Lakeland Christian School Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF LAKELAND CHRISTIAN SCHOOL IS TO EDUCATE STUDENTS IN THE LIGHT OF GOD'S WORD TO EQUIP THEM FOR A LIFETIME OF LEARNING, LEADERSHIP, SERVICE AND WORSHIP.
- Income
- $25.7 million
- Spending
- $23.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 6.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 82%
- Employees
- 362
- Volunteers
- 500
- Highest pay
- $241,504, head of school
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $19.2 million spent. LAKELAND CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (LCS) IS ONE OF THE NATION'S PREMIER PRIVATE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS. THE INSTITUTION WAS FOUNDED IN 1954 AND HAS OVER 1,150 STUDENTS, MAKING IT ONE OF THE OLDEST AND LARGEST NON-PUBLIC K2-12TH GRADE SCHOOLS IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA. HALLMARKS OF LCS INCLUDE CHALLENGING ACADEMICS, CHAMPIONSHIP ATHLETICS, AND AWARD-WINNING FINE ARTS. THE SCHOOL'S PRIMARY DISTINCTIVE, THOUGH, IS THE BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW THAT PERMEATES EVERY FACET OF SCHOOL LIFE. LCS IS NON-DENOMINATIONAL, AND SCHOOL FAMILIES REPRESENT MORE THAN 160 LOCAL CHURCHES. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OLCS IS GOVERNED BY A 14-MEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND IS ACCREDITED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS INTERNATIONAL (ACSI), THE FLORIDA COUNCIL OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS (FCIS), AND COGNIA.ALL FACULTY MEMBERS MAINTAIN PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION IN THEIR FIELDS. THE STUDENT-TO-FACULTY RATIO IS 13.5:1. 54% OF THE FACULTY HOLD MASTER'S DEGREES AND 43% HAVE TAUGHT AT LCS FOR 10 YEARS OR MORE. THE TEST SCORES OF LCS STUDENTS CONSISTENTLY EXCEED LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL AVERAGES. LCS OFFERS 16 ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES, 26 HONORS COURSES, AND 16 DUAL ENROLLMENT CLASSES AND 94% OF ITS GRADUATES PURSUE COLLEGE.THE SCHOOL PROVIDES 42 ATHLETIC TEAMS IN 20 SPORTS, FOR GRADES SIX THROUGH TWELVE. LCS HAS WON 28 STATE TITLES AND HAS CAPTURED 26 RUNNER-UP AWARDS. 70% OF SECONDARY STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN ATHLETICS. THE OUTSTANDING FINE ARTS PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES NEARLY 500 STUDENTS. THE SCHOOL PRODUCES A MAJOR MUSICAL EACH YEAR, INCLUDING STUDENTS FROM ACROSS GRADE LEVELS. LCS ALSO PROVIDES PRIVATE PIANO LESSONS FOR MORE THAN 150 STUDENTS. THE BAND AND CHOIR PROGRAMS CONSISTENTLY GARNER STATEWIDE HONORS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
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