As private and public schools across the country build their budgets for the next school year, they’ll be allocating millions of dollars in spending plans to fund scholastic sports. This includes the cost of coaching salaries, equipment, transportation, facility rentals, and other items necessary to provide students with the opportunity to participate in athletics at school. During the time of a pandemic that’s quickly morphing into a major economic crisis, it’s clear why some parents and teachers alike may be questioning whether athletic programs are worth the cost.
To answer this question, we have to consider the role of athletics in your child’s education. In this article, we’ll explore why Lakeside Christian School, one of the top private high schools in Clearwater, FL, and many other schools believe that athletics has a profound impact on your child’s school performance, values, and well-being. For more information or to schedule a tour of our campus, please give us a call at (727) 261-0937.
Contrary to the widely-held notion that athletics is detrimental to a student’s academic performance, recent studies have shown that student-athletes are just as successful if not more successful than non-athletes in terms of academic achievement. In a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), physical activity was consistently related to positive outcomes, including academic achievement, cognitive skills (memory and concentration), and academic behaviors.
Increased time spent on physical activity also did not detract from academic performance even when less time was devoted to subjects other than physical education. This strongly aligns with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education’s recommendation that students participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. In addition to improved concentration and academic achievement, those who participate in high school sports are also 15 percent more likely to attend college as a result.
Related: LCS Athletics Quick Facts
The athletic program at Lakeside Christian School, one of the best private schools in Clearwater, FL, plays a crucial role in teaching our students to act with discipline, respect themselves and their peers, assume responsibility, apply God’s word and his principles to their lives, and develop a commitment to their team and the school as a whole. The student-athletes at Lakeside Christian School serve as role models for their fellow classmates and members of their community. Other essential life skills students frequently take away from athletic programs include:
Related: What Sets Lakeside Christian School Apart From Other Private Schools in Clearwater, FL?
Finally, athletics also plays a role in the well-being of your child. Since student-athletes have a greater sense of personal responsibility and initiative, they are more likely to build stronger relationships with their peers, have higher self-esteem, and participate more in volunteerism. A recent study conducted by Gallup on behalf of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) found that students who competed in athletics were more likely to report as “thriving” when it comes to community engagement, job satisfaction, and relationships.
If you’re looking to reap any of the benefits of including a strong athletics program in your child’s education, reach out to Lakeside Christian School — one of the best private high schools in Clearwater, FL that currently offers varsity football, volleyball, baseball, softball, basketball, cross country, and more.
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.
On October 14, 2020, Step Up For Students announced a monumental milestone. The state-approved nonprofit scholarship funding organization that helps administer five of Florida’s six K-12 scholarship programs had awarded the funding of their one-millionth scholarship. If you’re looking for school options for your child for the 2020-21 school year, now is the time to apply for an income-based scholarship through Step Up For Students in Clearwater, FL.
More than 784,000 scholarships have been provided to lower-income Florida students in grades K-12 since 2001, and your child could be next. Read more to learn about what the scholarships can be used for, who is eligible to receive these scholarships, and what makes Lakeside Christian School the number one option out of the Step Up for Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL.
Related: Step Up For Students: Your Ticket to Private School Education
Currently, Step Up For Students in Clearwater, FL, offers two income-based scholarships: The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) and the Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES). The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship allows you to choose between financial assistance towards private school tuition and fees or transportation costs to attend a public school other than the one your child is assigned to attend, while the Family Empowerment Scholarship only provides financial assistance towards private school tuition and fees. For the purpose of this article, we will only be discussing the money which goes towards private school fees.
The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and the Family Empowerment Scholarship can be used towards the following private school fees, in this order, until the fees are covered or the maximum scholarship amount is reached:
It’s important to note that, although books and uniforms are listed above, both scholarships’ funding may only be used towards books and uniforms sold by the school rather than a third-party vendor.
Eligibility for these scholarships is based on a number of factors, including household income, student age, and where the student currently resides. You may qualify for either FTC or FES if you meet any of the following conditions:
Related: What Are the Qualifications and Eligibility Requirements for the Family Empowerment Scholarship?
Out of the extensive list of Step Up for Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, Lakeside Christian School is the ideal institution for your child because we offer opportunities for individualized education, classes taught from a Christian worldview, and aligned curriculum tailored to the needs of our students. Each of our students benefits from early college preparation, first-rate faculty and staff, and a tight-knit learning community.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, one of the Step Up For Students participating schools, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
If you’re considering sending your child to a private middle school in Clearwater, FL, you’re probably wondering how you can narrow down your list of three or four schools to the private school that best suits your child. While you can certainly conduct your fair share of research through reading the school catalog or magazine, visiting their Facebook page, browsing their website, or watching promotional videos, you’re going to get the greatest amount of information from a visit or tour of the school. This is where you’ll be able to witness the teachers in action, get a feel for the community, speak to students, get a clear look at the campus, and ask some important questions. In this article, we’ve compiled three factors to take into consideration when deciding whether or not you should tour your child’s potential private school.
