Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

  • Currently we offer 3 different studios (classrooms) ages 5-14.

  • While we expose children to the importance of mindful spirituality and stress the historical importance of christianity to the development of western civilization, we do not promote any one religion.

  • No - LAKE Academy parents will be responsible for transportation for their children.

  • No - LAKE Academy parents will be responsible for packing snacks and lunch for their children.

  • At this time, we are not trained to serve children with serious disabilities, but have been able to serve young heroes with dyslexia if they receive special training. We believe that many minor learning disabilities or conditions are commonly misdiagnosed.

  • No - LAKE Academy does not currently have an after school program. This is something we are currently exploring along with adventure camps on breaks and look forward to implementing in the future.

  • There is no specific answer to class sizes as the age groups blend throughout the day at LAKE Academy.  Age groups also change and flex each year with enrollment numbers.  On average we have 5 students per "class" and our student to teacher ratio is currently 5:1.  Our campus is approved for up to 50 students ages 5-18, so our expansion plans will continue to grow and support for up to 50 students.

  • Visit our Calendar page for daily hours, session schedule, and annual calendar. New students may join at the beginning of a session.

  • Refer to our Admissions page for current tuition.

Philosophy & Cirriculum

  • We guide children to discover their purpose and grow into confident, empathetic leaders through personalized learning and a vibrant, supportive community.

  • We believe in Freedom in all of its forms.  Economic, political and religious.

    We believe Health is a top priority. Healthy minds - Healthy bodies - Healthy spirits  


    We believe in Family & Community. Independent & strong children thrive from a solid foundation and a powerful support system. 

    We believe in the Development of Self.  The best investment one can make is an investment into themselves.  


    We believe that each person has a Purpose in this life. We provide a safe environment where children are given time and space to explore and discover their purpose. 

  • Our Sparks Guide Jerzie Colter has a Montessori Early Childhood 3-6 Certification and we respect and incorporate a lot of Maria Montessori’s philosophies but, we are not a Montessori school.   We also use the latest interactive technologies, hands-on projects and real life success skills to help our children thrive.

  • We believe that children learn best when working with children younger and older than themselves rather than split up into groups based solely on age. In addition to individualized curriculum, all ages of students work together in groups.

Definitions

  • LAKE stands for Leadership, Adventure, Knowledge, Empowerment.

    The acronym represents key aspects of our academy, emphasizing the development of leadership skills, the never ending pursuit of adventure, the acquisition of knowledge, and the empowerment of children to become effective leaders.

  • At LAKE Academy, you won’t find traditional classrooms with children sitting in rows of desks. Instead you’ll find children of multiple age groups working together in studios (think art studio!) creating, learning, teaching and growing together in a relaxed and stress free environment. LAKE Academy offers multiple studios including our Sparks Studio (ages 5-7), Elementary Studio (ages 8-11) and Middle School Co-op (ages 12-14).

  • Someone who can research questions, follow instructions, solve problems—admit that they don't know something and figure out a solution when they hit a road block without asking an adult for help- participate in discussions, and strive for mastery.

  • Running buddies are classmates who meet together regularly to set goals and hold each other accountable for meeting those goals. Running buddies encourage and inspire each other by asking good questions, listening and providing affirmation.

  • We believe each of our students will find a passion —something they love and have a gift to do. They will use this gift to serve others and fulfill a need they are passionate about in the world. This may be by becoming a shoe-shiner who tells stories and makes people's day just by doing his job with love and vigor; it may be by becoming a coach who sees the light in a child’s eyes and guides her to pursue a dream; it may be by becoming a father or mother who leads a family on a hero's journey; it may be becoming an entrepreneur or business leader guided by compassion and integrity; or it may be by becoming an artist or writer who brings beauty to people's lives.

  • A Guide at LAKE Academy serves more as a facilitator or a mentor, helping students explore their interests and passions rather than dictating what they should learn and dominating the process. Our guides are more collaborative than authoritative as they focus on encouraging self-directed learning, nurturing personal growth, independence, and self-discovery.  They reflect LAKE Academy's core values of freedom, health, community, and purpose-driven education.