Concordia Lutheran High School

What Concordia Lutheran High School does

Concordia Lutheran High School is a private, co-educational Lutheran secondary institution founded in 1935 and located at 1601 St. Joe River Drive, Fort Wayne, Indiana. The school pursues Christ-centered educational excellence, enrolling approximately 710 students across what appears to be a four-year high school program, served by 101-250 employees including administrators, faculty, and support staff. Academic offerings include 30 AP, Honors, and Dual Credit courses with a 12:1 student-teacher ratio and an average class size of 20.02 students. Beyond academics, the school runs 21 athletic teams (including 7 state championship programs), a comprehensive fine arts program (with signature events such as the 24-Hour Theater Festival), JROTC, and a Koinonia student-led small-group ministry structured across 52 groups.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees, supplemented by an unusually high 97% financial aid rate funded through a combination of internal scholarships (e.g., Martin Fischer Memorial Scholarship — $32,000 four-year), the Lutheran Scholarship Granting Organization (LSGO, which has provided over $33 million to 26,000+ students since 2012), Indiana's School Choice Scholarship (voucher) program, an annual Cadet Fund, capital campaigns (currently "A Bold Step"), auctions (Cadets in Cadence), and a golf outing. Additional revenue is earned via summer camps and programs, including an AI Startup Sprint hosted in partnership with Harvard Women in Computer Science. The school operates on direct on-campus enrollment, leveraging a community-led go-to-market approach anchored by Lutheran congregation referrals, alumni word-of-mouth, online reviews (Niche, GreatSchools, Facebook), and church-network partnerships.

The underlying technology stack is conventional for K-12 private schools: the FACTS Family Portal (RenWeb-based) for academic and family management, an Edlio-powered website, and a One-to-One Technology Program providing student devices. There is no proprietary software platform, public API, or developer-facing product; AI is used as instructional content within a single summer program rather than as an embedded operational capability. Governance is provided by a board of directors (Robin Strasser as Board President circa 2015), with the head of school Jacob Pennekamp and a separate Concordia Educational Foundation managing endowment and fundraising.

Name

Concordia Lutheran High School

Legal name

Concordia Lutheran High School

Website

https://clhscadets.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Concordia Lutheran High School is a private, co-educational Lutheran secondary school founded in 1935 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, serving approximately 710 students with a 12:1 student-teacher ratio, 30 AP/Honors/Dual Credit courses, 21 athletic teams, and Christ-centered college-preparatory programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Wayne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Concordia generates primary revenue through tuition charged to families. As a private school, tuition is a core revenue stream supplemented by fees for specific programs and services.
2. Financial Aid and Scholarships: 97% of students receive some form of financial aid. The school offers its own scholarships (Martin Fischer Memorial Scholarship - $32,000 four-year; Carl F. Gallmeier Endowed Scholarship - $1,500 annual) and administers external scholarships including Comcast Leaders and Achievers ($1,000).
3. Lutheran Scholarship Granting Organization (LSGO): The Lutheran Scholarship Granting Organization (LSGO) provides grants to students that fill the gap between school costs and school choice funding. Since 2012, LSGO has provided over $33,000,000 to more than 26,000 students.
4. Annual Giving and Fundraising: The school conducts annual fundraising including the Cadet Fund (annual fund), Cadets in Cadence Auction, Cadet Golf Outing, and the Lutheran SGO program. A capital campaign ('A Bold Step') is also underway for campus improvements.
5. Summer Programs and Camps: Revenue is generated through summer camps and classes, including an AI Startup Sprint & Innovation Program hosted in partnership with Harvard Women in Computer Science, athletic camps, and academic enrichment programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Concordia Lutheran High School delivers Christ-centered, college-preparatory secondary education to approximately 710 students, integrating a 12:1 student-teacher ratio academic core (30 AP/Honors/Dual Credit courses) with athletics (21 teams, 7 state championships), fine arts, JROTC, and faith-formation programs such as Koinonia. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition supplemented by extensive financial aid (97% of students), donations, and grants, with auxiliary offerings such as summer camps and the AI Startup Sprint innovation program.

