What Lighthouse Community Charter School does

Lighthouse Community Charter School (legal entity: Lighthouse Community Public Schools) is a 501(c)(3) public charter school organization operating two tuition-free TK-12 campuses in East Oakland, California — Lighthouse (444 Hegenberger Road, opened 2002) and Lodestar (701 105th Avenue, opened Fall 2016). The organization serves approximately 1,600-1,680 students annually, with a teaching and operational staff of 101-250 employees of which approximately 80% identify as BIPOC. Core instructional delivery is built on Google Suite for Education, a science-based Structured Literacy program, and membership in the EL Education network, supplemented by Career Technical Education pathways (Product Design at Lighthouse; Media Arts and Design at Lodestar), dual-enrollment college courses through a partnership with Peralta Community College District, and OneGoal curriculum for college persistence. The organization is also an official DELE Exam Center certified by Spain's Instituto Cervantes for Spanish proficiency diplomas and operates WASC-accredited programs through 2027 (Lodestar) and 2028 (Lighthouse).

The business model is non-transactional: Lighthouse Community Public Schools charges no tuition and instead generates the majority of revenue from California per-pupil public funding tied to average daily attendance. Donor contributions from individuals and foundations supplement up to 10% of the annual budget to fund arts, counseling, after-school programming, college and career services, and academic intervention. Additional revenue is sourced from grants including the Strong Workforce Grant from the California State Department of Education, California Community Schools Partnership Program Implementation Grants, and John Hopkins University funding, alongside scholarship fund management for the Alex R. Graf Memorial Scholarship Fund through the East Bay Community Fund. Go-to-market is community-led in East Oakland neighborhoods with priority enrollment for unsheltered students and East Oakland families; open enrollment occurs via lottery when applications exceed capacity, with no admission tests or barriers. Reported outcomes include 86%+ four-year college acceptance rates, 40% alumni college graduation (four times the national demographic average), and over 90% student retention year-over-year.

Name

Lighthouse Community Charter School

Legal name

Lighthouse Community Public Schools

Website

https://lighthousecharter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lighthouse Community Charter School is a 501(c)(3) public charter network operating two tuition-free TK-12 campuses in East Oakland serving approximately 1,680 students, funded primarily by California per-pupil allocations and supplemented by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil Public Funding: Primary funding from State of California based on average daily attendance. Fixed per-pupil funding for operating costs.
2. Donor Contributions: Individual and foundation donations raising up to 10% of budget annually to supplement operating costs for arts, counseling, after-school programming, college and career services, and academic intervention.
3. Grants: Funding from grants including Strong Workforce Grant from California State Department of Education, John Hopkins University grants, California Community Schools Partnership Program, and Measure N CTE funding.
4. Scholarship Fund Management: Alex R. Graf Memorial Scholarship Fund managed through East Bay Community Fund for college tuition scholarships to graduates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lighthouse Community Public Schools (LCPS) operates two tuition-free public charter schools in East Oakland serving over 1,600 students from Transitional Kindergarten through 12th grade (Lighthouse TK-5, Lighthouse 6-12, Lodestar TK-5, Lodestar 6-12). The organization delivers core academic instruction aligned with the EL Education network model, supplemented by CTE Pathways, dual enrollment with community college, athletics, after-school and summer programs, and a DELE Spanish exam center.

