In this two-part article, we are discussing data compiled by national education organizations regarding the high rate of success of private schools at preparing students for college criteria. Although a high school education is extremely important, college readiness actually begins well before high school. The most critical years for learning development are from Kindergarten through 8th Grade.
At Lakeside Christian School, we provide educational programs for elementary school, middle school, and high school. If you are interested in learning more about how your children can achieve academic excellence at a Christian elementary school in Clearwater, FL, please contact a school representative today.
As we discussed in the first part of this article, there are several benefits to enrolling your children in a private school setting including:
There’s also statistical evidence that showcases that a private school curriculum can help students prepare and excel at standardized testing.
There are a number of recent studies that support that private school students either meet or exceed the benchmark scores for several important standardized tests. In a 2016 study of the College Board’s SAT assessment, private school students greatly surpassed the national mean score for the most common collegiate standardized test. Similarly, according to data compiled by American College Testing (ACT), private school students performed exceptionally well in their 2012 assessment. If you are interested in learning more about these studies or reviewing other studies related to private school success rates, please visit the Council for American Private Education (CAPE) website.
Whether it’s a better academic learning environment, improved student/teacher ratio, more challenging curriculum, daily tutoring opportunities, or other excellent resources to cultivate your child’s academic preparation, Lakeside Christian School is committed to providing students with the opportunity to achieve academic excellence.
If you would like to learn more about a prestigious Clearwater, FL, Christian school, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
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.
Several studies within the last decade support the fact that students that attend private schools are more prepared to take on college coursework. Furthermore, they are more likely to graduate with a four-year degree. In this two-part article, we will discuss relevant data compiled from several studies on this topic. We will also discuss many of the benefits of enrolling your children in one of the best private schools in Clearwater, FL.
At Lakeside Christian School, we offer a highly comprehensive college preparation program that provides elementary, middle school, and high school students with core academic preparation, daily tutoring sessions, homework assistance, and small class sizes that focus on the individual needs of each and every student.
There are several reasons to enroll your child in a private school that benefit both your child and your family as a whole. Not only will private school students receive a first-class education, but studies also support that their parents are generally more satisfied with private school facilities, teachers, and overall standards.
According to data compiled by a 2012 study performed by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), private school parents reportedly give high marks in the following areas:
Some studies show that private school students are more likely to obtain a high school diploma, attend a four-year college, and earn a bachelor’s degree. According to data compiled by NCES over a two-year period that began in 2002, 97.2 percent of religious high school sophomores went on to graduate in the summer of 2004 compared to 84.1 percent of public high school sophomores. Similarly, 76.2 percent of these religious high school sophomores were in their second year of college in 2006; whereas, 40.5 percent of public high school students were attending college in the study.
Although the above data was compiled from a study over a decade ago, as we will discuss in the next part of this article, many recent studies released by the SAT and ACT support the idea that private schools meet or surpass benchmark expectations for these standardized tests and better prepare students for their college coursework.
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.
As a state-approved nonprofit scholarship funding organization, Step Up For Students is dedicated to providing Florida students with the education they need and deserve. Step Up For Students offers several scholarships to Florida students who may otherwise not have the resources to obtain the benefits of private education. Below, we’ll be looking at the requirements for students wishing to qualify for Step Up For Students in Clearwater, FL.
The age requirement for the FTC scholarship is five years old for students entering kindergarten and six years old for students entering first grade. They must reach this age on or before the first of September. A child may be eligible for an FTC scholarship for any of the following reasons:
The Gardiner scholarship better allows parents of children with special needs and unique abilities to individualize their child’s education. Students between the ages of 3 and 22 who have yet to complete the 12th grade may qualify for the Gardiner scholarship. Your child may qualify for the Gardiner scholarship if they have:
Your child may also qualify if they are hospital or homebound. Please click here for the full list of qualifying disabilities, impairments, and requirements.
The Reading scholarship helps students that are struggling with reading. Students in the third- through fifth grades who score a 2 or less on the English Language Arts section of the Florida Standards Assessment for the previous year may qualify for this program.
Please visit Step Up For Students to apply and view all scholarships, requirements, deadlines, and benefits. All students, no matter their background or abilities, are entitled to a private education at a Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, like Lakeside Christian School.
The above scholarships are in high demand, so be sure to apply. We invite you to come by for a tour or shadow day at Lakeside Christian School and see firsthand what your child’s education and future could be.
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.
Children who study under Christian tutelage not only grow academically, they cultivate a stronger sense of spirituality and develop a more comprehensive worldview. While remaining academically competitive with their counterparts, they also benefit from a variety of intangibles that simply aren’t offered in other institutions.
As you address this important question — whether or not to allow your child to grow in a Christian education setting — keep in mind that a Clearwater, FL, Christian school, like Lakeside Christian School, can help make this a reality and even help you obtain financial assistance through one of the Step Up For Students scholarships they support. By expanding the availability of private Christian education in the Clearwater area, Lakeside Christian School is helping more students benefit from a learning environment that doesn’t distance God from academics.