Product overview

Concordia Lutheran High School is a private, co-educational Lutheran high school offering a Christ-centered college-preparatory education. The school operates as a unified educational institution providing academic programs (core curriculum, AP/Honors/Dual Credit courses), co-curricular programs (athletics with 21 teams, fine arts, JROTC), enrichment programs (Honors Academy, Summer Camps), and student support services (Study Center, counseling, peer ministry). The school uses Edlio-powered web technology and FACTS Family Portal for academic management. Key programs include the AI Startup Sprint & Innovation Program and One-to-One Technology Program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Academic Programs (College-Preparatory Curriculum) Comprehensive college-preparatory curriculum including core subjects, electives, AP courses, honors courses, and dual credit opportunities; the school offers a 12:1 student-teacher ratio with an average class size of 20.02 and 30 AP/Honors/Dual Credit courses. Targeted at students in grades 9-12 and their families.
• Athletics Program 21 athletic teams including 7 state championship teams, with programs in boys and girls flag football, baseball, basketball, JROTC drill teams, and other sports. Targeted at student athletes and their families.
• Summer Camps and Classes Summer enrichment programs including athletic camps, academic camps, golf camp, and the AI Startup Sprint & Innovation Program in partnership with Harvard Women in Computer Science for middle school girls. Targeted at prospective and current students and their families.
• Fine Arts Program Comprehensive arts education including visual arts (painting, drawing, ceramics, digital design), performing arts (theatre, choir, band), and media arts (broadcasting, photography, yearbook). Features the 24 Hour Theater Festival and annual Fine Arts Festival. Targeted at high school students interested in artistic development.
• JROTC Program Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program led by Major John Sheaffer; includes the annual Clendenen Drill Meet, military-style training, leadership development, and community service. Targeted at high school cadets.
• Study Center and Support Services Academic support including Individualized Service Plans (ISPs) for students with special needs, school counseling, peer ministry, and the Koinonia student small-group ministry program. Targeted at students with learning support needs and broader student-body support.
• AI Startup Sprint & Innovation Program Three-day hands-on summer program for middle school girls (grades 6-8) focused on AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT), entrepreneurship, and real-world problem-solving, culminating in a Demo Day pitch; hosted in partnership with Harvard Women in Computer Science with a Certificate of Participation awarded. Targeted at middle school girls and their families.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of students receive financial aid, making Christ-centered education accessible
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Harvard Women in Computer ScienceflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026Concordia hosts the AI Startup Sprint & Innovation Program in partnership with Harvard Women in Computer Science from June 22-24, 2026. The three-day hands-on program for middle school girls (grades 6-8) teaches AI tools like ChatGPT, real-world problem-solving, and entrepreneurship. Participants receive a Certificate of Participation from Harvard Women in Computer Science.
• Lutheran Scholarship Granting Organization (LSGO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012LSGO provides grants to students that fill the gap between school costs and school choice funding. Since 2012, LSGO has provided over $33,000,000 to more than 26,000 students, making Christ-centered Lutheran education accessible. The partnership is essential to enabling tuition affordability for the majority of Concordia's student body.
• Fort Wayne Community Schools (FWCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcordia participates in the 'Child Find' process through FWCS, which helps identify students who may qualify for special education services. FWCS sends a school psychologist to evaluate students when testing is recommended, and ISP meetings are held with FWCS representatives, CLHS staff, and families together.
• Zeppelin Gymnasium (Lüdenscheid, Germany)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe German American Partnership Program (GAPP) is a 41-year partnership between Concordia and Zeppelin Gymnasium in Lüdenscheid, Germany. Students spend a month living with host families, participating in school life, and visiting German cities. This cultural exchange builds language skills and international understanding.
• Black Lutheran Alumni Scholarship Team (B.L.A.S.T.)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerB.L.A.S.T. is a partnership that awards scholarships to African American seniors at Concordia in recognition of academic achievement, leadership, and service. The program is in its fifth year and includes the B.L.A.S.T. scholarship program and the annual Black History Month Assembly at the school.
• The Lutheran Schools PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Lutheran Schools Partnership organization is located within the Concordia high school building. This is a broader network of Lutheran schools in the region that shares resources and collaborative opportunities.
• University of Saint FrancisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcordia partnered with the University of Saint Francis to host Dr. Christopher McDougle's community presentation on autism research at the Doermer Family Center for Health Science Education on the USF campus.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Bishop Dwenger High School: Catholic college-preparatory high school in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Direct local competitor for faith-oriented families in the same Northeast Indiana market, with overlapping athletics and academic positioning.
• Blackhawk Christian School: Christian K-12 school in Fort Wayne serving families seeking faith-integrated education. Comparable faith-based mission at smaller scale and competes for overlapping families in the same regional market.
• Bishop Luers High School: Catholic college-prep high school in Fort Wayne serving the same regional market. Comparable faith-based secondary education model and competes for similar families in Northeast Indiana.
• Heritage Christian School (Indianapolis): Indiana-based private Christian college-preparatory school offering faith-integrated secondary education. Comparable on mission and Midwest market, though larger and more diverse denominationally than LCMS-specific schools.
• Canterbury School (Fort Wayne): Independent non-sectarian private college-preparatory school in Fort Wayne. Comparable on academic rigor and tuition band but does not share faith-based mission; competes for college-bound families in the same city.

Direct peers

• Orange Lutheran High School: Large-scale LCMS Lutheran high school in California offering the same Christ-centered college-preparatory model with extensive athletics and co-curriculars. Comparable on faith-based mission and program structure, though materially larger.
• Concordia Lutheran High School (Tomball, TX): LCMS Lutheran high school sharing the Concordia branding and mission. Same denomination, similar college-prep with athletics and faith integration, making it one of the closest direct comparables for operating model and admissions GTM.
• Rockford Lutheran School: LCMS-affiliated Lutheran school in Illinois providing college-preparatory education with faith integration. Comparable private Lutheran school model with similar reliance on congregation-supported tuition assistance.
• Lutheran High School East (Parma Heights, OH): LCMS Lutheran high school in the Cleveland area with a similar faith-integrated college-prep model and multi-congregation governance structure. Directly comparable in mission and operations.
• Lutheran High School of Indianapolis: Indiana-based LCMS Lutheran high school offering a similar Christ-centered college-preparatory model. Directly comparable in faith affiliation, governance structure (multi-congregation support), and target market of Midwest Lutheran families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/FWCadets
• Facebookfacebook.com/clhscadets
• Instagraminstagram.com/clhscadets
• Xx.com/clhscadets
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/concordia-lutheran-high-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Concordia Lutheran High School