Lakeside Christian School is a premier Christian elementary school in Clearwater, FL, that provides students with the opportunity to learn and grow under the guidance of caring teachers and dedicated faculty who challenge students to “achieve their academic, social and career-minded goals.” At Lakeside Christian, every class is taught from a Christian worldview to help students understand the value of loving God and loving others.
Parents and students alike can’t help but profess their love for Lakeside Christian. In fact, a quick Google search of “Lakeside Christian School” proves it. Lakeside Christian holds a 4.8/5 rating on Facebook as well as a 5/5 rating on Private School Review and GreatSchools.org. So, what’s the secret to their success? In this brief article, we’ll outline a couple reasons why Lakeside Christian is the best Clearwater, FL, Christian school.
Since 1975, Lakeside Christian has infused their educational program with God’s Word to cultivate a learning environment that strengthens students both academically and spiritually. Early on, students are prepared for college to ensure that they have all the tools they need to succeed by the time they graduate. Teachers are dedicated to student success, putting their all into the mastery of their subject to help students reach the next level of their academic development. However, this passion for academic excellence never overshadows Lakeside Christian’s mission to tie in Biblical teachings that inspire a wholesome, worldly knowledge and everlasting curiosity.
Another reason why parents and students love Lakeside Christian is because they offer Step Up For Students Scholarships, like the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship, for families that may not be able to afford to enroll their child in a private school. Since 2001, more than 784,000 scholarships have been provided to families in need of financial assistance. Private education doesn’t have to be unattainable, by applying for the FTC Scholarship, you can give your child the education they need to succeed.
The hard work of teachers and faculty have allowed Lakeside Christian to build a veritable microcosm of respect and equality. On school grounds, every student is treated with respect by their classmates and teachers, which allows them to grow uninhibited by negativity or contempt. Many former students have returned to Lakeside Christian as teachers and faculty to help preserve this important tradition, and it’s truly one of the important differentiators that has helped the school earn its reputation as the premier Christian elementary school in Clearwater, FL, while maintaining a 90 percent or greater retention rate.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, a top Clearwater, FL, Christian school, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
As we discussed in part one of this two-part series, Florida’s new Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES), which was officially signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis at William A. Kirlew Junior Academy in Miami Gardens in May, will give thousands of families the ability to select the school that is the best fit for their children’s needs. If you aren’t satisfied with the education your children are currently receiving, take charge and make a change. Apply for the FES today so you can enroll your children in a top-tier Clearwater private school like Lakeside Christian School.
Community leaders in Miami, where the signing of the law took place, such as Pastor Mark Coats of Grace of God Baptist Church and director of Grace Christian Preparatory School, are already praising the effect that the FES will have on low-income and minority communities. He noted that the FES is “a historic expansion of school choice in Florida.”
At Grace Christian Preparatory School, where nearly half of the student body is awaiting financial assistance and, therefore, being educated for free, financial pressure is starting to mount, so the FES couldn’t come at a better time.
Pastor Coats remarked, “It’s important to give kids from underprivileged areas the same opportunities to receive a good education as kids in privileged areas do. The Family Empowerment Scholarship expands those opportunities.”
Parents want what is best for their children, but when it comes to education, it can feel like your power is being usurped by strict zoning laws and existing legislation. However, this will soon be changing thanks to this new law. When it comes to academics, there are many reasons why choice is important, including:
State Rep. James Bush, who voted in support of DeSantis’ scholarship initiative, has 288 families within his district that are patiently waiting for financial assistance through the FTC Scholarship.
Bush, who is a retired school teacher, commended the bill, stating, ”I stand here today because this is the right stand to take for our children. This bill is not about public vs. private education. This is about a team effort to make sure that every child in the state of Florida, no matter what ZIP code they are from, will have the same choice of getting a quality education.”
If you would like to learn more about scholarship opportunities at Lakeside Christian School, one of the best private schools in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
On May 9th, 2019, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida signed a bill into law that will afford parents more freedom in school selection through an all-new, state-funded voucher program. This legislation creates an exciting opportunity for parents who want greater autonomy over their children’s academic future.
