Lakeland Christian School, Inc.

What Lakeland Christian School, Inc. does

Lakeland Christian School, Inc. operates a private, faith-based K4 through 12th grade campus at 1111 Forest Park Street in Lakeland, Florida, on a 27-acre secure suburban site. The school enrolled 1,158 students with a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio and is structured across five divisions (Preschool K4, Kindergarten K5, Elementary 1-5, Middle School 6-8, High School 9-12). Beyond the core academic program, LCS layers specialized offerings including the RISE Institute (Research, Innovation, STEM Learning, and Entrepreneurship — featuring competitive robotics Team 7719, mock trial, and entrepreneurial courses), the Discovery Program for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in K4-5th grade (four tuition tiers with ESE-certified teachers and speech/occupational therapy), a Special Programs (ESE) department for mainstreamed academic support, a Fine Arts program (band, choir, theatre, visual arts, private piano, private voice), and an Athletics department with 39 teams across 20 sports that has won 26 state championships. The school is accredited by ACSI, SACS, and FCIS, and is a member of FHSAA, FBA, FVA, and FSMA.

The underlying technology stack is built on a Veracross school management platform that replaced the prior FACTS/RenWeb system, integrating student schedules, grades, attendance, billing, lunch accounts, household calendars, and parent messaging into a single Veracross Parent Portal. Additional SaaS integrations include School and Student Services (SSS) for third-party financial-aid assessment, Naviance for college and career planning, Applitrack for faculty and staff hiring, OneCause for event/Gala fundraising, Google Calendar for calendar subscriptions, and Lunch Tab authenticated through Veracross for student meal accounts. There is no public-facing API; LCS operates as a consumer of commercial platforms rather than a producer of proprietary technology.

The revenue model is tuition-driven across K4-12, complemented by Florida state scholarships (administered through Step Up for Students) — including the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, Family Empowerment Scholarship - Education Options, Family Empowerment Scholarship - Unique Abilities, and HOPE Scholarship — and supplementary fundraising through the Viking Fund (annual giving), Voyages & Victories Gala (OneCause), and endowment contributions. Tuition is annual with multi-child discounts (2nd child $1,250 off, 3rd child $2,500 off, additional children 50% off), payment plans over 10 months, and a Discovery Program tiered schedule of $24,500-$32,600. Need-based financial aid reached $550,000+ in 2022-2023, reaching approximately 20% of students. The direct-to-consumer go-to-market relies on campus tours, online inquiries, the Veracross application portal, parent interviews, and an admissions committee review, with referrals and community engagement (Women of Impact committee, alumni networks) as primary demand channels rather than paid advertising.

Name

Lakeland Christian School, Inc.

Legal name

Lakeland Christian School

Website

https://lcsonline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lakeland Christian School is a private, faith-based K4-12 school on a 27-acre Lakeland, Florida campus serving 1,158 students at a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio, offering college-prep academics with RISE Institute STEM, Discovery autism program, fine arts, and championship athletics, funded by tuition, state scholarships, and annual giving.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Other Schools and Instruction (6116)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

Keywords

• Private Christian education
• K-12 private school
• College preparatory education
• Autism education program
• STEM Christian education

Headquarters

HQ city

Flushing

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, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Primary revenue stream from tuition payments for K4-12th grade education. Tuition varies by program level; Discovery Program tuition ranges from $24,500 to $32,600 annually. Payments can be made annually, by semester, quarterly, or over 10 months via electronic funds transfer through Veracross.
2. State Scholarships: Acceptance of Florida state scholarship programs including Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, Family Empowerment Scholarship - Education Options, Family Empowerment Scholarship - Unique Abilities (FES-UA), and HOPE Scholarship. These scholarships are distributed quarterly to the school through an electronic claims process.
3. Financial Aid: Need-based financial aid awarded to approximately 20% of students. In 2022-2023, LCS awarded more than $550,000 in need-based financial aid. Aid is determined using third-party assessment and awarded on first-come, first-serve basis.
4. Annual Giving (Viking Fund): Annual giving campaign supporting curriculum enrichment, campus enhancements, technology upgrades, and student resources. Primary development effort for the school.
5. Gala Fundraising: Voyages and Victories Gala fundraiser for financial aid assistance program, featuring live and silent auctions, sponsorships, and donations organized by Women of Impact group.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Lakeland Christian School delivers a private Christian K4 through 12th-grade education on a single 27-acre Lakeland, Florida campus, integrating a biblical worldview across academics, athletics, fine arts, and STEM. Its core offering is the continuous K4-12 academic program (Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle, and High School divisions), augmented by differentiated specialty programs including the RISE Institute (STEM, robotics, entrepreneurship), the Discovery Program (autism education with therapy services), a 39-team athletics program across 20 sports, a fine arts program (band, choir, theatre, visual arts, private piano/voice), AP and dual-enrollment coursework, summer camps, and a college/career Guidance Department. Families enroll through a sales-led admissions process with campus tours, online application via the Veracross portal, and acceptance into the four academic divisions.

