth grade.
• Credit Flexibility
• District Facility Rentals

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% graduation rate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Greater Cleveland Food BankcoreOthersPartnership to host monthly food markets distributing thousands of pounds of fresh produce to community members in need at Mentor High School campus
• Cardinal Credit UnioncoreOthersCo-sponsor of annual Coats for Cards winter clothing drive supporting students and families in need
• United Way of Lake CountycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoordinating volunteers and resources for community support programs including food markets and family assistance
• Mentor Area Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHelping coordinate volunteers and community partnerships for district community support initiatives
• Cleveland CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunchpad to Nursing Boot Camp - pipeline program introducing students to nursing profession through hands-on simulation and interactive skill stations at Cleveland Clinic Main Campus and Lutheran Hospital
• Ohio Department of Education and WorkforcecoreOthersState oversight and funding agency providing operational guidelines, funding formulas, and regulatory framework for public school operations
• ESC of the Western ReserveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer Sidekicks educational program provider offering free educational programs for students entering grades 1-4
• Mentor Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer Reading Challenge partnership encouraging student reading during summer months
• Mentor Police DepartmentcoreOthersJoint safety initiatives including S.T.A.R.T. (School Transportation Active-Threat Response Training) for bus drivers and Junior Police Academy for students
• Military ChildminorOthersSupport organization providing resources for military-connected children affected by mobility, transitions, and deployments
• Triad ResearchminorOthersConducts periodic community surveys to gather feedback on district performance and priorities

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools: Adjacent Lake County, Ohio public K-12 district of comparable size serving a similar suburban residential tax base. Directly comparable in funding structure (Ohio public school funding formula + local levies), student demographics, and athletic/community footprint.
• Riverside Local Schools: Lake County, Ohio public K-12 district operating under the same Ohio Department of Education funding formulas and Lake County property tax base. Comparable scale and governance structure to Mentor Public Schools.
• Painesville City Local Schools: Lake County, Ohio public K-12 district sharing the same county tax base and Ohio funding formula. Closely comparable in scale, governance, and community-funded operating model.
• Kirtland Local Schools: Lake County, Ohio public K-12 district operating under the same Ohio funding structure with a similar residential property tax base. Comparable as a small suburban Ohio public school district.
• Eastlake City Schools: Lake County, Ohio public K-12 district operating under the same Ohio Department of Education funding framework. Directly comparable geographic and demographic peer in the Mentor-area market.
• Perry Local Schools: Lake County, Ohio public K-12 district sharing the same local property tax dynamics and Ohio state funding formulas. Comparable suburban district with similar scale and operating constraints.

Broad incumbents

• Lakewood City Schools: Larger Cuyahoga County, Ohio urban-suburban public K-12 district. Comparable as an Ohio public school district operating under the same state funding formula with similar reliance on local levies, though serving a more urban community.
• Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District: Northeast Ohio public K-12 district operating under the same state funding formulas. Comparable as an Ohio public school district with similar career-tech and special education programming serving a residential tax base.

Others

• ESC of the Western Reserve: Ohio Educational Service Center that partners with Mentor Public Schools to deliver summer programming (Summer Sidekicks). Serves as a peer ecosystem participant — adjacent educational services provider for Northeast Ohio districts.
• Mentor Schools Foundation: Wholly-affiliated 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation established in 1985 to provide grant funding for innovative educational programs within Mentor Public Schools. Ecosystem participant that channels private philanthropy into the district.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mentorschools
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CARDINALTVMENTOROHIO
• Facebookfacebook.com/MentorPublicSchools
• Instagraminstagram.com/mentorpublicschools

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries13 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 mentor schools