3 Benefits of Touring Private Schools Before Enrollment

Your child’s education is an important part of their growth and development. You want the best for your child, to provide them with the opportunity to grow and flourish so they can become leaders in their communities as they get older, but you also need to balance their educational development with their overall well-being.

There’s a good chance that you’ve already read about the benefits of private education, and if you are taking the initiative to secure a more tailored approach to your child’s education, you will want to be certain that you take the time to tour any schools you are considering. Remember, if you are worried about the cost of private education, Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, like Lakeside Christian School, offer scholarship opportunities to help low-income families afford private school.

1. Get to Know the Staff

When you tour a private school, you can introduce yourself to the school’s staff and even meet a few teachers. You can see what life in the classroom is like and get a firsthand look at how the school’s teachers are helping children learn. The school’s staff will be your support system during your child’s enrollment and your primary point of contact for helping you and your child deal with any issues that may arise.

2. Check Out the Facilities

For your child to obtain a high-quality education, they need to feel comfortable learning in the facilities provided by the private school you select. Has the school taken proactive measures to create vibrant learning spaces that spur your child’s interest and encourage them to embrace learning? Are their facilities well-maintained? These are some of the questions you will want to ask yourself as you tour private schools.

3. Learn About Scholarship Opportunities

Touring private schools not only allows you to get a better idea of what day-to-day life is like at the school, but it also gives you the opportunity to learn more about how the school can help you make private education a reality for your child. For example, some schools can help low-income families afford a private education because they have partnered with Step Up For Students in Clearwater, FL. One of the Step Up For Students scholarships, the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) scholarship, helps low-income families send their children to private schools.

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.

Who Can Benefit from Step Up For Students Scholarships in Florida?

Step Up For Students, the state-approved nonprofit scholarship funding organization, is dedicated to providing students with more opportunities to succeed in education by administering four scholarships: the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship Program (for low-income families), the Gardiner Scholarship (for special needs children), the Hope Scholarship (for victims of bullying), and the Reading Scholarship (for students who struggle with reading).

These scholarships have helped countless students achieve their dreams, but the eligibility requirements for each scholarship are unique. If you are applying for Step Up For Students in Clearwater, FL, read this article to learn about some of the students who have benefitted from this gracious, state-approved program in the past.

The FTC Scholarship Program: Changing the Lives of Adopted Siblings

The FTC Scholarship provides funding for low-income families who require financial assistance to enroll their children in a private school. With over 680,000 FTC Scholarships awarded to children grades kindergarten through 12th since 2002, this Step Up for Students Scholarship has made an indelible impression on Florida’s private school system.

In the case of three adopted siblings from Florida — Diego, Alyssa, and Bianca — the FTC Scholarship helped lead them from the darkest time in their young lives to a brighter, happier tomorrow. With a father who was always gone and a mother who was addicted to drugs, the three children struggled to survive until they were adopted by foster mom, Patricia Sobel. Sobel applied for the FTC Scholarship to help send the adopted children to a private school. Today, the children are happy to be in school learning about the world and making new friends.

The Gardiner Scholarship: Helping Students with Special Needs Attain the Real High School Experience

Parents who have children with unique abilities or special needs can apply for the Gardiner Scholarship. This scholarship allows parents to provide their children with individualized educational plans designed to better serve their needs.

Take, for example, the story of Nicolas Ratliff-Batista, a senior at Monsignor Pace High School in Miami Gardens. Nicholas was diagnosed with high-functioning autism when he was only 3 years old. Although Nicolas deftly traversed elementary school and middle school, thanks in part to the familiarity of the setting, classmates, teachers, and administrators, his mother feared that high school would prove to be a much greater challenge.

The Gardiner Scholarship allowed Nicolas to find a school where he was primed for success, learning in small classroom settings with an average teacher-to-student ratio of 1:14. After graduating, he will pursue a degree in environmental science at Broward College.

If you would like to learn more about Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, like Lakeside Christian School, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.

Private Middle School in Clearwater FL

If you are looking for the ideal private middle school in Clearwater, FL, that upholds strong moral principles alongside its academic standards, look no further than Lakeside Christian School. Our caring and close-knit community provides all the resources your middle schooler needs to succeed. We are committed to academic excellence, fellowship, and helping our students reach their fullest potential.

Our Learning Community

At Lakeside Christian School, we provide small classrooms, accelerated curriculums, and brand-new learning technologies to facilitate each and every student’s academic growth. Middle school is such a critical time in a student’s development. As your child transitions out of their carefree elementary school mindset and approaches their teen years, it is especially important for them to be in an emotionally, mentally, and physically safe environment.