Product overview

Lakeland Christian School is a private Christian K4–12th grade school offering a unified educational program unified by a biblical worldview. The core offering is its academic program across four divisions: Preschool (K4), Kindergarten (K5), Elementary School (1st–5th), Middle School (6th–8th), and High School (9th–12th). The school augments its core academic divisions with several specialized programs: the RISE Institute (Research, Innovation, STEM, Entrepreneurship) for project-based STEM and business learning; the Discovery Program for autism education (K4–5th grade) providing specialized instruction with speech and occupational therapy; a Special Programs (ESE) department for mainstreamed academic support; a Fine Arts program covering band, choir, theatre, visual arts, private piano, and private voice; a 39-team Athletics program across 20 sports; and a Guidance Department with college/career counseling via Naviance. The school operates the Veracross Parent Portal as its school management platform integrating grades, billing, scheduling, attendance, and communications. LCS also accepts Florida state scholarship programs (FTC, FES-EO, FES-UA, HOPE) and provides need-based financial aid. Summer camps round out the enrichment offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RISE Institute: Research, Innovation, STEM Learning, Entrepreneurship program for middle and high school students offering courses in Experimental Science, Innovation, Entrepreneurial Leadership, Robotics, and more.
• Discovery Program

Products and services

• K4-12th Grade Private Christian Education Comprehensive K4 through 12th-grade Christian education program integrating a biblical worldview across all academic subjects, fine arts, and athletics for families in Lakeland, Florida and Polk County.
• Preschool (K4) Full-day preschool program for ages 4-5 emphasizing play-based learning, phonemic awareness, number sense, Bible instruction, and weekly chapel with a full-day schedule from 7:50 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Kindergarten (K5) Full-day Christian kindergarten program for 5-year-olds covering Bible, phonics, reading, math, science, and social studies through hands-on activities with daily special area classes including art, music, library, PE, and STEAM.
• Elementary School (1st-5th Grade) Elementary program for grades 1-5 teaching core subjects (math, Bible, science, social studies, language arts, reading) with a biblical worldview, STEAM enrichment, and character education through daily Bible class and weekly chapel.
• Middle School (6th-8th Grade) Middle school program for grades 6-8 emphasizing student-led learning, advisory programs, middle school houses for community building, competitive athletics, and biblically integrated curriculum with leadership and service opportunities.
• High School (9th-12th Grade) College-preparatory high school program for grades 9-12 with a rigorous academic track, dual-enrollment classes, AP courses, RISE Institute STEM programs, 39 athletic teams in 20 sports, fine arts programming, and college/career counseling via Naviance.
• RISE Institute (Research, Innovation, STEM, Entrepreneurship) Selective program for middle and high school students offering project-based electives in robotics, experimental science, entrepreneurship, innovation, and law. Students develop real-world skills through competitive robotics (Team 7719), startup pitching, and mock trial competitions.
• Discovery Program (Autism Education) Specialized educational program for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in grades K4-5th offering small-group instruction in reading, math, communication, and social skills, along with speech and occupational therapy, at four tuition tiers ranging from $24,500 to $32,600 annually.
• Athletics Program Athletics program featuring 39 teams across 20 sports for middle and high school, including 26 state championships, 40+ regional championships, and 160+ district championships. Boys sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swim, tennis, track & field, and weightlifting. Girls sports include basketball, competitive cheer, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swim, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.
• Fine Arts Program Fine arts program spanning band (5th grade through high school), choir (4th grade through high school), theatre (productions in fall and spring), visual arts (K4 through AP Studio Art), private piano (K through 12th), and private voice (upper school), with award-winning performances and community outreach.
• Special Programs (Academic Support / ESE) Special Programs (SP) department provides academic support for students with mild to moderate disabilities in grades 1-12 who are mainstreamed into the general classroom, with six levels of support in elementary school and four levels in upper school, including accommodation plans and daily remediation.
• Summer Camps Annual summer camp program offering diverse camps for science, music, technology, coding, art, cooking, writing, and athletics, with Camp LCS available for students in K4 through 5th grade.
• College & Career Guidance (Guidance Department) The Guidance Department provides college and career counseling including PSAT/ACT/SAT testing, Naviance college planning, Florida Bright Futures scholarship assistance, college visits, individual conferences, and scholarship information, with dedicated college and career advisors on staff.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of graduates pursue postsecondary education
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 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