The official signing took place at William A. Kirlew Junior Academy in Miami Gardens. Before an exuberant crowd, DeSantis spoke about the Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES), which will help terminate a Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship waiting list that currently contains 13,000 families.
“I personally believe as a matter of principle and philosophy that parents know what’s best for their kids, they know the right environment, and that if you empower parents regardless of income that the parents ultimately can make the best decision,” DeSantis said.
For parents, there’s never been a better time to take advantage of Florida’s increasingly choice-friendly education system. Whether you’re looking for an affordable private elementary school in Clearwater, FL, with a proven track record of student success, or you have an older child who wants to finish high school in a new setting, Lakeside Christian School provides students with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed in today’s world.
The FES will help facilitate a broader school choice initiative serving 18,000 students in year one, followed by another 7,000 students in the coming years. Unlike the FTC Scholarship, which relies on corporate contributions, the FES will gain funding from the Florida Education Finance Program.
In the Tampa Bay area, this will allow more parents to enroll their children in one of the private schools in Clearwater, FL, like Lakeside Christian School. Many families want the option to provide their children with an education that helps them grow academically, socially, and spiritually, and the FES is designed to support this endeavor.
One recent study conducted by the Urban Institute indicated that low-income FTC students had a 43 percent greater probability of enrolling in four-year colleges than their public school peers. In addition, the study showed that they were 20 percent more likely to actually earn bachelor’s degrees. Figures like this help justify the existence of the FTC Scholarship’s extensive waiting list, but the FES will do away with this list altogether.
According to DeSantis, the primary goal of the FES is to offer “more opportunity for thousands and thousands of low-income families here in the state of Florida,” which is why this new scholarship initiative is viewed as a “big, big deal” in the eyes of parents, students, and legislators.
In part two of this two-part series, we’ll cover some additional perspectives on this new law and explain why choice matters for your children’s education.
If you would like to learn more about scholarship opportunities at Lakeside Christian School, the best private school in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
An exciting development involving the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship will make it possible for even more students to benefit from Step Up For Students in Clearwater, FL. The state-approved nonprofit scholarship funding organization (SFO) recently announced that “more income-based scholarships [are] available for the 2019-20 school year.” This means that families who want to give their children the gift of a bright academic future but can’t afford to do so can still apply for the FTC Scholarship for financial assistance.
If you are interested in enrolling your child at one of the Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, like Lakeside Christian School, don’t hesitate to apply for the FTC Scholarship here. This first-come, first-served program fills up quickly, and once they’re full, they’re full. If this is the opportunity you or someone you know has been waiting for, there’s no better time to apply than right now.
Even if your child is already attending one of the Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, you can still spread the gift of learning by sharing this information with families who are looking to take a new approach to their child’s education. This is the perfect opportunity to introduce your friends and family to the benefits of an affordable private education. Flyers are available in both English and Spanish. Click here to view the flyer in English, or click here to view it in Spanish. Step Up For Students has even provided a “suggested post” for schools that want to share this news on social media platforms like Facebook. With a minor tweak to the copy, parents can share this information with their friends and followers as well:
Want to send your child to Lakeside Christian School, but can’t afford it? Help is here. Step Up For Students has more income-based scholarships available for the 2019-20 school year. Don’t delay, apply now. As always, they’re first-come, first-served. Learn more at the Step Up For Students website.
In addition to this exciting news, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis just signed a bill creating the Family Empowerment Scholarship. While the details are slim at this time, Step Up For Students is keeping an eye on any developments to share with schools and families as they are made public by the Florida Department of Education. However, according to the Florida Department of Education website, “Students who have already applied for the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship program may be determined to meet the income eligibility without resubmitting household income documentation to the SFO.” Current information can be found here.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School and Step Up For Students in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
Are you ready to join the Lakeside Christian School community? Contact us, and schedule a tour today.
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