LUTHERAN SCHOOL ASSOCIATION OF DECATUR

What LUTHERAN SCHOOL ASSOCIATION OF DECATUR does

Unity Christian School, formerly the Lutheran School Association of Decatur, is a private non-profit K-12 Christian school operating on a single 52-acre campus at 2001 East Mound Road in Decatur, Illinois. The school serves families from Transitional Kindergarten (4 years old) through 12th grade with a faith-integrated curriculum centered on discipleship, academic excellence, and real-life skills. It is legally a ministry of the Lutheran School Association and remains under the umbrella of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS), though a June 2023 rebrand to Unity Christian School was intended to lower denominational barriers and broaden appeal to all Christian churches in the Decatur area.

The core offering is classroom-based K-12 education augmented by a portfolio of ancillary programs: a Transitional Kindergarten "Little Lions" program, Before and After School Care (ABC), championship athletics starting in 4th grade (football, volleyball, basketball, track, wrestling, baseball, soccer, golf, cheer), STEM/Robotics, a 1:1 Chromebook program for grades 5-12, dual-credit college courses through Richland Community College and Concordia University Wisconsin, a Tech Academy option for juniors and seniors, a new FFA chapter with animal science and horticulture facilities, and a senior internship program. The underlying technology stack is standard off-the-shelf K-12 EdTech: Sycamore Education for school management, FACTS for financial aid processing, Google Workspace, Procare for child care billing, HUDL for livestreaming, and 8to18 for athletic scheduling. The school operates a wholly-owned fundraising subsidiary, LSA ReSale Shop, selling used clothing and household goods at a separate Decatur location.

Revenue is generated through six primary streams: all-inclusive annual tuition, donations and financial support from five LCMS Association Churches (St. Paul's, St. John's, Mt. Calvary, Trinity, and Concordia Lutheran), a $2,500-per-year Student Sponsorship program, RaiseRight gift card fundraising, the LSA ReSale Shop, and usage-based Before/After School Care fees. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on personal campus visits, referrals from the five LCMS partner churches and the Parent Teacher League, an alumni re-engagement initiative, and a weekly "Lions Weekly Update" email newsletter. Leadership consists of an Interim Executive Director (Dr. Stephen Frech) and a Board of Education elected by the five LCMS Association Churches operating under a policy-based governance model.

Name

LUTHERAN SCHOOL ASSOCIATION OF DECATUR

Legal name

Lutheran School Association

Website

https://lsadecatur.net

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Unity Christian School (formerly Lutheran School Association of Decatur) is a non-profit K-12 private Christian school on a 52-acre campus in Decatur, Illinois, serving families from Transitional Kindergarten through 12th grade with faith-integrated education, athletics, and dual-credit college partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Christian Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJABAC

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Private & Independent K–12 Schools

SECONDARYEDACABAF

Faith-Based Preschools

Education/Early Childhood Education/Preschools & Pre-K Programs

Keywords

• K-12 Christian education
• Private Christian school
• Faith-based education
• Before and after school care
• Dual credit college classes

Headquarters

HQ city

Decatur

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition: All-inclusive tuition covering all fees with transparent upfront pricing for families to budget annually. Rates vary by grade level for 2026-27 school year.
2. Donations and Church Support: Funded through combination of donations, church support from five LCMS Association Churches, and third source revenue. Foundation Board working to build additional revenue sources.
3. Student Sponsorship Program: $2,500 annual sponsorship program where donors sponsor students who cannot afford tuition. Sponsors receive updates on student progress throughout year.
4. LSA ReSale Shop: Resale shop operated by the school selling quality used clothing, home decor, holiday items, small furniture, appliances. Opened May 20, 2002. Helps generate funds for school operations.
5. RaiseRight Gift Card Program: Gift card fundraising program where families buy gift cards to earn funds toward student tuition at no extra cost. Enrollment code 39L163692944.
6. Before and After School Care (ABC): Before school care from 6:30-8:25am and after school care from 3-6pm. Charged per hour only for time used. Uses Procare app for check-in/out and billing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Unity Christian School delivers private K-12 Christian education from Transitional Kindergarten through 12th grade on a 52-acre campus in Decatur, Illinois. The school offers all-inclusive tuition, dual-credit college classes, championship athletics, STEM and robotics, before/after school care, and a high school internship program, funded through tuition, donations, church support, and a student sponsorship program.

