Lake Wales Charter Schools

Name

Lake Wales Charter Schools

Legal name

Lake Wales Charter Schools, Inc.

Website

https://lwcharterschools.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter School Networks (Multi-Site) (EDAJACAC)

Keywords

• Public charter schools
• K-12 education
• Federal education programs
• Exceptional student education
• Student support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lake Wales

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil Funding (Public Education): As a public charter school system, Lake Wales Charter Schools is primarily funded through per-pupil state and federal funding allocations. The system was designated as a Local Educational Agency (LEA) by the Florida Legislature beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, with responsibility for managing federal programs and budgets. Additional community donations and grants supplement public funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lake Wales Charter Schools operates a K-12 public charter school system serving more than 5,000 students across seven schools (five elementary K-5, two middle 6-8, one high 9-12) in Lake Wales, Florida. The system provides free public education funded primarily by per-pupil state and federal allocations, supplemented by community donations, and delivers supplemental programs including Title I-IV federal education services, Exceptional Student Education, transportation, food and nutrition, and health services.

Product overview

Lake Wales Charter Schools is a K-12 public charter school district serving approximately 5,000 students across seven schools in Lake Wales, Florida. The system consists of four elementary schools (Dale R. Fair Babson Park Elementary, Hillcrest Elementary, Janie Howard Wilson Elementary, and Polk Avenue Elementary), two middle schools (Edward W. Bok Academy South and Edward W. Bok Academy North), and one high school (Lake Wales High School). The district supplements core academic instruction with federal programs including Title I, Title II, Title III, and Title IV support services, along with Exceptional Student Education for students with disabilities and gifted learners. Additional services include Food and Nutrition (via SLA Management with free meals for all students), Transportation (serving 2,100+ daily riders), and Health Services (staffed by 7 nurses and 7 social workers). The district also operates McKinney-Vento homeless student services and Migrant Education programs to support at-risk populations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dale R. Fair Babson Park Elementary A K-5 elementary school serving approximately 450 students with a focus on academic achievement and independent learning.
• Hillcrest Elementary A Pre-K through 5th grade school serving approximately 675 students, integrating visual and performing arts within basic skills using Sunshine State Standards.
• Janie Howard Wilson Elementary A Pre-K through 5th grade school serving over 450 students with a focus on academic and social preparation.
• Polk Avenue Elementary A Pre-K through 5th grade school serving over 475 students with a focus on Spanish Language and Career Development through technology.
• Edward W. Bok Academy South A 6th through 8th grade middle school serving approximately 550 students focused on educating Renaissance thinkers for the digital age, located near Bok Tower Gardens.
• Edward W. Bok Academy North A 6th through 8th grade middle school serving approximately 600 students, a replication of Bok Academy South.
• Lake Wales High School A 9th through 12th grade high school serving 1,450 students with a career path curriculum and international-minded community focus.
• Title I Program Federal program providing resources and funding to help economically disadvantaged children gain a high-quality education through additional teachers, professional development, and parent involvement activities.
• Title II Professional Development Program Federal program focusing on high-quality professional development including training on academic standards, classroom management, and instructional strategies.
• Title III English Language Learners Program Federal program providing supplemental services for English Learners including bilingual staff, instructional materials, and language acquisition software.
• Title IV Student Support Program Federal program providing well-rounded education, safe and healthy conditions, and effective technology use for digital literacy.
• Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Special education program serving more than 800 students ages 5-22 with disabilities as well as gifted learners, providing occupational therapy, speech therapy, and mental health counseling.
• Transportation Services Daily transportation for more than 2,100 students to 7 schools using trained drivers and support personnel.
• Health Services School health services provided by 7 nurses and 7 social workers including immunizations, chronic disease management, CPR/AED training, and mental health support.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AdventHealthminorOthersHealthcare provider partnership through the Health Community Partners program. AdventHealth provides health services support to students within the Lake Wales Charter Schools system.
• Polk County Department of HealthminorOthersHealth department partnership providing public health services, immunizations, and health resources to students in the district.
