Laura Jeffrey Academy (LJA)

What Laura Jeffrey Academy (LJA) does

Laura Jeffrey Academy (LJA) is a tuition-free public charter middle school in Saint Paul, Minnesota, serving students in grades 5-8. Founded in 2006 by Cindy Reuther and co-founder Kai Michels, the school operates under a State of Minnesota charter and is currently authorized by Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center. LJA employs approximately 17 staff members organized under a distinctive educator-led leadership model in which 4-7 individuals share equal decision-making authority and all full-time staff serve on committees covering Curriculum & Instruction, Family and Community Relations, School Culture, and Development and Marketing.

The school's core product is a STEM-focused, interdisciplinary middle school education built on a holistic Learning Programs Framework that addresses teaching and learning, resiliency, school climate, and organizational effectiveness. Supporting offerings include Special Education Services, an After-School Care Program ($10/day), Activities and Athletics (soccer, basketball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, lacrosse, Girls on the Run), and a 4-week January J-Term intensive program. The school serves an inclusive, LGBTQ-friendly student population and begins enrollment in 5th grade rather than traditional 6th grade to support students through early adolescent developmental changes. The school is named after Laura Jeffrey (1915-2003), one of the first African-American librarians in the St. Paul library system.

LJA's revenue model is anchored by per-pupil state funding as a public charter school, supplemented by transactional fees from meal sales (breakfast $1.50, lunch $3.75) and after-school care, plus donations and grants as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Federal Tax ID 20-0901562). The Walton Family Foundation has been a major historical grant funder alongside federal planning and implementation grants. Enrollment occurs through an open application process beginning January 5 each year, with a lottery for oversubscribed grades. The school's technology stack is limited to standard educational tools (Google Workspace, JMC Parent Portal, Squarespace website), and there are no proprietary technology platforms or AI/ML capabilities.

Name

Laura Jeffrey Academy (LJA)

Legal name

Laura Jeffrey Academy

Website

https://laurajeffreyacademy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Laura Jeffrey Academy is a tuition-free, STEM-focused public charter middle school serving grades 5-8 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, operating under an educator-led governance model with revenue from per-pupil state funding, supplemental fees, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charter Middle School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ)

Keywords

• Charter middle school
• STEM education
• Tuition-free education
• Inclusive education
• Educator-led school

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil State Funding: As a public charter school, LJA receives per-pupil state funding based on enrollment. This is the primary revenue source for operating the school.
2. Meal Sales: LJA offers breakfast ($1.50) and lunch ($3.75) for students who do not qualify for free/reduced meals. This provides supplemental revenue.
3. After-School Care Fees: After-school care is offered for $10.00 per day, per student for families needing later pickup beyond 3:10 PM.
4. Donations and Grants: LJA is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. The school has received support from foundations including the Walton Family Foundation and operates with Federal Planning and Implementation Grants. Tax ID: 20-0901562

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Laura Jeffrey Academy is a tuition-free public charter middle school in Saint Paul, MN, providing STEM-focused interdisciplinary education to scholars in grades 5-8 through cooperative learning, hands-on projects, and 75-minute teaching blocks in small classes. The school operates under an educator-led leadership model rather than a traditional principal structure, and cultivates an inclusive, LGBTQ-friendly learning environment for culturally diverse students. Supporting paid services include an after-school care program, breakfast/lunch meal services, and seasonal J-Term intensive programming.

