Lake Country Elementary School

What Lake Country Elementary School does

Lake Country School (LCS) is a private, non-profit independent Montessori school serving Pre-K through 8th grade students in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Founded in 1976 by Pat and Larry Schaefer through a founding grant from the O'Shaughnessy Foundation, LCS operates a dual-campus model: an Urban Campus in the Kingfield neighborhood of South Minneapolis (3755 Pleasant Ave S) and a 160-acre Rural Campus (Land School) in Dunn County, Wisconsin. The school is governed by a Board of Trustees with up to eighteen members and is led by Interim Head of School Nancy Segreti following the 2026 departure of alumnus Ben Moudry (Class of '89).

Name

Lake Country Elementary School

Legal name

Lake Country School

Website

https://lakecountryschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lake Country School is a non-profit, Pre-K through 8th grade independent Montessori school in Minneapolis operating a dual-campus model with an Urban Campus and a 160-acre Rural Campus (Land School) in Wisconsin. It serves Minneapolis-St. Paul area families through authentic AMI-affiliated Montessori pedagogy and nature-based education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Montessori K-8 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Montessori K–12 Schools (EDAJABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nature-Based / Forest School Early Learning Programs (EDACADAD), Montessori Preschools (EDACABAC), Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)

Keywords

• Montessori education
• Independent primary education
• Preschool through grade eight
• Outdoor farm education
• Tuition-based private schooling

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis, MN

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition - Children's House Half Day: Annual tuition for half-day preschool/kindergarten program (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM) for ages 3-4. Includes $500 annual deposit.
2. Tuition - Children's House Full Day: Annual tuition for full-day program (9:00 AM - 4:00 PM) for ages 3-4 and kindergarten. Includes $500 annual deposit.
3. Tuition - Elementary: Annual tuition for grades 1-6 Elementary program. Includes $500 annual deposit.
4. Tuition - Junior High: Annual tuition for grades 7-8 Junior High program. Includes $500 annual deposit.
5. Extended Day Care: Before school (7:30-8:45 AM) and after school (4:00-5:30 PM) child care for all students.
6. Junior High Farm Stay Fee: Optional $350 fee per student for three-week Farm Stay experience at the Land School.
7. Athletics and Clubs: Various athletic and club programs with associated fees.
8. Annual Giving: Tuition covers approximately 90% of cost per student; Annual Fund and other fundraising efforts help balance operating budget supporting school's mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Lake Country School is a Pre-K through 8th grade independent Montessori school providing authentic Montessori education to children ages 3-14 across Children's House (Primary, ages 3-6), Elementary (Grades 1-6), and Junior High (Grades 7-8) programs. The school operates a dual-campus model with an Urban Campus in South Minneapolis and a 160-acre Rural Campus (Land School) in Dunn County, Wisconsin, enabling nature-based and experiential learning. Core offerings also include specialist subjects (Art, Music & Theatre, Physical Education, World Language), support and wellness services, extended day care, and summer programs.

