Louisiana School For Math, Science & The Arts

What Louisiana School For Math, Science & The Arts does

The Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) is a tuition-free, state-supported public residential high school established in 1983 by the Louisiana State Legislature and operated on the campus of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. It serves academically high-achieving Louisiana sophomores, juniors, and seniors through a selective admissions process (140 of 200+ applicants invited to attend in the latest cycle), offering a college-level curriculum with dual enrollment at NSU — over 75% of graduates earn more than 1,500 hours of college credit. The school operates a Living Learning Community (LLC) residential model and offers a portfolio of programmatic extensions including the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) department, the Robotics Club (Team #9761), a Classical Scholars Program, an EXCEL outreach program, Summer @LSMSA camps, and an interdisciplinary Data Analysis for the Humanities course. LSMSA's core technology stack consists of standard educational platforms (Microsoft 365, Naviance, myLSMSA, Reach, FlightPath) with student-led technical programs in Java robotics, Python/Jupyter data analysis, and filmmaking.

LSMSA's funding model is multi-source but state-anchored: primary operations are financed through Louisiana state appropriations, with a nominal annual room and board fee from families (financial assistance available through the Foundation), supplemented by philanthropic donations via the LSMSA Foundation (Growing Beyond campaign: $10M goal, $7.1M secured) and earmarked federal funding such as the $1.8M Congressionally Directed Spending for Innovation Park. Outcome metrics are strong and documented: the Class of 2026 (89 graduates) collectively earned $26.1M in merit-based scholarships, with 57% attending Louisiana colleges and 43% matriculating to 32 institutions across three countries. The institution is governed by a Board of Directors, holds National Blue Ribbon, Fortune World's Leading Boarding Schools, and NICHE A+ recognitions, and is currently undergoing an executive leadership transition with Dr. Jason Anderson succeeding retiring Executive Director Dr. Steve Horton effective July 1, 2026.

Name

Louisiana School For Math, Science & The Arts

Legal name

Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts

Website

https://lsmsa.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

LSMSA is a tuition-free, state-supported public residential high school in Natchitoches, Louisiana, serving academically gifted Louisiana sophomores, juniors, and seniors through a college-level curriculum with dual enrollment at Northwestern State University.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension) (EDAHALAB)

Keywords

• Residential high school
• College preparatory education
• STEM secondary education
• Dual enrollment programs
• Gifted student education

Headquarters

HQ city

Natchitoches

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. State Funding (Public School): As a state-supported public residential high school, LSMSA receives primary funding through Louisiana state appropriations. Students pay no tuition to attend.
2. Room and Board Fees: Families pay a nominal room and board fee to cover housing, meals, and campus activities. The LSMSA Foundation offers financial assistance to ensure no eligible student is denied access due to family financial circumstances.
3. Philanthropic Donations: The LSMSA Foundation conducts fundraising campaigns including the Growing Beyond campaign with a $10 million goal ($7.1 million already secured), annual Pi Day Giving Day events, and general donations from alumni, families, foundations, and corporations.
4. Federal/State Grants: Federal funding through Congressionally Directed Spending, such as the $1.8 million Innovation Park grant through Northwestern State University, supports specific programs and facilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

LSMSA is a tuition-free, state-supported public residential high school offering college-level academics and a living-learning community environment for high-achieving Louisiana sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Founded in 1983 by the Louisiana State Legislature and located on the Northwestern State University campus, the school combines a rigorous secondary curriculum with dual enrollment opportunities, creative and performing arts programming, and structured residential life.

Product overview

LSMSA is a tuition-free, public residential high school offering a unified educational program for high-achieving sophomores, juniors, and seniors from Louisiana. The core offering is the Living Learning Community (LLC) residential program combined with college-level academics. Students benefit from dual enrollment with Northwestern State University, the Classical Scholars Program, Creative and Performing Arts department, Robotics Club, and interdisciplinary courses like Data Analysis for the Humanities. Summer programs and the EXCEL recruitment program extend the school's reach beyond the core academic year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential High School Education Program
• Dual Enrollment Program
• Summer @LSMSA Programs
• Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) Program
• EXCEL Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Class of 2026 awarded $26,189,257 in merit-based scholarships
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Northwestern State University (NSU)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2026Innovation Park development connecting NSU students with LSMSA students in a collaborative STEM hub. LSMSA is located on NSU's campus with commencement ceremonies held in NSU facilities. Extensive dual enrollment agreement allowing students to earn Associate of General Studies degrees. Partnership spans 42+ years since LSMSA's founding in 1983.
• Louisiana Schools for Math, Science & the Arts Sister Schools (ASMSA, MSMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual SLAMT (Student Leadership and Academic Movement Tournament) competition bringing together LSMSA, Arkansas School for Math, Science and the Arts, and Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science for athletic and academic competitions.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Georgia Governor's Honors Program (GHP): Georgia's state-funded residential summer program for gifted high schoolers. Comparable state-supported model for advanced academic enrichment, though residential format differs.
• Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA): Illinois's state-funded residential STEM academy for high-achieving students. Directly comparable public residential STEM school with similar outreach, dual-credit, and outcomes profile.
• Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (OSSM): Oklahoma's state-supported public residential high school for mathematically and scientifically gifted students. Directly comparable tuition-free residential STEM model.
• Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities: Ball State University-based state-supported residential program for gifted Indiana high schoolers. Comparable two-year residential model with strong dual-enrollment pathways.
• South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM): South Carolina's state-funded residential STEM high school with similar dual-enrollment and outreach programs. Operates as a closely analogous public residential STEM institution.
• Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ): Virginia's flagship magnet STEM high school; nationally top-ranked for STEM outcomes. While TJ is a day school rather than residential, it competes with LSMSA for top-tier STEM-bound students and recognition.
• North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM): North Carolina's flagship state-supported residential STEM high school. Comparable residential, tuition-supported model with strong dual-enrollment and university partnerships.
• Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (MSMS): Mississippi's state-supported public residential high school for gifted STEM students; participates alongside LSMSA in the annual SLAMT competition. Directly comparable public residential model.
• Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science (TAMS): University of North Texas-based residential program for gifted Texas high schoolers, with deep dual-enrollment. Closely comparable model of residential high school embedded in a university.
• Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts (ASMSA): Arkansas's state-supported public residential STEM/arts high school; LSMSA's sister school in the SLAMT competition. Closest comparable model — tuition-free, residential, state-funded.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LSMSA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LSMSAvids
• Facebookfacebook.com/LSMSA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/edu/school?id=225457
• Instagraminstagram.com/lsmsa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Louisiana School For Math, Science & The Arts