LCS employes a strict No Bullying policy and encourages students to be the best version of themselves every day. In order for children to excel academically, they must feel comfortable in their learning environment. We strive daily for our school to feel like a “home away from home” and a place of limitless opportunity.

College Preparatory Academics

Preparing your child for college begins at an early age. We believe in helping each student maximize his or her potential beginning in kindergarten. By the time they are in middle school, students tend to start forming more serious plans about their future. At LCS, we help ensure these dreams can be realized.

Our accelerated academics prepare middle schoolers for the realities of high school, which in turn prepares them for college. We believe challenging and encouraging students during this pivotal time keeps them focused on what they can achieve. Since 1975, we have been an esteemed private middle school in Clearwater, FL, widely recognized for our effective college preparatory program, first-rate academics, and caring community. We are proud to say that our high school has a 100% graduation rate and that we have sent countless students off to the college of their dreams.

Looking at Private Middle Schools in Clearwater, FL?

If you’re searching for private middle schools in Clearwater, FL, we invite you to take a look at LCS in action! We provide 1-on-1 tours, so parents can truly envision what their student’s day-to-day life would be like in our fun, challenging, and compassionate learning environment.

Worried about the cost of a private school education? Don’t be! We are a Step Up For Students participating school, so your child could receive a scholarship. Check out the Step Up website for details. For more information on Lakeside Christian School or to schedule a tour, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or fill out this form.

SAQs (Should-Ask Questions)

Certainly you’re familiar with the term “FAQs” (Frequently Asked Questions), but have you heard of SAQs? SAQs are “Should-Ask Questions.” What questions should you ask when searching for the perfect school for your child? Try these:

“How can you make this education affordable for me?” Instead of asking how much it costs and writing off a high-ticket education, ask instead how it can be made affordable. Some schools are free… and you get what you pay for. Some educations cost as much as a new car, and they expect you to pay every penny. But some schools, like ours, provide an excellent education that, while expensive, works with every single budget to make it affordable for anyone.
“Are your graduates prepared for college and career?” Don’t merely ask about graduation rates and GPAs. Those are deceptive. Rather, find out if graduates are prepared for life after high school. At LCS, we don’t try to make ourselves look good by handing out as many A grades as possible. Instead, we teach our students what is needed to succeed beyond high school.
“Can you help my child catch up or move ahead?” If your child is in elementary school, you’ll want to know how to either bring your child to grade level or how to help them excel farther. We have documented proof that we have been able to close academic gaps for students who come to us already behind, and many of those who are on grade level are propelling ahead!
“How invested is your staff?” It’s likely that at any school, the teachers will have experience and talent, as ours do. But beyond that, you’ll want to know if the staff is invested in their jobs and if they truly care for their students. Most of our staff attend our church and serve in some way, like AWANA or youth group. This means they choose to not only teach their students throughout the weekdays, but also choose to spend additional time with them some nights, teaching them even more important spiritual truths. Our staff cares not just about each student’s education, but more importantly, their soul.
“Will my child be safe?” There’s no way to guarantee with 100% certainty the safety of anyone. But you’ll want to know if your child will be both physically and emotionally safe, to the best of the school’s ability. At LCS, we do not tolerate bullying, either in school or online between our students. Teachers strive to stay aware of social interactions and the climate of their classrooms in order to keep their students safe.

These five questions will give you a good indication of a school’s heart, and whether or not they’d be a good fit for your child. We encourage you to schedule a personal tour with Lakeside Christian School today and ask these very questions!

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Stuck Like Glue

Parents are happy with what we are doing at Lakeside Christian School.

How do we know this? We have an over 90% retention rate. Perhaps it’s purely academic: we are closing learning gaps among our elementary students. This means we are bringing most of those who were behind, up to and above grade level. Or it’s our desire to prepare all students for college and career, starting LONG before high school begins. Maybe it’s the fact that we teach each class and every subject from a biblical worldview. Or it could be the environment- safe and secure, with loving staff and a family feel. It could be any number of things, like our athletics or drama program, for example. But we believe it’s most likely the unique combination of all these things that makes Lakeside Christian School such a special place.

Schedule a tour today to find out what’s different about Lakeside Christian School, and why our families don’t just attend; they stick around.

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New Intro Page

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Challenging Students to Achieve Their Academic, Social and Career-Minded Goals. Click Below to Learn More

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Elementary School

Accelerated Learning Division

Our elementary department includes our master, accelerated, and robust learning programs. These programs prepare students for higher education in middle school.

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Middle School

Rigorous Academic Division

Our middles school grades provides high school preparation programs, which includes algebra preparation, study skills, and writing preparation for high school and college.

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High School

College Prep Division

Our college preparation program is included in our high school grades. We provide core academic preparation, daily tutoring & homework assistance, and small class sizes.

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