Private Christian schools in Clearwater, FL, tend to benefit from superior student-teacher ratios which allows instructors to connect with students more closely and provide them with individualized instruction geared toward bolstering their strengths and mitigating their weaknesses. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) notes that the student-teacher ratio for public schools was 16.1 students per teacher in 2014. By comparison, the student-teacher ratio for private schools was 12.2. That’s a nearly 25 percent reduction in class size in private institutions, which, in turn, fosters more opportunities for individual attention.
Students who spend each and every day learning side-by-side with other like-minded individuals who care about their fellow man and embrace God tend to develop morally and ethically earlier than their peers. Your child will be supported by their learning community — including students, faculty, and staff — and be guided to make the right decisions and conduct themselves according to Christian values.
If you want your child to be immersed in the word of God, it’s important that their studies incorporate Biblical lessons each and every day. Not only does the Bible teach us valuable lessons about morality, acceptance, and absolution, it lends itself to the development of leadership qualities and instills a sense of conviction in students. In addition, Christian education materials integrate a religious viewpoint that helps guide students’ learning and development.
As a parent, if you want your child to abide by the principles of the Bible, you need to ensure that they are surrounded by people who aren’t afraid to put their love of Christianity on display for others to observe and learn from. As your child grows and matures, you want to ensure that their faith in God’s word experiences a similar growth. At home and in church, you will work to cultivate a strong Christian faith. A student who is enrolled in a Clearwater, FL, Christian school will continue to develop their faith inside and outside of school.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, one of the premier Christian schools in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
Step Up For Students is a scholarship funding organization (SFO) based in Florida with an important mission: to help students find their place within Florida’s public and private education system so they can attain an education that puts them on the path to success. Qualifying students who are enrolled in one of the Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, have access to scholarships designed to place students in a learning environment that improves their chances of climbing the academic ladder while simultaneously giving them access to the resources they need to grow and mature alongside other students.
This article details everything parents who are interested in Step Up For Students in Clearwater, FL, ought to know before applying for one of the scholarships offered. Is your child not getting the most out of their time at school? Are they distracted, unmotivated, or bored? Perhaps it’s time for a change of scenery so your child can get the most out of their education. As one of the Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, Lakeside Christian School has seen firsthand how students can benefit from things like smaller class sizes, individualized learning, and a close-knit community of students, faculty, and staff.
Founded in 2000, Step Up For Students is the longest-running state-approved SFO in Florida still active today. It is one of only two SFOs in Florida approved to administer the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship, the Gardiner Scholarship, the Hope Scholarship, and the Reading Scholarship Programs. It’s also the only state-approved SFO operating exclusively in Florida, which gives the organization unique insight on the needs of Florida’s students while cultivating close bonds with the very students it serves.
One of the best aspects of Step Up For Students is that the scholarships they offer cover a broad range of student needs. For instance, the FTC Scholarship is aimed at providing low-income families with the financial assistance they need to enroll their children in a private school where they can receive an exceptional education. On the other hand, the Gardiner Scholarship assists students with special needs to help them access the types of individualized educational plans best suited to serve their needs.
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.
Private school tuition can be expensive, but parents shouldn’t give up as soon as they see a high price tag. All private schools are different, as are their respective tuition costs. By utilizing practical money-saving strategies, nearly anyone can send their child to an affordable private elementary school in Clearwater, FL, like Lakeside Christian School. Here are a few suggestions to help you save money so that you can provide your child with access to the type of education that builds the leaders of tomorrow.
Your child’s education should always be one of your main priorities. Not only is education important for their social and emotional development, it’s also an investment in their future and helps guarantee that they will be successful. Therefore, it’s imperative that you budget for the important things in life that will help your family prosper. Besides your child’s education, other examples include healthy foods, hobbies and activities, and medical care. Nonessential expenses like eating out, expensive entertainment, and ill-advised vacations should be handled with the utmost caution.
When you try to take on tuition as a lump sum, it can feel like an insurmountable obstacle. Fortunately, some private schools offer payment plans to help make the price of tuition more manageable. A monthly payment plan is vastly preferred to a lump sum and helps improve your ability to maintain a budget on a monthly basis. When you know exactly how much you need to set aside for the essentials, as we mentioned in the last paragraph, it makes living comfortably and supporting your child’s education that much easier.
Private scholarships, like those offered by Step Up For Students, help more students gain access to private elementary schools in Clearwater, FL. That’s right, scholarships aren’t just for college students, and you can apply for some of Step Up For Student’s offerings as early as elementary school. For example, at Lakeside Christian School, many students are the recipients of scholarships like the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship, Gardiner Scholarship, and Reading Scholarship. Each of these scholarships has unique eligibility requirements to assist a range of students with different needs.
When your child exhibits academic excellence at a young age, they’re more likely to gain favor for college scholarships. In other words, investing in your child’s education today could result in huge savings in the future. When your child’s academic resume includes a premier private school, like Lakeside Christian School, they will be in a superior position to acquire scholarships that can greatly reduce the rising price of college tuition.
Are you interested in enrolling your child in one of the private elementary schools in Clearwater, FL? Don’t let your preconceived notions about the high price of private school tuition dissuade you from giving your child the best education possible. Utilize these practical strategies for saving money to help make private education a reality for your child.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, a premier, affordable private elementary 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.