Lake Wales High School

What Lake Wales High School does

Lake Wales High School (LWHS) is a public charter high school located at 1 Highlander Way, Lake Wales, Florida, operating as the sole high school within the Lake Wales Charter Schools (LWCS) system — a community-governed charter network of seven schools formed in 2004 when Lake Wales residents voted to convert local public schools under Florida's charter law. The school was originally founded in 1924 as Lake Wales Senior High School and today sits on a 75-acre campus bordering Bok Tower Gardens, serving over 1,300 students with more than 90 full-time faculty and paraprofessionals, three guidance counselors, a career development specialist, six administrators, and a School Resource Officer. Principal Anuj Saran leads the institution, which holds a B grade rating from the Florida Department of Education.

The school's core academic product is the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme for grades 11-12, complemented by nine Career Academies spanning Agriculture, Applied Engineering Technology, Culinary, Digital Design, Digital Media, Early Childhood, Health Science, Personal Trainer, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Each academy delivers industry certifications (NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Adobe Certified Professional, MSSC Certified Production Technician, CDA, PCT, CET) and dual-enrollment college credits through a partnership with Polk State College. Supporting services include a Library Media Center with digitized yearbook archives dating to 1924, Student Services/Counseling, Highlander Athletics (recognized with three consecutive Lakeland Ledger All Sports Awards through 2020), and the Little Highlander Academy on-site childcare and VPK preschool program serving children from six weeks to five years.

LWHS generates revenue through Florida per-pupil state allocations and federal Title I funds as a charter school, with no tuition charged. Ancillary revenue streams include fee-based Little Highlander Academy childcare services and the National School Lunch Program (free/reduced-price meals via LINQ Connect). The technology stack is built on commodity third-party platforms: Schoology for grade management, Follett Destiny for library services, Connect Suite for parent communications, and FortifyFL for safety reporting. The school operates under a hybrid segmentation model (size-tier for students grades 9-12, persona-based for parents and families, and use-case-based for IB and Career Academy tracks), marketing through its website, Facebook, parent portal, School Advisory Council meetings, and annual community events including Veterans Day and College Fair.

Name

Lake Wales High School

Legal name

Lake Wales High School

Website

https://lakewaleshigh.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lake Wales High School is a public charter high school in Lake Wales, Florida, serving over 1,300 students in grades 9-12 with an IB Diploma Programme and nine Career Academies, plus on-site Little Highlander Academy preschool serving children from 6 weeks to age 5.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Charter Schools (Single-Site) (EDAJACAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools (EDAJACAK)

Keywords

• Public charter school
• High school education
• IB diploma program
• Career academies
• Early childhood education

Headquarters

HQ city

Lake Wales

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: As a public charter school, Lake Wales High School is funded through state and federal education funding, including tax dollars allocated through the Lake Wales Charter Schools system. The school receives Title I federal funds for parent and family engagement programs.
2. Childcare Services: Little Highlander Academy provides fee-based childcare services for children from six weeks to five years old, including VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten) programs and extended care services.
3. Student Meal Program: The school participates in the National School Lunch Program, offering free and reduced-price meals to eligible students. Meal payments are processed through LINQ Connect platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lake Wales High School is a public charter high school in Lake Wales, Florida, delivering secondary education (grades 9-12) to over 1,300 students through the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, nine Career Academies, athletics, and student services. The school also operates the Little Highlander Academy early childhood center (six weeks through age five, including free Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten) and provides free and reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program. All services are delivered under the governance of the Lake Wales Charter Schools system.

