Manitowoc Lutheran High School

What Manitowoc Lutheran High School does

Manitowoc Lutheran High School (MLHS) is a private, non-profit Christian secondary school chartered under the laws of the State of Wisconsin, serving grades 9-12 from its campus at 4045 Lancer Circle, Manitowoc. Founded in 1956 and governed by a federation of 23 Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) congregations alongside 12 affiliated grade schools grouped as Lakeshore Lutheran Schools, MLHS delivers a Christ-centered curriculum intended to prepare students academically, spiritually, and socially. Total enrollment stood at 275 students in 2024-2025, up from 249 in the prior year, with 25 full-time teachers on staff plus administrative and program personnel across an 11-50 employee range.

The school's core product set encompasses academic instruction (25 credits required for graduation, including AP Calculus and dual-credit options), a 1:1 laptop technology initiative, athletics under the Big East Conference, fine arts (WSMA-accredited), and approximately 14 clubs/organizations including Robotics (Robo Remedy), Broadcasting, and National Honor Society. Adjacent product lines include SEVP-certified international student enrollment, a Japan Exchange Program, the Junior Lancers K-8 feeder programming, and the school-to-work Youth Apprenticeship pathway. Operational technology is built on standard K-12 SaaS: PowerSchool for student information, TADS for tuition and incidental billing, Naviance and Xello for college/career planning, Parchment for transcripts, and RaiseRight for SCRIP gift card distribution.

MLHS operates a hybrid revenue model combining per-student tuition (member rate $6,900, non-member $7,900, sibling discounts), the state-funded Wisconsin Parental Choice Program voucher, congregation tuition assistance, third-source fundraising, and the wholly-owned Repeat Performance resale store which contributes over $250,000 annually (cumulative approach to $3.5 million since 2004). Total cost of education per student is stated at $13,000, with the gap between tuition and cost covered by Federation subsidies, Repeat Performance proceeds, donations, and SCRIP rebates. Additional revenue streams include alumni giving, the Lancer Gala, golf classic, capital campaigns, and the ongoing 'Growing in God's Grace 2026-2028' capital expansion. MLHS holds five regional/national accreditations (WELSSA, NCPSA, NFNSSAA, WRISA, WSMA), federal SEVP certification, and meets Wisconsin DPI standards.

Name

Manitowoc Lutheran High School

Legal name

Manitowoc Lutheran High School

Website

https://mlhslancers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Manitowoc Lutheran High School is a private, non-profit WELS-affiliated Christian high school in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, serving 275 students in grades 9-12 across academic, athletic, fine arts, and international programs, governed by a federation of 23 congregations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Christian Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Private Christian high school
• Secondary education services
• College preparatory programs
• Tuition-based education
• Lutheran secondary schooling

Headquarters

HQ city

Manitowoc

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Payments: Primary revenue from tuition payments from families. Federation church members pay $6,900/sibling $6,600; Non-members pay $7,900/sibling $7,600 per year.
2. Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP): State government voucher program providing funding for eligible families meeting income limits. Applications accepted in February, March, April, May, and August through DPI.
3. SCRIP Program: School Cash Rebate Incentive Program generating revenue through gift card purchases. Families purchase cards at full price, MLHS receives rebate from vendors, 75% credited to family TADS accounts and 25% supports school programs.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Donations through General Fund, Endowment Fund, Tuition Assistance fund, Donor Advised Funds, and capital campaigns. Repeat Performance resale store contributes over $250,000 annually.
5. Congregation Assistance: Many of the 23 federation churches provide tuition assistance programs for their members attending MLHS.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Manitowoc Lutheran High School is a private, non-profit Christian high school (grades 9-12) delivering college-preparatory academic instruction, athletics, fine arts, and extracurricular programs rooted in WELS Lutheran values. The school generates revenue primarily from tuition, state voucher funding, donations, and the SCRIP gift-card rebate program, and serves families in the Manitowoc, Wisconsin area along with international students.

Product overview

Manitowoc Lutheran High School is a private Christian high school (grades 9-12) offering a comprehensive educational program built around its core Christ-centered curriculum. The school operates as a unified platform providing academic instruction (25 credits required for graduation), athletics (Big East Conference), fine arts (music and drama), and extra-curricular clubs including Broadcasting, Robotics (Robo Remedy), and National Honor Society. Supporting programs include a 1:1 Technology Initiative (laptops for all students), an International Student Program (SEVP-certified), and the Junior Lancers youth development program. The school also offers financial assistance through Wisconsin Parental Choice Program and NBTA, managed via TADS, and the SCRIP gift card rebate program for tuition credits. Guidance services include college preparation with Naviance and Xello, AP/dual credit courses, Youth Apprenticeship, and transcript services through Parchment. Founded in 1956, MLHS is governed by a Federation of 23 WELS congregations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lancers: School mascot name - a knight on a horse
• Junior Lancers
• Lancer Express
• The Lancer Network
• Lakeshore Lutheran Schools