Related: 3 Benefits of Touring Private Schools Before Enrollment
It’s no secret that class size and student-to-teacher ratios can drastically affect the quality of your child’s education. What’s great about many private schools is that while public school class sizes tend to range from 25 to 30 students, most private schools tend to keep their class sizes closer to an average of 10 to 15 students. For example, the students at Lakeside Christian School, a Clearwater private school, benefit from a highly-focused, small school setting that allows students to engage with their teachers on a more personal level.
Taking a tour of the school is a great opportunity to get insight into what the class size and student-to-teacher ratio is like for current classes, whether they endorse individualized learning, or if teaching assistants are being utilized. Especially for larger classes, it may be worth asking how they foster a sense of community within the classroom and the school as a whole.
While many private schools accept students from a number of different academic backgrounds, some may prefer students with a specific focus in a subject area, such as math or the arts. Private schools also may tend to lean towards students that can become active members of the student body through extracurricular activities, such as athletics and theater. During your tour of the school, you ask what kind of students the school is currently looking for, what kind of academic interest do they typically have, and what interests or goals do they pursue outside of academics. It’s best to send your child to school in which they can blend seamlessly with the student body, academically and socially, rather than have to try and adjust their academic focus or goals for the purpose of fitting in.
Related: 4 Important Questions to Ask During a Private School Tour
Private school curriculum is established by the individual school rather than the state, which means private schools are permitted to shape their curriculum around the lessons and values that they deem most important. Some focus on promoting skills to help students succeed after high school, while others promote spiritual and cognitive growth through the incorporation of biblical lessons. During a school tour, you’ll be given the opportunity to get a greater understanding of the school’s curricular approach and how it aligns with your child’s learning style.
Lakeside Christian School, a private middle school in Clearwater, FL, prepares our students for college and career with aligned curriculum. This means that all assessments, lessons, and textbooks are matched to meet the standards, and the student’s knowledge is able to build on itself naturally as they go along. To decide the best curriculum for your child, it’s important to conduct the necessary research, tour the school, and consider your child’s unique needs and learning style.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, a Clearwater private school, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
Deciding to send your child to private school is a major decision that should not be taken lightly, especially if you’re not certain how you’re going to pay for it. However, if you’ve weighed the benefits of your private school over public education, such as smaller class sizes, flexible curriculum, and improved college and career readiness, and know for certain that your child would thrive in a private school setting, it’s time to look into how you afford private school.
In this brief article, we’ll review how Lakeside Christian School, an affordable private elementary school in Clearwater, FL, helps parents afford the private school education their child deserves.
Related: Practical Strategies for Saving Money for Tuition
What makes Lakeside Christian School one of the best private schools in Clearwater, FL is the diverse range of scholarship funding organizations we work with. One of these organizations is Step Up For Students, a state-approved nonprofit scholarship funding organization that serves to strengthen public education by administering five scholarships to schoolchildren throughout Florida. If you’re worried about how you may be able to afford a private education for your child, you’ll want to look into the two income-based scholarships they offer: The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and the Family Empowerment Scholarship.
Both scholarships can be used as financial assistance towards private school tuition and fees, including books, registration, transportation, uniforms, and more. You may be eligible for either of these scholarships if a member of your household receives SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR; if your student qualifies for free or reduced lunch; or if your household income is at or below the income criteria specified.
Related: Does My Child Qualify for a Step Up For Students Scholarship?
If your child has a disability, then the McKay Scholarship that provides Florida students with disabilities with the option to attend an affordable private elementary school in Clearwater, FL may be the best option for you. In the 2018-19 school year alone, the McKay Scholarship Program for Students With Disabilities awarded over 31,000 Florida students with disabilities the opportunity to attend a participating private school. You may be eligible to receive a McKay scholarship if your student has an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or a 504 accommodation plan and meets certain requirements, such as spending the prior year in attendance at a public school or being enrolled and reported for funding by the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind.
Last but not least, the FACTS Scholarship is available to all parents who want their child to attend Lakeside Christian School. The FACTS Scholarship is an income-based scholarship designed to create a more affordable tuition through an online financial aid assessment program. The goal of this scholarship program is to help as many families with as much tuition as possible, which is why it’s important to fill out an online application as soon as possible before the deadline in early March.
Other than the scholarships listed above, Lakeside Christian School also seeks to be one of the best private schools in Clearwater, FL by consistently increasing our tuition subsidy budgets to provide aid through reduced tuition so that more families can enroll their students at a cost they can afford. For more information, don’t hesitate to give us a call via the phone number below.
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.
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.