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Step Up for StudentscoreOthersStep Up for Students is a Florida-based nonprofit that administers state scholarship programs including Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, Family Empowerment Scholarship - Education Options, and Family Empowerment Scholarship - Unique Abilities. LCS participates in these programs, receiving quarterly scholarship payments through an electronic claims process. Parents must forward award screenshots to LCS Business Office to enroll in scholarship programs at the school.
• VeracrosscoreTechnology or IntegrationVeracross is a school management system provider that LCS uses for its Parent Portal, student information management, billing, attendance tracking, grade reporting, class schedules, lunch accounts, and school communications. LCS transitioned from FACTS/RenWeb to Veracross, using it as the go-to hub for parents to access all school information in one convenient location.
• Florida State Scholarship ProgramscoreOthersFlorida Tax Credit Scholarship, Family Empowerment Scholarship (Education Options and Unique Abilities), and HOPE Scholarship programs administered through the State of Florida and Step Up for Students. These programs enable families to access private school education at LCS.
• Florida Bright Futures Scholarship ProgramminorOthersLCS guidance department assists seniors with the Florida Financial Aid Application for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship, helping students access state-funded college scholarships.
• ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International)coreOthersACSI is an accrediting body for Christian schools. LCS is accredited by ACSI as part of its membership in professional organizations demonstrating integrity of academic and extracurricular programs.
• SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools)coreOthersLCS is accredited by SACS, one of the premier regional accrediting bodies in the United States, demonstrating the school meets high standards for educational quality.
• FCIS (Florida Council of Independent Schools)coreOthersLCS is accredited by FCIS, the state-level accrediting organization for independent schools in Florida.
• FAANS (Florida Association of Academic Non-Public Schools)minorOthersProfessional membership organization representing over 1,300 non-public schools in Florida.
• FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association)coreOthersLCS is a member of FHSAA, the governing body for high school athletics in Florida, enabling LCS teams to compete in state tournaments.
• FBA (Florida Bandmasters Association)minorOthersLCS band directors are active members and adjudicators in FBA. Students participate in District and State level Solo and Ensemble events through FBA.
• FVA (Florida Vocal Association)minorOthersLCS upper school choirs are actively involved in FVA District 12, participating in Solo & Ensemble Festival and Music Performance Assessments.
• FSMA (Florida School Music Association)minorOthersProfessional membership organization for school music programs in Florida.
• SSS (School and Student Services)minorOthersThird-party tuition management company used by LCS to determine financial aid eligibility based on verified income and expenses.
• NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association)minorOthersLCS provides NCAA requirement information for Division I and II eligibility to help student-athletes navigate college athletic recruitment.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Geneva School: Classical Christian K-12 school in Winter Park/Casselberry, FL offering a faith-based college-prep education, directly comparable to LCS's Christian worldview integration and private school positioning.
• The Vanguard School: Private college-preparatory K-12 school in Lakeland, FL, serving the same Lakeland/Polk County families as LCS with a similar academic and athletic positioning, though not faith-based.
• Shorecrest Preparatory School: Independent PK-12 college-preparatory school in St. Petersburg, FL with comparable academic rigor, athletics, and arts programs competing for Tampa Bay families.
• Trinity Preparatory School: Independent Christian-affiliated K-12 college-preparatory school in Winter Park, FL with comparable AP/dual-enrollment offerings, championship athletics, and faith-based integration similar to LCS.
• All Saints Academy: Private K-12 Christian school in Winter Haven, FL (Polk County), directly competing with LCS for faith-based families in the same geographic market with comparable college-prep and athletics offerings.
• The Out-of-Door Academy: Independent PK-12 college-preparatory school in Sarasota, FL with rigorous academics, arts, and competitive athletics comparable to LCS, competing in the broader Southwest Florida private school market.
• Berkeley Preparatory School: Highly regarded independent K-12 school in Tampa, FL with strong college-prep academics, championship athletics, and STEM programs comparable to LCS's RISE Institute offering, competing for the broader Tampa Bay private school market.
• Admiral Farragut Academy: Private PK-12 college-prep school in St. Petersburg, FL with college-prep academics, athletics, and STEM programs comparable to LCS's RISE Institute and championship athletics offerings.
• Tampa Preparatory School: Independent 6-12 college-preparatory school in downtown Tampa offering rigorous academics and competitive athletics, comparable to LCS's high school program and competing for Tampa Bay families seeking private education.
• Santa Fe Catholic High School: Catholic high school in Lakeland, FL serving the same local market as LCS with college-prep curriculum and FHSAA athletics, representing the alternative faith-based private option in the immediate catchment area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/331345427289184
• Instagraminstagram.com/lcs_viking_alumni

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Lakeland Christian School, Inc.