Step Up For Students is a state-approved nonprofit scholarship funding organization that provides five different types of scholarships for Florida school children in need. The goal of these scholarships is to assist lower-income families with providing their children with the most appropriate learning options. The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) and the Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES) can both be used towards private school tuition and fees.
More than 1,784 private schools throughout the State of Florida participate in the scholarship, and qualifying families are free to choose the school they feel will work best for their child. If you’re searching for a private school that participates in Step Up For Students in Clearwater, FL, look no further than Lakeside Christian School. We accept all students from the local Clearwater area whose parents qualify for the scholarship and provide them with the process, program, and tools necessary to accelerate their learning far beyond the normal pace of mainstream education.
Related: What is the #1 Step Up for Students Participating School in Clearwater, FL?
Part of why Lakeside Christian School is so proud to participate in the Step Up For Students scholarship program is because it allows our school to meet the intent of our mission and purpose statements: to fully equip our students for life by providing a high-quality education. We apply the highest standards upon our faculty and staff and constantly seek to improve our professional skills so that we may better educate students of differing educational abilities and backgrounds.
When your child graduates from Lakeside Christian School, you can be confident that they will be:
Related: Additional Benefits to Enrolling in Step Up For Students Participating Schools in Clearwater, FL
Lakeside Christian School, one of the Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, divides elementary, middle, and high school into three divisions: the Accelerated Learning Division, the Rigorous Academic Division, and the College Prep Division. Each of these divisions is accompanied by unique, accelerated learning programs designed to provide students with college and career readiness. Whether you’re interested in making sure your elementary school student develops into a competent reader or looking to ensure that your high school student has the skills necessary to succeed in college, Lakeside Christian School is the place for you. If you’re interested in learning more about how we challenge all of our students to achieve their academic and personal goals, give us a call.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, one of the Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
If you’re worried that your child may be falling behind in school, you’re not alone. The 2019 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) found that 65 percent of fourth-graders performed below the NAEP Proficient level on the reading portion of the assessment. The NAEP Proficient level is intended to represent students who “have demonstrated competency over challenging subject matter, including subject-matter knowledge, application of such knowledge to real-world situations, and analytical skills appropriate to the subject matter.” If your student is performing below this level, then there’s good reason to be worried that they’ll face difficulty catching up to college and career readiness benchmarks later in life.
In a study performed by the National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA) in 2012, researchers found that fourth-graders who fell far off track had only a nine percent chance of reaching college readiness benchmarks in eighth grade. What this should signal to parents is that catching students up from falling far behind college readiness standards is incredibly difficult. The key to establishing a secure path toward college and career readiness is by sending your student to an affordable private elementary school in Clearwater, FL, like Lakeside Christian School, that prioritizes the importance of an early start in closing the academic preparation gaps.
Related: How Private Schools Improve College Readiness
One of the most crucial elements Lakeside Christian School focuses on in order to prepare your student for college and career starting in kindergarten through fifth grade is data-driven instruction. In simplest terms, data-driven instruction is an approach to improving student learning that involves the use of information gathered from student assessment. There are two types of data used in the classroom: formative (gathered during the process of learning) and summative (gathered at the end of a learning period).
Effective educators analyze this data, determine if their style of teaching is appropriate for each student, and create smaller groups concentrated on the skills with which students are struggling. This means that your student receives an educational plan entirely tailored to their needs to eliminate academic gaps or propel them forward in their education if they’re already on track. At Lakeside Christian School, we’ve been practicing this type of instruction for several years and have already noticed massive improvements in our scores and effectiveness at closing academic gaps.
Related: 3 Qualities College Admissions Offices Look for in Applicants
Another aspect Lakeside Christian School focuses on in order to ensure our students are on track for college and career readiness is what’s known as aligned curriculum. Aligned curriculum refers to any academic program that is free of academic gaps, aligned across grade levels and subject areas, and purposefully designed to facilitate learning. The concept is based around the idea that students’ knowledge builds on itself naturally rather than repeating unnecessarily.
This gives all students a better chance at eliminating academic gaps from day one. Lakeside Christian School links student test scores on ACT Aspire assessments with post-high school performance and determines what that student needs to learn to be ready for college and career. This gives both educators, students, and parents the necessary information to determine the appropriate educational path, possible interventions, and the resources necessary to succeed.