• Central Florida Health CareminorOthersFederally Qualified Health Center providing healthcare services to the community including LWCS students.
• Navarro MedicalminorOthersMedical services provider partnering with LWCS Health Services for student healthcare support.
• Hazel HealthminorOthersTelehealth partner providing access to medical and mental health professionals within LWCS schools through the School Health Services program.
• Resiliency FloridaminorOthersMental health resource partner providing resiliency education and support services to LWCS students through the mental health program.
• PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports)minorOthersEvidence-based behavioral intervention framework supported through LWCS mental health and student support programs.
• FDLRS (Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System)minorOthersFDLRS provides diagnostic, instructional, and technology support services to LWCS Exceptional Student Education (ESE) programs and families of students with disabilities.
• CARD (Center for Autism and Related Disabilities)minorOthersUniversity of Florida-affiliated center providing support services for students with autism and related disabilities within the LWCS ESE program.
• SLA ManagementminorOthersExternal food service management company contracted to provide meals to LWCS students. Meals are provided through the National School Lunch Program with Community Eligible Provision (CEP) allowing all students to eat at no charge.
• Florida Department of Education (FLDOE)coreOthersAs a designated LEA (Local Educational Agency), LWCS receives Title I, II, III, and IV federal funding through FLDOE and operates under state academic standards, accountability requirements, and charter school regulations.
• Bok Tower GardensminorOthersEdward W. Bok Academy schools are located near Bok Tower Gardens, and the Gardens' beauty reinforces the school's commitment to teaching about beauty, harmony, and aesthetics. The Bok family legacy ('Make the world a bit better and more beautiful for having lived in it') is incorporated into the school's educational philosophy.
• Florida Student Privacy AllianceminorOthersLWCS is a member of the Florida Student Privacy Alliance (a Student Data Privacy Consortium organization), which provides access to signed Data Privacy Agreements with vendors in compliance with Florida Statute 6A-1.0955.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• IDEA Public Schools: Large nonprofit K-12 charter school network serving predominantly Title I, economically disadvantaged students in Texas and other states. Comparable multi-site operator model focused on college preparation for underserved populations.
• Uncommon Schools: Nonprofit network of high-performing urban charter schools serving low-income communities in the Northeast. Comparable as a K-12 charter network with wraparound supports (nurses, social workers, meals) and continuous grade-level pipeline.
• Charter Schools USA: One of the largest for-profit and nonprofit charter management organizations in the U.S., operating multiple K-12 charter schools including networks in Florida. Directly comparable as a multi-site Florida charter operator with similar LEA relationships and Title I student populations.
• Academica: Florida-based charter school management organization operating numerous charter schools across South Florida. Comparable as a regional Florida charter operator with multi-site networks, LEA designations, and similar Title I student demographics.
• National Heritage Academies: For-profit charter management organization operating 90+ charter schools across multiple states, serving primarily Title I populations. Comparable multi-site charter operator with similar public funding model and centralized support services.
• KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program): National nonprofit network of K-12 charter schools serving primarily low-income communities, directly comparable to LWCS's Title I student profile and wraparound service model. Operates multi-site charter networks with similar per-pupil public funding reliance.
• Success Academy Charter Schools: High-performing charter school network operating multiple K-12 campuses primarily in New York City. Comparable as a multi-site charter network with centralized back-office operations and a continuous K-12 pipeline.

Broad incumbents

• Polk County Public Schools: The traditional public school district serving the same geographic area as LWCS, including the Lake Wales area. Comparable as the local education market incumbent and the entity that originally chartered LWCS's five conversion schools.

Emerging players

• BASIS Charter Schools: Network of high-performing charter schools focused on college-prep curriculum, with multi-site operations including locations in Arizona and Texas. Comparable as a K-12 charter operator with a continuous grade-level pipeline and centralized administration.

Others

• Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools: Statewide charter school membership and advocacy organization representing Florida charter schools including operators like LWCS. Comparable as the industry body governing the regulatory and funding environment LWCS operates within.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/live/IRdw4Ges8cc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries7 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 Lake Wales Charter Schools