Product overview

Lake Country School is a Pre-K through 8th grade independent Montessori school offering a comprehensive educational program through multiple interconnected products: Children's House (Primary Program) for ages 3-6, Elementary Program for Grades 1-6, and Junior High Program for Grades 7-8. The school operates a dual-campus model with an Urban Campus in South Minneapolis and a 160-acre Rural Campus (Land School) in Dunn County, Wisconsin. Additional offerings include Specialist Subjects (Art, Music & Theatre, Physical Education, World Language), Support & Wellness services, Extended Day care, and Summer Programming. The curriculum is rooted in Montessori principles with emphasis on self-directed learning, nature-based education, agricultural stewardship, and experiential experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Children's House (Primary Program) A prepared Montessori environment for children ages 3-6 offering half-day and full-day programs. Includes Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, and Mathematics curriculum areas with hands-on materials and an uninterrupted three-hour work cycle, supporting development of independence, concentration, and lifelong love of learning.
• Elementary Program Encompasses Elementary 1 (Grades 1-3) and Elementary 2 (Grades 4-6), rooted in Cosmic Education. Covers language, mathematics, geography, history, science, and specialist subjects, and includes a dual-campus model with Urban Campus and Land School experiences for multi-age classroom communities.
• Junior High Program Grades 7-8 program founded on adolescent development principles. Features key experiences including the Odyssey, Farm Stay, Interim, and Bike Trip. Offers English, Math, Social Studies, Science, Art, Music & Theatre, Physical Education, French, Woodworking, and Work Studio.
• Specialist Subjects Art, Music & Theatre, Physical Education, and World Language (Spanish and French) classes that expand learning through enriching projects and collaborative experiences across all grade levels.
• Support & Wellness Health & Wellness curriculum, Learning & Student Support services, and Tech education across all grade levels. Includes wellness coordination, learning specialists, dyslexia screening, and age-appropriate technology use education.
• Land School (Rural Campus) A 160-acre rural campus in Dunn County, Wisconsin founded in 1996. Offers agricultural education, outdoor immersion, and experiential learning opportunities including day visits, overnight stays, and a three-week Farm Stay for Junior High students.
• Extended Day Program Before and after school care from 7:30 AM - 8:45 AM and 4:00 - 5:30 PM for all students. Provides additional supervision and enrichment activities outside regular school hours.
• Summer Program Summer programming including Farm Camp for incoming 4th-6th graders, apprenticeships for incoming 7th-8th graders, and summer work days. Registration lottery opens in February.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 95% of LCS graduates attend and graduate from colleges and universities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Basilica of Saint MaryminorOthersInitial location for Lake Country School in 1976 when the school opened with 72 children in one Children's House and two Elementary classrooms.
• Church of the IncarnationminorOthersRented Cleary Hall on 38th St. and Pleasant Ave. from the Church of the Incarnation starting July 12, 1980. LCS later purchased Cleary Hall in 1986.
• Family Tree CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal provider delivering health and wellness education presentations to Elementary 2 and Junior High students covering gender identity, sexual orientation, sexually transmitted infections, birth control, consent, healthy relationships, and sexual harassment.
• Camp WidjiwaganminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYMCA camp near Ely, Minnesota that hosts Elementary 2 students for five days of environmental education and winter exploration in February or March.
• Crow Canyon Archaeological CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado archaeological center visited during Odyssey West trip where Junior High students learn about first humans in North America, early peoples, climate effects, and archaeology.
• Gulf Coast Research LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMississippi research facility visited during Odyssey South trip where Junior High students learn about marine biology, civil rights, Civil War, and Reconstruction.
• Minneapolis Institute of ArtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural institution hosting 50th Anniversary celebration event on May 21, 2026 as part of The Greatest Gathering weekend festivities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Montessori School of Lake Forest: Montessori School of Lake Forest is an independent Montessori school serving preschool through middle school with prepared environments and hands-on learning. It is a direct product-model peer, although it operates outside the Twin Cities market.
• Great River School: Great River School is a Minneapolis-area public charter school with a Montessori-inspired, student-centered approach and a comparable K-8 orientation. It is a direct local alternative for families choosing between a public Montessori option and LCS's tuition-funded independent model.
• The Montessori School of Minneapolis: The Montessori School of Minneapolis is a nearby independent Montessori school serving young children and elementary grades. It is a direct comparator for LCS's Montessori model, prepared environments, and Twin Cities family base.

Emerging players

• North Country School: North Country School is a nature-based boarding middle school in the Adirondacks with outdoor work, farm, and expedition-style programming. It is an emerging comparator for LCS's rural Land School and experiential adolescent model, despite different geography and boarding economics.
• Waldorf School of Minneapolis: Waldorf School of Minneapolis is a local independent school emphasizing arts, experiential learning, nature, and whole-child development. It is an emerging alternative for families comparing progressive, low-screen educational models.

Broad incumbents

• Blake School: Blake School is an established Minneapolis independent school serving preschool through grade 12 with a broad college-preparatory offering. It competes for similar local families and tuition spend, although it is not Montessori-specific.
• Breck School: Breck School is an independent PK-12 school in Golden Valley near Minneapolis with a broad academic and extracurricular program. It competes for similar family budgets and high-achieving students but offers a wider traditional independent-school model.
• St. Paul Academy and Summit School: St. Paul Academy and Summit School is an established independent K-12 school in St. Paul serving a similar regional family market. Its college-preparatory breadth makes it a broad incumbent rather than a Montessori specialist.
• Mounds Park Academy: Mounds Park Academy is an independent K-8 school in the Twin Cities with a college-preparatory, community-oriented model. It is a relevant local comparator for grade coverage and tuition, though it is broader than LCS's Montessori and nature-based niche.
• The International School of Minnesota: The International School of Minnesota is a private PK-12 institution in the Twin Cities offering an international curriculum and broad enrichment. It competes for locally educated families seeking a private-school experience, but its delivery model is less specialized.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/LakeCountrySchool
• Facebookfacebook.com/LakeCountrySchool
• Instagraminstagram.com/lakecountryschool/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lake-country-elementary-school

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Country Elementary School