Winnebago Lutheran Academy

What Winnebago Lutheran Academy does

Winnebago Lutheran Academy is a private, nonprofit Christian high school serving students in grades 9-12, founded in 1925 and headquartered in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. It operates as part of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) school system and is supported by an association of 38 congregations and 14 Lutheran elementary schools across a 50-mile radius. The school enrolls 300+ students and delivers a college-preparatory curriculum that includes AP courses (some on campus, others via the Amazing Grace Virtual Academy partnership), dual credit through Bethany Lutheran College, and a Youth Apprenticeship program connected to the Fond du Lac Association of Commerce. Co-curricular offerings span 12 boys' and 11 girls' interscholastic sports in the Wisconsin Flyway Conference, a comprehensive fine arts program (choirs, band, theater, visual arts), and an International Student Program hosting students from 20+ countries under SEVIS authorization.

Revenue is generated through a combination of tuition ($7,650 for Association students, $8,750 for non-Association students in 2026-27), state-funded vouchers under the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program and Special Needs Scholarship Program (covering 116 and 24 students respectively), need-based financial aid (~$208,000 awarded to 54 students in 2025-26, with nearly $1.4M in total assistance), donations and a capital campaign, business sponsorships, and operational support from the Second Impressions Thrift Store. The school's actual cost of education is ~$13,563 per student, indicating that tuition alone does not cover operating costs and that donations and state programs are structural components of the funding model.

The institution holds four accreditations (WELSSA, NCPSA, WRISA, NFNSSAA) and is governed by an Executive Board of faculty, pastors, and lay members. Its technology stack is conventional educational SaaS — PowerSchool, ParentSquare, Google Forms, FACTS for tuition, and Parchment for transcripts — with no disclosed AI/ML capabilities. WLA is currently executing a $55M+ capital campaign to build a new 170,000-square-foot campus on 120 acres along Highway 23, replacing facilities largely in place since 1955 and planning the potential sale of the current 475 East Merrill Avenue site.

Name

Winnebago Lutheran Academy

Legal name

Winnebago Lutheran Academy

Website

https://wlavikings.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Winnebago Lutheran Academy is a private, nonprofit Christian high school in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, serving 300+ students in grades 9-12 as part of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod system and an association of 38 congregations and 14 Lutheran elementary schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Christian Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Christian high school
• Private secondary education
• College preparatory programs
• Lutheran education
• International student program

Headquarters

HQ city

North Fond Du Lac

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Payments: WLA generates revenue primarily through tuition payments from families. Tuition rates for 2026-27 are $7,650 for Association students and $8,750 for Non-Association students. The school offers multiple child discounts and transportation subsidies.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The school receives donations through its capital campaign for new campus construction, general donations, estate planning gifts, and business sponsorships through its 'Our Future Business Sponsorship Program'. Financial aid awarded to families comes from association congregations, individual gifts, annual golf outing 'Tee it Up for WLA', WLA Endowment Fund, and other scholarship funds.
3. Second Impressions Thrift Store: Second Impressions Thrift Store provides operational support to WLA each year through staff and over 80 volunteers generating funds for the Academy.
4. Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP): State-funded voucher program where qualifying families receive vouchers that pay tuition in full for eligible Wisconsin resident students.
5. Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP): State-funded scholarship program that pays full tuition for eligible students with disabilities who have an IEP or Services Plan.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Winnebago Lutheran Academy is a private, nonprofit Christian high school serving students in grades 9-12 at its campus in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The academy offers a college-preparatory academic program grounded in Christian values, integrated with athletics, fine arts, guidance, student life activities, and an international student program. Tuition is supplemented by state-funded vouchers (WPCP/SNSP), financial aid, and donations from a network of 38 WELS association congregations and 14 partner Lutheran elementary schools.

