Liberty Christian Academy

What Liberty Christian Academy does

Liberty Christian Academy (LCA) is a private, non-denominational Christian school chartered through the Ohio Department of Education, operating a PK-12 program across three campuses in central Ohio. Founded in 1983 by David and LaVonne McIlrath, LCA moved to its current 75.3-acre Pataskala campus in 2008 and currently serves approximately 705 students. The academic program spans Early Learning Centers (PK3, PK4, and now Kindergarten) in Pataskala and Pickerington, Elementary (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12), all built on the BJU Press curriculum with biblical worldview integration and supported by supplemental technology electives, an fH2! academic enrichment program for grades 1-6, and a College Credit Plus dual-enrollment partnership with Ohio Christian University.

The school's technology stack is a consumer/integrator configuration rather than a proprietary platform: FACTS/RenWeb for SIS and tuition management, third-party adaptive learning tools (ALEKS, IXL, Accelerated Reader, Star Reading, Vocabulary A-Z), Turn It In for academic integrity, SCOIR and Common App for college guidance, and Hometown Ticketing/NFHS Network for athletics. Curriculum delivery, assessment, and college preparation are built around established third-party providers rather than in-house systems. Faculty resources include 300+ combined years of teaching experience with 30% holding advanced degrees.

LCA's business model is tuition-driven and recurring, with tiered pricing across grade levels paid via FACTS plans (annual, semi-annual, monthly, bi-weekly). Revenue streams include preschool and K-12 tuition, extended care ($12/session), athletic participation fees, re-enrollment/application/withdrawal fees ($500), and ancillary items such as PE uniforms. The school supplements family-paid tuition with Ohio EdChoice and EdChoice Expansion scholarships and SGO tax-credit scholarships via the Ohio Christian Education Network. GTM is community-driven: campus tours, admissions events, church and chamber partnerships, website/social/blog content, and bus transportation partnerships with Licking Heights, Reynoldsburg, and Southwest Licking school districts. Leadership is split between an operational team (Head of School Amanda Cecil, CFO/COO Jeremy Blythe) and a governance board presided over by James L. Davis, PhD.

Name

Liberty Christian Academy

Legal name

Liberty Christian Academy

Website

https://libertychristianacademy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Liberty Christian Academy is a private, non-denominational Christian PK-12 school in Pataskala, Ohio, serving approximately 705 students across three campuses using the BJU Press curriculum, with revenue from tiered tuition, extended care, and Ohio EdChoice scholarships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Christian Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM)

Keywords

• Private K-12 education
• Christian school programs
• Biblical worldview curriculum
• College preparatory education
• Preschool through high school

Headquarters

HQ city

Pataskala

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition - Preschool: Full-day preschool tuition for PK3 and PK4 students. Tuition may be paid annually, semi-annually, monthly or bi-weekly through FACTS payment plans.
2. Tuition - K-12: Tuition for elementary, middle school, and high school students with tiered pricing by grade level. Multiple payment options available through FACTS.
3. Extended Care Program: Before and after school care services at $12 per student per session. Drop-in rate of $20 per student for non-registered students.
4. Ohio EdChoice Scholarship: Accepts Ohio EdChoice Scholarship and Ohio EdChoice Expansion Scholarship in grades K-12, with families responsible for any balance not covered.
5. Annual and Enrollment Fees: Annual fees charged per student, re-enrollment fees, application fees, and incidental fees. Withdrawal fee of $500 per student.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Liberty Christian Academy is a private, non-denominational Christian school that delivers comprehensive PK-12 education on its 75.3-acre Pataskala, Ohio campus and two Early Learning Centers, using the BJU Press curriculum integrated with a biblical worldview. The school sells recurring tuition-based enrollment in Preschool (PK3-PK4), Elementary (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12), along with supplemental programs including the fH2! Academic Enrichment Program, technology electives, College Credit Plus, athletics, fine arts, and extended care.

Product overview

Liberty Christian Academy is a private, non-denominational Christian school offering a comprehensive PK-12 educational program. The core academic program consists of five levels: Early Learning Center (PK3-PK4), Elementary (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12). All academic levels use the BJU Press curriculum with Christian worldview integration. The school supplements its core academics with specialized programs including the fH2! Academic Enrichment Program for grades 1-6, technology elective courses (Digital Photography, Cybersecurity, Graphic Design, AI, Java, JavaScript, Python, Web Design), and the College Credit Plus dual enrollment program. Student support services include guidance and counseling, mental health services, spiritual life programming, and college preparation. Extracurricular offerings include fine arts (visual arts, music, drama) and athletics (varsity and middle school sports). The school operates on a main K-12 campus in Pataskala, Ohio with Early Learning Centers in Pataskala and Pickerington, serving approximately 700 students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Preschool Program (PK3-PK4) Full-day preschool program for 3 and 4-year-olds featuring developmentally play-based curriculum with focus on language, literacy development, phonics-based reading instruction, and Christian values integration. Students must be toilet trained and meet age requirements by August 1st.
• Elementary Program (K-5) Elementary education program covering kindergarten through 5th grade, featuring phonics-based approach, computational skills, Bible integration across all subjects, and use of BJU Press curriculum that exceeds state standards with emphasis on Christian worldview.
• Middle School Program (Grades 6-8) Middle school education program for grades 6-8 preparing students for college-preparatory high school coursework through an eight-period rotating schedule with emphasis on study skills, organization, research skills, and note-taking.
• High School Program (Grades 9-12)