Product overview

Lake Wales High School is a public charter high school offering a comprehensive educational program centered on the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme as its flagship academic offering. The school provides nine Career Academies (Agriculture, Applied Engineering Technology, Culinary, Digital Design, Digital Media, Early Childhood, Health Science, Personal Trainer, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems) that combine academic curriculum with occupational themes and industry certifications. Supporting services include a Library Media Center, Student Services/Counseling, Little Highlander Academy preschool, and Highlander Athletics. Digital services include Schoology for grade management, Follett Destiny for library access, and LINQ Connect for meal accounts. The school operates as part of the Lake Wales Charter Schools system on a 75-acre campus bordering Bok Tower Gardens.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme A comprehensive pre-university curriculum for grades 11-12 emphasizing international-mindedness, critical thinking, community service, and university preparation. Requires minimum 3.25 GPA and Level 3 FAST/BEST exam scores for admission. Average IB Diploma recipients earn 30 college credits while in high school and qualify for the full Bright Futures Scholarship.
• Agriculture Academy Career pathway program offering Animal Science and Horticulture tracks following the three-circle model of agricultural education (classroom instruction, FFA leadership, and Supervised Agricultural Experiences).
• Applied Engineering Technology Academy Engineering exposure program featuring AMATROL Integrated Technology concepts with project-based learning competitions. Students earn college credits and industry certifications including AutoCAD, Fusion 360, and MSSC Certified Production Technician. Provides 60 hours toward Applied Engineering Degree through Polk State College dual enrollment.
• Culinary Academy Hands-on culinary program where students prepare daily lunch orders, manage The Ridge Cafe, and prepare catering for school events. Covers culinary techniques, food safety, customer service, and business operations.
• Digital Design Academy Adobe application-focused program teaching Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator for digital image editing and document design. Students create the school's Crown Jewel yearbook and work toward Adobe Certified Professional credentials.
• Digital Media Academy Film, audio, and editing program using Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects. Students develop video editing skills from camera setup to final publishing through the Digital Media social media accounts.
• Early Childhood Academy Prepares students for early childhood education careers through hands-on learning at the on-site Little Highlander Academy preschool. Students work toward Child Development Associate (CDA) certification and earn 12 college hours through Polk State College dual enrollment.
• Health Science Academy Healthcare preparation program with clinical learning experiences for long-term care, hospital settings, and Emergency Medical Services. Students can earn Personal Care Technician (PCT) or Certified EKG Technician (CET) certifications.
• Personal Trainer Academy Fitness industry preparation program combining hands-on practice with classroom learning in kinesiology, human anatomy, social skills, and nutrition. Features partnership with NASM for Certified Personal Trainer certification.
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Academy Three-tier drone technology program covering principles of flight, drone design, FAA regulations, and applications in agriculture, cinematography, and search and rescue. Includes drone simulators and hands-on flight training.
• Little Highlander Academy On-site childcare and preschool program serving children from six weeks to five years old, including a free Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) class for children turning four before September 1st. Programs include Infant/Toddler Care and toddler through pre-K care with extended hours.
• Library Media Center Provides students and faculty access to advanced technology and printed materials. Services include Destiny Library Catalog, Digital Library Bookshelf, CLT Academic Research Site, and yearbook archives dating back to 1924.
• Student Services / Counseling Comprehensive counseling program addressing academic, social, emotional, career, and college development needs. Includes academic planning, dual enrollment support, college application assistance, financial aid planning, and community service tracking.
• Highlander Athletics Athletic program with state-competitive teams in softball, baseball, football, swimming, and track. Includes the Highlander Booster Club supporting student athletes. School has received the Lakeland Ledger's All Sports Award for three consecutive years.
• Schoology Online Grade Portal Parent and student portal for viewing grades and academic progress through the Schoology learning management system. Access codes provided through the Guidance Secretary, with Getting Started guides and tutorials available for parents.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average IB Diploma recipient earns 30 college credits while in high school
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Early Learning Coalition of Polk CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Early Learning Coalition offices in Winter Haven, Lakeland, and Lake Wales for VPK enrollment coordination. The school offers free Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program for eligible children and refers families to the coalition for enrollment processing.
• Bok Tower GardensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdjacent property neighbor enabling environmental, wellness, agriculture, and tourism studies. The campus borders the southern boundary of Bok Tower Gardens, creating natural partnership opportunities for educational programs.
• Polk State CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual enrollment partnership allowing students to earn college credits. Engineering Academy provides 60 hours toward Applied Engineering Degree. Early Childhood Academy provides 12 college hours through Polk State.
• National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NASM for Personal Trainer Academy certification. Students can earn NASM Certified Personal Trainer certification upon completing the academy program.
• Lake Wales Charter Schools SystemcoreOthersLake Wales High School is a member of the Lake Wales Charter Schools system, a locally governed community school system established in 2004. The system includes seven schools: Hillcrest Elementary, Dale R. Fair Babson Park Elementary, Janie Howard Wilson Elementary, Polk Avenue Elementary, Edward W. Bok Academy North and South, and Lake Wales High School.
• Lake Wales Police DepartmentcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSchool Resource Officer (Officer David Hernandez) provides campus safety and security. The school works closely with local law enforcement to ensure student and staff safety on the Ridge area.
• Polk County Sheriff's Office - Safe SchoolscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSafe Schools division staffed through contract with Polk County Sheriff's Office encompasses School Resource Unit, School Safety Guardian, Gang Resistance Intervention Unit, and School Crossing Unit providing countywide school safety coordination.
• Polk County Public Schools Food ServicesminorOthersParticipates in National School Lunch Program providing free and reduced-price meals. Coordinates meal services through district food services while operating Summer Meal Program for children 18 and under.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LWHSHighlanders
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/lake-wales-high-school

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 High School