Product overview

Winnebago Lutheran Academy is a private Christian high school offering a unified educational program for students in grades 9-12. The core product is its college-preparatory academic program grounded in Christian values, which integrates with specialized modules including the Athletics Program (12 boys' and 11 girls' sports), Fine Arts Program (choirs, band, theater, visual arts), Student Life activities (clubs, student council, esports), and Guidance services (4-year college/career planning). Additional modules include the International Student Program, Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP), and Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP) for tuition assistance. The school operates the WLA Association Schools Network linking 14 partner Lutheran elementary schools with the high school. A major New Campus Development initiative is underway to build a new campus on Highway 23.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Core Academic Program (Grades 9-12) A comprehensive Christian high school education for grades 9-12 with a college-preparatory curriculum required for graduation. Students must earn 24.5 credits including required courses in religion, English, mathematics, science, social studies, PE/health, fine arts, and computer skills.
• Youth Apprenticeship Program Career preparation program for juniors and seniors offering one or two-year programs combining academic education, occupational instruction, and work-based learning through Fond du Lac Association of Commerce employer partnerships.
• Athletics Program Member of Wisconsin Flyway Conference offering 12 boys' sports (cross country, esports, football, soccer, basketball, bowling, hockey, wrestling, baseball, golf, track, trap shooting) and 11 girls' sports (cheerleading, cross country, esports, tennis, volleyball, basketball, bowling, hockey, golf, soccer, softball, track).
• Fine Arts Program Comprehensive arts education including Concert Choir, Traveling Choir, Academy Kids a cappella choir, Viking Band, Theater Program (fall musical and spring drama), and visual arts electives (Art 1, Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, Printmaking).
• Academy Kids Choir Academy Kids a cappella choir program offered through the Fine Arts curriculum.
• Student Life and Extracurricular Activities Clubs and activities including Student Council, Yearbook, International Student Program, Forensics, Academic Bowl, Esports, Art Club, and Viking Power fitness program.
• International Student Program Program hosting international students from over 20 countries with SEVIS authorization, including visa processing, host family placement, and English language immersion with comprehensive American high school education.
• Guidance Department Services Four-year career guidance program preparing students for college, university, technical school, military service, or direct workforce entry, including course selection advising, scholarship assistance, and financial aid guidance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Highest high school achievement score in Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Winnebago, & Dodge Counties
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Integration12 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• 38 WLA Association CongregationscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner38 congregations belonging to the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod that support WLA through student enrollment, financial contributions, and community connections. The association includes churches from Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, and surrounding areas spanning a 50-mile radius.
• 14 WLA Association SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner14 Lutheran elementary schools including Grace-Oshkosh, Faith-Fond du Lac, Martin Luther-Oshkosh, Peace-Green Lake, Redeemer-Fond du Lac, St. John's-Fox Lake, St. Luke's-Oakfield, St. Paul's-North Fond du Lac, St. John's-Lomira, St. Matthew's-Iron Ridge, Christ Alone Lutheran Academy-Montello and Princeton, St. Peter's-Fond du Lac, St. Paul's-Mt. Calvary, and Trinity Lutheran-Campbellsport.
• Bethany Lutheran CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for dual credit courses allowing WLA students to earn college credits while in high school through Bethany Lutheran College.
• Amazing Grace Virtual Academy (AGVA)majorTechnology or IntegrationOnline program partner offering AP courses including AP Environmental Science, AP US History, AP Psychology, AP Statistics, and AP Computer Science taught through AGVA.
• Fond du Lac Association of CommercemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership connecting WLA students with Youth Apprenticeship program opportunities, allowing juniors and seniors to prepare for careers while still in high school through occupational instruction and work-based learning.
• Our Future Business Sponsorship Program SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness sponsors including TAS, Hodgden, Michels, Krug Associates, NEBAT, Kairos, Jaster's Ag, CDS Smith, Jimmy's, Stuarts, Excel, Fink, Gromowski, Jake's, Johnson's Auto Body, Keller, AirTech, Kollman, Grande, Ep Direct, Zellner, WiLL, Twohig Orthodontics, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Wachholz, J.F. Ahern, Holiday, Quality Aggregate, Wrightway, Brindah B, and FS Accounting who support WLA through sponsorship.
• Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLarger international church body that unites WLA and its 38 association congregations. WELS is one of the largest private school systems in the country.
• Second Impressions Thrift StoremajorGTM or Marketing PartnerThrift store providing operational support to WLA through staff and over 80 volunteers generating funds for the Academy. Located at 325 Winnebago Drive, Fond du Lac, WI 54935.
• Wisconsin Department of Public InstructioncoreOthersState agency governing Wisconsin Parental Choice Program, Special Needs Scholarship Program, and school accountability report cards for WLA.
• SEVIS/Student and Exchange Visitor Information SystemcoreOthersFederal web-based system authorized by Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services enabling WLA to register and enroll international students through SEVIS.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Luther Preparatory School: Luther Preparatory School is a WELS-affiliated boarding high school in Watertown, Wisconsin serving grades 9-12 with a focus on ministry preparation. It is a direct WELS system peer sharing the same accreditation, religious framework, and college-prep mission.
• Fox Valley Lutheran High School: Fox Valley Lutheran High School is a WELS-affiliated Christian high school in Appleton, Wisconsin serving grades 9-12. It is directly comparable as a fellow WELS high school within the same Wisconsin regional market and association network.
• Lake Country Lutheran High School: Lake Country Lutheran High School is a WELS-affiliated Christian high school in Hartland, Wisconsin. It is a direct WELS system peer competing in the Wisconsin private Christian high school market with comparable programming and accreditation.
• Sheboygan Lutheran High School: Sheboygan Lutheran High School is a WELS-affiliated Christian high school in Sheboygan, Wisconsin serving grades 9-12. It is a direct WELS system peer in a nearby Wisconsin geography with similar tuition structure and college-prep curriculum.
• Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School: Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School is a WELS-affiliated Christian high school in Jackson, Wisconsin. It is a direct WELS system peer operating in a similar Wisconsin regional market with comparable academic, athletic, and faith-based programs.
• Martin Luther High School (WELS): Martin Luther High School is a WELS-affiliated Christian high school serving the Greendale/Greenfield area of Wisconsin. It is a direct WELS system peer offering similar college-prep, athletics, and faith-based education for grades 9-12.
• Wisconsin Lutheran High School: Wisconsin Lutheran High School is a WELS-affiliated Christian high school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is a direct WELS system peer with similar college-prep curriculum, athletics, and faith-based programming for grades 9-12.

Regional players

• Notre Dame Academy: Notre Dame Academy is a Catholic high school in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It is a regional faith-based peer operating in eastern Wisconsin with similar college-prep and extracurricular programming under a Catholic (rather than Lutheran) framework.
• St. Mary's Springs Academy: St. Mary's Springs Academy is a Catholic K-12 school in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. It is a regional faith-based peer in the same city as WLA, competing for the same pool of Christian-education-seeking families but under a different denomination.

Broad incumbents

• Concordia University Wisconsin: Concordia University Wisconsin is a Lutheran (LCMS) higher education institution that operates a high school preparatory track. It is a broad incumbent in the Lutheran educational ecosystem with overlapping values, though it serves a postsecondary rather than K-12 mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wlavikings
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC6gLWPfDhwSyY7BgfoVCWzA
• Facebookfacebook.com/WinnebagoLutheranAcademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/wlavikes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/winnebago-lutheran-academy

Compliance5 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 Winnebago Lutheran Academy