Product overview

Laura Jeffrey Academy (LJA) is a tuition-free public charter middle school (grades 5-8) in St. Paul, MN. The school operates as a single unified educational product offering STEM-focused interdisciplinary learning through its core Learning Programs Framework, differentiated instruction, and educator-led model. Supporting services include Special Education Services, After-School Care Program, Activities and Athletics Programs, and seasonal J-Term Programming. The school does not offer technology products or software platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• STEM-Focused Middle School Education (Grades 5-8) Tuition-free public charter middle school for scholars in grades 5-8 in Saint Paul, MN, providing STEM-focused interdisciplinary education with cooperative learning, hands-on projects, and an inclusive LGBTQ-friendly environment.
• Learning Programs Framework LJA's core educational framework addressing teaching and learning, resiliency, school climate, and organizational effectiveness, structured around interdisciplinary Power Standards and differentiated coursework.
• Special Education Services Specialized supports and services crafted for each scholar, targeting unique strengths and growth areas, with integrated classroom support and dedicated special education staff.
• After-School Care Program Daily supervised program running from 3:00-4:00 PM for homework support, with pickup available as late as 4:15 PM; priced at $10.00 per day per student for families needing later pickup.
• Activities and Athletics Programs After-school clubs (speedcubing, urban gardening, Fermi Math, K-Pop Club, Dungeons and Dragons), athletics teams (soccer, basketball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, lacrosse), and Girls on the Run and Heart & Sole running teams.
• J-Term Programming A 4-week intensive term in January where students and teachers propose classes, allowing scholars to explore subjects such as Outdoor Winter Survival, Theatre Programming, Urban Boatbuilders, and Needle Arts.
• School Meal Service Daily breakfast ($1.50) and lunch ($3.75) meal service with free and reduced-cost options for qualifying students; cold breakfast each morning and a hot entree plus salad bar at lunch, provided by food service vendor Done Right Foods.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students who begin LJA in 5th grade and graduate in 8th grade outperform peers in local urban districts in math, reading and science
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning CentercoreOthersOsprey Wilds serves as LJA's charter school authorizer, conducting oversight and evaluation of the school. Located at 1730 New Brighton Blvd, Suite 104, PMB 196, Minneapolis, MN 55413. Erin Anderson is the Director of Charter School Authorizing.
• Audubon Center of the NorthwoodscoreOthersOriginally served as LJA's charter sponsor when the school was approved by the State of Minnesota in 2006. The Audubon Center of the Northwoods was part of the Audubon Center of the Northwoods charter school network.
• Avalon SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLJA partners with Avalon for ultimate frisbee programming, allowing students to participate in this sport through the partnership.
• St. Paul Parks and Recreation LeagueminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLJA partners with the St. Paul Parks and Recreation League for lacrosse programming, enabling students to participate in organized lacrosse through the city's recreation system.
• Girls on the RunminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLJA offers fall and spring Girls on the Run and Heart & Sole teams. This national organization provides running coaches and lessons on girl empowerment and social skills. Non-competitive running program culminating in a 5k event with other Twin Cities area teams.
• MN Environmental Education AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided MN Environmental Education Association donated native Minnesota perennials to LJA for the Mid-Summer Garden Party and courtyard garden.
• Urban BoatbuildersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLJA partners with Urban Boatbuilders for J-Term programming, bringing experiential learning through hands-on woodworking where students develop problem-solving, organizational and leadership skills.
• Community OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLJA maintains partnerships with Boundary Waters of the Northwoods, Friends of the Mississippi, REM5, Wilderness Inquiry, University of Minnesota MedSchool, and St. Kate's Education Program for experiential learning opportunities.
• Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSPPS provides transportation for LJA students living within Saint Paul proper and residing one or more miles from school, or students going to/from licensed daycare facilities. Contact: 651-696-9600 for after-hours support.
• Done Right FoodsminorOthersFood service provider for LJA's meal program, offering cold breakfast each morning and nutritious salad bar and hot entree at lunchtime. Students may request sandwiches as alternate option.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• KIPP Minnesota: Regional KIPP charter network serving Twin Cities students with a college-prep mission. Comparable as a charter school operator in the same metro targeting similar families.
• High Tech High: San Diego-area charter network known for STEM focus, project-based learning, and teacher autonomy. Comparable by STEM emphasis and innovative teacher-led school design.
• Great Lakes Academy: Minnesota public charter elementary school. Comparable as a small Minnesota charter school with a similar tuition-free, mission-driven educational model.
• BASIS Charter Schools: National STEM- and college-prep-focused public charter network. Comparable by STEM focus, rigorous academics, and charter school structure, though at much larger scale.
• Best Academy: Minneapolis urban charter K-8 school with similar mission of serving diverse, urban students in the Twin Cities. Comparable by geography, charter status, and grade range served.
• Nova Classical Academy: St. Paul-area public charter school serving K-12 with rigorous college-prep focus. Comparable as a Minnesota public charter school competing for similar Twin Cities families seeking tuition-free alternatives.
• Harvest Preparatory School: Minneapolis charter K-12 school serving a similar urban, diverse student population in the Twin Cities. Comparable peer by charter school model and regional market.
• Twin Cities Academy: St. Paul, MN charter middle school serving grades 6-8 with a similar small-scale, mission-driven model. Most directly comparable peer by location, grade band, and charter school structure.

Broad incumbents

• Friendship Public Charter School: Washington D.C.-based charter network with explicit inclusive, college-prep mission. Comparable as a larger charter network operating with similar mission-driven, inclusive values.

Emerging players

• Eagle Academy for Young Men: Single-gender charter school network with mission-driven focus on supporting a specific demographic. Comparable through targeted single-identity school model, though single-gender rather than inclusive.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/laura-jeffrey-academy-lja

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Laura Jeffrey Academy (LJA)