Products and services

• Christian Secondary Education (Grades 9-12) Core private Christian high school program for grades 9-12 requiring 25 credits for graduation, providing college-preparatory academic instruction meeting/exceeding Wisconsin DPI standards, spiritual development, and social growth rooted in WELS Lutheran values. Designed for families seeking faith-based secondary education in the Manitowoc, Wisconsin area.
• Athletics Programs Comprehensive interscholastic athletic program competing in the Big East Conference and WIAA, including cross country, football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, wrestling, tennis, soccer, track, and softball. Available to enrolled MLHS students.
• Fine Arts Program Music and drama programs including choir, band, Lancer Singers, school plays and musicals; MLHS holds WSMA Accredited School status. Available to enrolled students.
• Clubs and Organizations Extra-curricular clubs including Broadcasting, Forensics, Dance Team, Drama, E-Sports, Business Club, Robotics (Robo Remedy), National Honor Society, Yearbook, Student Council, Khairo, and Shining Through Christ. More than 85% of students participate.
• International Student Program SEVP-certified F-1 visa international student program offering American Christian high school education with host family placement and comprehensive support services. Includes the Japan Exchange Program and other exchange partnerships.
• Junior Lancers Youth Program Youth development program for grade school students (K-8) including music lessons, choir, baseball, basketball, cross country, flag football, and wrestling, feeding the MLHS enrollment pipeline.
• SCRIP Gift Card Rebate Program School Cash Rebate Incentive Program enabling families to earn education credits by purchasing vendor gift cards through the RaiseRight app or Scrip office. Rebates are split 75% to family TADS tuition accounts and 25% to school programs, with 700+ participating retailers.
• 1:1 Technology Initiative School-issued laptop provided to every student for use at school and home, with rolling device updates for each incoming freshman class and ownership retained upon graduation.
• Guidance and College Preparation Services College preparation services including ACT/SAT testing, college visits, scholarship assistance through Fastweb, career guidance using Naviance and Xello, and digital transcript services through Parchment.
• AP and Dual Credit Courses Advanced Placement courses (e.g., Calculus) and dual-credit options through accredited universities, with a 0.33 GPA weight increase for AP coursework. Designed for college-bound students seeking college credit in high school.
• Youth Apprenticeship Program School-to-work program for grades 11-12 providing occupational training with a minimum 2.0 GPA requirement and a work-experience component, supporting career readiness.
• Japan Exchange Program International cultural exchange program connecting MLHS students with Japanese schools and communities for cross-cultural learning experiences.
• Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP) Enrollment State government voucher-funded enrollment path for income-qualified Wisconsin families. Applications accepted February, March, April, May, and August through DPI, with vouchers awarded via random selection.
• Needs-Based Tuition Assistance (NBTA) Financial assistance program for families committed to Christian education, with awards evaluated through TADS based on demonstrated need and available funds.
• Online Learning Options Partnerships with Wisconsin Virtual School and Amazing Grace Virtual Academy that provide online course offerings to MLHS students for additional or alternative coursework.
• Lancer Broadcasting Student-run broadcasting club that produces live streams of home sporting events, concerts, and performances via the school's YouTube channel.

Quantifiable outcome

• Five-year ACT score trends at or well above average for all subjects
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MLHS Federation (23 WELS Congregations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLHS is governed and operated by a Federation consisting of 23 WELS congregations plus advisory congregations. The Federation operates the Lutheran High School and promotes Christian secondary education. Financial support comes from individual members of federation churches.
• Lakeshore Lutheran Schools (LLS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup of 12 WELS grade schools in the federation collectively referred to as Lakeshore Lutheran Schools. Partner with MLHS in providing quality, Christ-centered education and assist federation congregations and schools in their own ministries.
• Wisconsin Department of Public InstructioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerState government agency overseeing the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP). MLHS participates as a Choice School where vouchers are awarded to eligible families meeting income limits.
• School Choice WisconsinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganization promoting school choice in Wisconsin. MLHS is designated as a Wisconsin's Parental Choice School participant.
• SCRIP Program Vendors (700+ retailers)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 700 retail vendors participate in the SCRIP program, providing gift cards that generate rebates for MLHS. Local vendors like Festival Foods, Kwik Trip participate alongside national brands.
• Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA)minorOthersMLHS is part of WIAA and participates in athletics under their governance and rules.
• Big East ConferenceminorOthersMLHS athletics compete as part of the Big East Conference with other private schools in the region.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Lakeside Lutheran High School: WELS-affiliated Christian high school in Lake Mills, WI. Operates under a federation of WELS congregations with comparable academic, athletic, and fine arts programs.
• Wisconsin Lutheran High School: WELS-affiliated private Christian high school in Milwaukee, WI. Directly comparable as a federation-governed Lutheran high school serving grades 9–12 with athletics, fine arts, and college preparatory curriculum in Wisconsin.
• Luther High School: WELS-affiliated Lutheran high school in Onalaska, WI. Similar size, federation structure, and program mix in western Wisconsin.
• Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School: WELS-affiliated Lutheran high school in Jackson, WI. Similar federation structure, Christ-centered college prep curriculum, and Wisconsin Parental Choice Program participation.
• Fox Valley Lutheran High School: WELS-affiliated Christian high school in Appleton, WI. Comparable federation model, similar tuition structure, and equivalent academic/athletic offerings in northeastern Wisconsin.
• Sheboygan Area Lutheran High School: WELS-affiliated Lutheran high school in Sheboygan, WI. Geographically proximate peer with similar federation governance and Christ-centered college prep curriculum.
• St. Croix Lutheran Academy: WELS-affiliated Christian high school in West St. Paul, MN. Comparable federation model and academic/athletic offerings as a regional WELS secondary school.
• Winnebago Lutheran Academy: WELS-affiliated Lutheran high school in Fond du Lac, WI. Directly comparable as a federation-supported Christian high school with similar size, athletics, and college prep programs in Wisconsin.
• Martin Luther High School: WELS-affiliated Lutheran high school in Greendale, WI (greater Milwaukee). Comparable federation governance and Christ-centered secondary education model.

Broad incumbents

• Concordia Lutheran High School (LCMS): LCMS-affiliated Lutheran high school. Adjacent Lutheran secondary education model serving a similar Christ-centered, college-preparatory mission, providing a benchmark for Lutheran school operations at slightly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/mlhslancers
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@mlhslancers/streams
• Facebookfacebook.com/MLHSLancers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/manitowoc-lutheran-high-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/mlhslancers

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Manitowoc Lutheran High School