Supporting the development of your student’s career and college readiness can’t be delayed until high school because it’s incredibly difficult for students to get caught up once they’ve fallen behind. If you want to establish a secure path toward success for your student, it’s time to send them to one of the best private schools in Clearwater, FL — Lakeside Christian School. Apart from data-driven instruction and aligned curriculum, we also believe in best-practice instruction, a safe and secure learning environment for all students, complementary technology, and more. Consider scheduling a free tour with Lakeside Christian School today so that you can see for yourself what makes us so different from other schools in the Greater Clearwater area.
If you would like to learn more about 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.
At Lakeside Christian School, one of the best private high schools in Clearwater, FL, we believe in the long-lasting benefits of smaller class sizes because we’ve seen first-hand the optimized learning environment it provides to students. We know that with the right support systems in place, all students can be equipped with the academic foundation and college and career readiness they need to succeed later in life. If you feel by the end of this article that our small class sizes may be the appropriate fit for your student, don’t hesitate to fill out our contact form or give us a call at (727) 461-3311.
Related: How Does a Small School Setting Help My Child Succeed?
In a busy classroom packed with 30 or more students, it can be extremely difficult to nearly impossible for a teacher to provide individual attention to their students. However, instructional quality, academic performance, and students’ comfort level in the classroom all depend in large part on the ability of an educator to individually address and acknowledge students. With smaller classes, teachers get to work one-on-one with each and every one of their students, get to know them and cater their teaching style towards their strengths and weaknesses.
At Lakeside Christian School, we believe that teachers are more than just educators. They’re role models for their students. With smaller class sizes, students get to bond with their teachers in a way that they would not be able to in a larger class setting. Our teachers are more than just interested in propelling your student to the next grade level; they’re personally invested in your student’s success.
Related: Social Benefits of a Small School Environment
Smaller class sizes mean there’s more incentive for students who are shy or don’t normally participate to pay attention, become involved in class discussions, and perform better on their classwork. There’s also significantly fewer disruptions meaning that students with attention issues are more likely to understand and actively participate in the lesson.
With fewer students, you’ll also find that it’s easier for students to form more meaningful, long-lasting relationships with their peers. There’s plenty of opportunities for students to get to know their classmates, work with one another, and form a more cohesive class community.
Last, but certainly not least, smaller class sizes allow for greater opportunities for teachers to provide additional assistance when necessary. This is crucial to closing learning gaps and arming your student with the college and career readiness they need to succeed. If you feel that your student could benefit from small class sizes, a daily tutoring and homework program, and core academic preparation, please reach out to us today to schedule a visit.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, one of the top private schools in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
The power of an effective teacher is something all of us have experienced at least once in our lifetime. In fact, you’ve likely had a number of teachers who inspired you, genuinely cared about your education, and pushed you towards achieving your personal and academic goals. Years of research on the subject have shown that effective teachers not only change the way students feel about school but directly impact student achievement.
At Lakeside Christian School, a Clearwater private school, we believe in employing teachers who demonstrate all of the qualities that both parents and students wish to see in an effective teacher. These are the educators who hold high expectations for their students, themselves, and their classroom as a whole.
Related: Effective Educators
First and foremost, we believe that it is of the utmost importance for a middle school teacher to connect with their students. This positive relationship will be the deciding factor in whether or not your student feels comfortable in the classroom and is likely to actively participate in class. Without a solid relationship between the students and the teacher built on respect and trust, no quality learning will occur within the classroom.
Teachers that are passionate about teaching and regularly express this enthusiasm in how they perform their job are more likely to inspire students to be excited about what they are learning. The more motivated a teacher is about their job and the subject area they’re covering, the more students are going to strive towards achieving their academic goals.
Related: Superb Teachers Showcase These 3 Qualities
The number one thing effective middle school teachers do to improve their teaching is to incorporate the feedback they receive from students into their lessons. By learning what activities and methods of delivery work best for their students, teachers get better at designing lesson plans that engage their students to participate and retain the information they have learned.
Finally, we believe that an effective middle school teacher is accommodating to the needs of their students. This means they understand the strengths and weaknesses of each student and encourage their success in the classroom by making the appropriate adaptations or modifications to the instruction or classroom activities.
When you send your student to Lakeside Christian School, a private middle school in Clearwater, FL, you can be rest assured knowing that all of our teachers have all of these qualities and more. We only employ professional Christian educators who desire to give every student the solid education they deserve.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, the best private middle school 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.
Parents of Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan, Click Here.