Product overview

Lighthouse Community Public Schools (LCPS) operates four public charter schools in East Oakland serving over 1,600 students from Transitional Kindergarten through 12th grade. The organization includes Lighthouse TK-5, Lighthouse 6-12, Lodestar TK-5, and Lodestar 6-12. Beyond core academic instruction, LCPS provides an After School Program, Summer School, Athletics, CTE Pathways (Product Design at Lighthouse; Media Arts and Design at Lodestar), Dual Enrollment with Peralta Community College, DELE Exam Center for Spanish proficiency certification, and a Teacher Residency Program in partnership with Alder GSE.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lighthouse TK-5 Elementary school serving Transitional Kindergarten through 5th grade as part of the EL Education network with science-based literacy instruction, located at 444 Hegenberger Rd, Oakland CA 94621.
• Lighthouse 6-12 Middle and high school serving grades 6-12 at Lighthouse, designed to ensure all students complete A-G requirements and become eligible to apply to CSU or UC by graduation. Features Product Design CTE Pathway.
• Lodestar TK-5 Elementary school serving Transitional Kindergarten through 5th grade at 701 105th Avenue, Oakland CA 94603. Part of the EL Education network with focus on science-based literacy instruction.
• Lodestar 6-12 Middle and high school serving grades 6-12 at 701 105th Avenue, Oakland CA 94603. Features the Media, Arts and Design CTE Pathway and offers DELE Spanish diploma exams.
• After School Program (ASP) Free after-school care and programs for students in grades TK-12 available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from dismissal until 6:00 PM (6:30 PM on Wednesdays). Includes academic/literacy support, enrichment classes, snacks, and athletics.
• Summer School Program Four-week summer program for qualifying students in grades K-12. Includes academic instruction, credit recovery, enrichment classes, field trips, and the Peralta Summer Institute for high school students.
• DELE Exam Center Official DELE (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera) exam center at Lodestar offering Spanish language proficiency diplomas at A1, A2, and B1 levels in partnership with the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of Spain's Ministry of Education.
• CTE Pathways Career Technical Education pathways required for all students. Lighthouse offers a Product Design Pathway (2D Design, 3D Design, Graphic Design, Advanced Manufacturing). Lodestar offers a Media, Arts, and Design Pathway.
• Dual Enrollment Program Partnership with Peralta Community College District offering free college classes on LCPS campuses. Students earn college credits while satisfying A-G high school graduation requirements. Supported by Strong Workforce Grant from California State Department of Education.
• Athletics Program Athletics programs for middle and high school students competing in the Bay Area Charter School Athletic Conference (BACSAC). Lighthouse offers basketball, flag football, soccer, and volleyball. Lodestar offers futsal, volleyball, and soccer.
• LCPS Teacher Residency at Alder GSE Teacher residency partnership with Alder Graduate School of Education offering a Master's Degree and Teaching Credential in one year, with a $35,000 living stipend plus $12,500 healthcare/housing stipend. Residents apprentice four days weekly at Lighthouse or Lodestar.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% of students return to LCPS schools year over year
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Integration7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Peralta Community College DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual enrollment partnership allowing 10-12th grade students to graduate with community college credit while meeting A-G requirements. Students can earn certificates in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship. Partnership supported by Strong Workforce Grant from California State Department of Education.
• Alder GSEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeacher residency program launched Fall 2019 through partnership with Alder Graduate School of Education. Residents earn Master's Degree with teaching credential while apprenticing four days per week. Residents receive $35,000 living stipend plus $12,500 healthcare/housing stipend. Priority consideration for full-time positions upon completion.
• EL EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of EL Education network of schools (formerly Expeditionary Learning). Implements Three Dimensions of Student Achievement model focusing on Mastery of Knowledge and Skills, Character, and High-Quality Student Work.
• OneGoalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationally recognized curriculum framework used in College and Career Seminar class, shown to increase college persistence and graduation rates.
• DonorsChoosesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership allowing Lighthouse teachers to post classroom project requests for community funding. Donors can fund field trips or special classroom materials.
• East Bay Community FundsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages Alex R. Graf Memorial Scholarship Fund for LCPS graduates. Each year 2-4 scholarships awarded to graduates for college tuition.
• Instituto CervantessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLodestar serves as official DELE Exam Center for Spanish language proficiency certification. Diplomas are official titles granted by Instituto Cervantes on behalf of Ministry of Education of Spain.
• Reach UniversitysupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCareer pathways partner providing educational pathways for staff to continue their growth.
• RIVET SchoolsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCareer pathways partner offering educator pathway programs.
• Teach For AmericasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer pathways partner and board member Jenn Camus-Beebe from Teach For America.
• Loyola Marymount UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university for educator pathway programs.

Scale indicators21 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rocketship Public Schools: Bay Area-headquartered charter school network operating multiple TK-5 (and in some cases up to 8th grade) campuses, including in Oakland. Comparable as a high-performing multi-site charter network serving historically underserved students with blended learning.
• Summit Public Schools: California charter school network operating multiple Bay Area campuses with an outcomes-driven, college-readiness model. Comparable in multi-site structure, Bay Area footprint, and rigorous college-prep orientation.
• Aspire Public Schools: California-based non-profit charter school network operating multiple TK-12 campuses, including in the Bay Area. Directly comparable to LCPS as a multi-site public charter school network serving similar urban, historically underserved populations with a college-prep mission.
• ARISE High School: Oakland-based public charter high school with a similar focus on college access for first-generation and underserved students. Comparable in target population, Oakland geography, and A-G/college readiness outcomes.
• Oakland Charter Academy / Oakland Charter Network: Oakland-based public charter school network serving grades TK-12, sharing LCPS's specific East Oakland geography, charter funding model, and college-prep focus for diverse, underserved populations.
• Citizens of the World Charter Schools: Multi-site charter school network with Bay Area/Los Angeles campuses serving diverse, historically underserved communities. Comparable in charter model, multi-site operations, and commitment to equity-driven college access.
• Caliber Schools: Bay Area-based public charter school network operating TK-8 campuses with a college-prep mission for underserved communities. Directly comparable in multi-site charter structure and Bay Area geography.
• KIPP Bay Area Public Schools: Bay Area affiliate of the KIPP national charter network, operating multiple TK-12 campuses in Oakland and surrounding cities. Closely comparable to LCPS in mission (college persistence for underserved students), multi-site structure, and Bay Area footprint.
• Envision Education: Bay Area charter management organization operating multiple public charter schools with a focus on college readiness for first-generation students. Directly comparable as a multi-site Bay Area charter network and a known LCPS partner in the Alder GSE teacher residency.

Broad incumbents

• Green Dot Public Schools: Larger California charter school network with broader statewide footprint and a high school focus. Comparable as a multi-site public charter operator serving similar populations, though at materially greater scale and geographic breadth than LCPS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/lighthouseschools
• Xx.com/lighthouseccs
• Facebookfacebook.com/68801202799
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lighthouse-community-public-schools

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Lighthouse Community Charter School