Quantifiable outcome

• Students typically test 1-2 grade levels higher than public school peers on state standardized tests
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Integration14 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ohio Christian Education Network (OCEN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCEN provides SGO (Scholarship Granting Organization) tax credit program allowing donors to receive dollar-for-dollar state tax reductions up to $750. LCA participates in this scholarship program to help students in need attend the school.
• Ohio Christian University (OCU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for College Credit Plus program where OCU courses are taught at Liberty Christian Academy. Students can earn college credits while in high school including courses in Oral Communications, Sociology, English Composition, Psychology, and more.
• Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)coreOthersMember of ACSI, providing access to Christian education resources, professional development, and accreditation support for Christian schools.
• Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA)coreOthersMember of OHSAA, allowing LCA students to participate in Ohio high school athletics with official recognition and competitive scheduling.
• Mid-Ohio Christian Athletic League (MOCAL)coreOthersMember of MOCAL, a Christian athletic league providing competition among Christian schools in the mid-Ohio region.
• BJU PresscoreTechnology or IntegrationCurriculum provider for preschool through high school. BJU Press provides comprehensive educational materials built on Biblical Worldview, Academic Rigor, Critical Thinking, and Technology Solutions.
• Licking Heights School DistrictminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides bus transportation for students residing in Licking Heights district to attend LCA.
• Reynoldsburg School DistrictminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides bus transportation for students residing in Reynoldsburg district to attend LCA.
• Southwest Licking School DistrictminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides bus transportation for students residing in Southwest Licking district to attend LCA.
• FACTS ManagementcoreTechnology or IntegrationFACTS provides tuition payment plans (annual, semi-annual, monthly, bi-weekly), financial aid assessment through FACTS Grant and Aid, and student information management through RenWeb/FACTS Family Portal.
• Pataskala Chamber of CommerceminorOthersMember of Pataskala Chamber of Commerce, supporting community connections and local business relationships.
• Ohio Department of EducationcoreOthersChartered through Ohio Department of Education. Preschool licensed by Ohio Department of Education Division of Early Childhood Education.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Heritage Christian School: Private Christian K-12 school serving the broader Columbus area with faith-based curriculum and college-preparatory academics. Competes for similar demographic of Christian families seeking alternatives to public schools.
• Worthington Christian Schools: Central Ohio private Christian K-12 school offering a comparable college-preparatory program with biblical worldview integration. Most directly comparable competitor given overlapping service area and similar faith-based positioning.
• Gahanna Christian Academy: Private Christian K-12 school in suburban Columbus (Gahanna) with overlapping feeder districts. Competes with LCA for families in eastern Franklin and western Licking counties.
• Granville Christian Academy: Faith-based K-12 school in Licking County (Granville), Ohio, in close geographic proximity to LCA. Directly comparable in size, mission, and program offering.
• Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy: Large private Christian K-12 school in Cincinnati offering similar college-prep, faith-integrated curriculum. Comparable program structure though larger in scale and in a different Ohio metro.
• Delaware Christian School: Central Ohio private Christian K-12 school serving families in the greater Columbus region. Comparable program structure, faith-based curriculum, and athletics program through OHSAA and Christian leagues.
• Tree of Life Christian Schools: Central Ohio (Columbus-area) private Christian K-12 school providing similar faith-integrated academics and extracurricular athletics. Directly comparable in target market, curriculum philosophy, and scale.

Others

• FACTS (FACTS Management): Provides tuition management, financial aid assessment, and the RenWeb student information system used by LCA. Ecosystem enabler for the school's operational backbone.
• BJU Press: Core curriculum supplier to LCA across all grade levels. Comparable as an ecosystem participant and enabler for faith-based K-12 instruction rather than a direct competitor.

Regional players

• Columbus Academy: Independent (non-religious) private K-12 school in Columbus serving the same affluent Central Ohio families. Competes with LCA for college-prep-oriented families, though without the faith-based curriculum component.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lcaohio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/liberty-christian-academy
• Instagraminstagram.com/lcaohio

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 Liberty Christian Academy