Product overview

Unity Christian School (formerly Lutheran School Association) operates as a unified K-12 private Christian school offering a comprehensive educational ecosystem. The core product is its K-12 Christian education program spanning Transitional Kindergarten through 12th grade, supported by add-on modules including Before and After School Care (ABC), Athletic Programs, STEM/Robotics, Dual Credit College Classes, Extracurricular Activities, and a High School Internship Program. Additional offerings include the LSA ReSale Shop for fundraising, and technology programs with 1:1 Chromebooks for grades 5-12. The school is located on 52 acres in Decatur, Illinois, and is funded through tuition, donations, church support, and third-source revenue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-12 Christian Education Program
• Transitional Kindergarten (Little Lions Program)
• Before and After School Care (ABC)
• Dual Credit College Classes
• Athletic Programs
• High School Internship Program
• STEM and Robotics Program
• FFA Chapter and Agriculture Program
• Extracurricular Activities and Camps
• LSA ReSale Shop
• Student Sponsorship Program
• RaiseRight Gift Card Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Conference championships and undefeated regular seasons in athletics over recent years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Richland Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual credit college partnership allowing high school students to earn college credits at reduced cost. Also offers Tech Academy option for Juniors and Seniors.
• Concordia University WisconsincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual credit partnership offering variety of dual credit college classes for Unity students.
• FACTScoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThird-party organization handling financial aid applications for families. All families applying for financial aid must submit through FACTS.
• Sycamore EducationcoreTechnology or IntegrationSchool management system used for enrollment, tracking student progress, grades, and discipline records. Families access through web portal or mobile app.
• RaiseRightminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGift card fundraising program where families buy gift cards and earn funds toward student tuition at no extra cost. Unity enrollment code: 39L163692944.
• Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool remains under the LCMS umbrella and aligns with beliefs and stances of the LCMS. Provides denominational affiliation and connection to broader Lutheran education network.
• St. Paul's Lutheran ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five LCMS Association Churches supporting Unity Christian School through contributions of leadership, time, prayer and financial resources.
• St. John's Lutheran ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five LCMS Association Churches supporting Unity Christian School through contributions of leadership, time, prayer and financial resources.
• Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church & PreschoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five LCMS Association Churches supporting Unity Christian School through contributions of leadership, time, prayer and financial resources.
• Trinity Lutheran ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five LCMS Association Churches supporting Unity Christian School through contributions of leadership, time, prayer and financial resources.
• Concordia Lutheran ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five LCMS Association Churches supporting Unity Christian School through contributions of leadership, time, prayer and financial resources.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• National Heritage Academies: Operates a large network of public charter and private K-12 schools across multiple U.S. states. Comparable to Unity as a multi-school K-12 operator, but with a much broader geographic footprint and a charter-driven rather than faith-based mission.
• BASIS Charter Schools: National network of tuition-based charter K-12 schools with an academically rigorous STEM-focused curriculum. Comparable to Unity as a private-pay K-12 operator differentiating on academic excellence, though without Unity's faith-based mission.
• Stride Learning (formerly K12 Inc.): Public, large-scale K-12 online and blended learning provider serving hundreds of thousands of students nationwide. It is comparable to Unity as a K-12 education provider but operates at vastly greater scale and through a virtual rather than campus-based delivery model.

Direct peers

• Concordia Academy (LCMS-affiliated): LCMS-affiliated private Christian K-12 school with a faith-integrated college-prep curriculum. Directly comparable to Unity as a Lutheran Church Missouri Synod private school operating under similar denominational alignment.
• Heritage Christian Schools: Network of private Christian K-12 schools with a faith-based college-prep mission. Comparable to Unity in offering a Christ-centered K-12 education supported by a parent/community ecosystem.
• Maranatha Christian Schools: Private Christian K-12 schools offering a faith-integrated, college-preparatory education. Comparable to Unity as a faith-based K-12 operator emphasizing discipleship alongside academic excellence.
• Wheaton Academy: Private Christian K-12 school in suburban Chicago, Illinois, with a faith-integrated curriculum and college-prep focus. Directly comparable to Unity as a private faith-based K-12 school in Illinois serving families seeking Christian education.
• Chicago Christian Schools: Association of private Christian K-12 schools serving the greater Chicagoland area with a Reformed/Christian education mission. Comparable to Unity as a private Christian K-12 operator in Illinois with a similar faith-and-academics integrated value proposition.
• Timothy Christian Schools: Private Christian K-12 school in Elmhurst, Illinois, offering a Christ-centered college-preparatory education. Directly comparable to Unity in mission, faith-based curriculum, and Illinois footprint.

Regional players

• Rockford Christian Schools: Private Christian K-12 school in Rockford, Illinois, providing faith-based education across grade levels. Comparable to Unity as a regional Illinois private Christian school, though in a different city than Decatur.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LSAResaleShop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/lutheran-school-association-of-decatur

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 LUTHERAN SCHOOL ASSOCIATION OF DECATUR