Lake Eola Charter School has paired stellar academics with the understanding that nurturing the whole child is what creates future success.

Since opening its doors more than 25 years ago, Lake Eola Charter School has proven itself to be the best of school choice in Orange County—and beyond.

“We’re not a brand-new school. We’re one of the longest-open schools in Central Florida for charters. We have a great history and background, and that’s something we’re really proud of,” Joey Parrish, school director, says.

The Lake Eola Charter School (LECS) mission statement stresses family-like learning and fostering creativity, critical thinking and curiosity in its students. It speaks of dynamic instructors and low student-teacher ratios, which enable individualized learning and help to prepare students not just academically, but socially and emotionally as well.

“It’s that family-like learning center that truly empowers student excitement and engagement,” Parrish says. “Our kids love getting up and coming to school.”

When Parrish says “our kids,” he’s not only speaking from the perspective of school director. His own seventh-grader attends LECS, as do the children of nine other staff members. They see firsthand their kids’ excitement for school.

“We’re invested not only as educators but also as parents,” Parrish says.

Teachers Making a Difference

Although this is only Talya Frost’s second year at LECS as a middle school math teacher, she has already developed a strong rapport with her students. This is because she understands the importance of reaching students on a one-on-one basis. She not only meets learners where they’re at but also includes them in the learning process.

“It’s not just looking at the data. It’s sitting down and saying, ‘What do you think is best for you?’ Each student is different; having that student input, that one specific piece, clarifies things,” Frost explains. “And it makes them feel like their teacher cares.”

LECS teachers make themselves available to students who ask for extra help during lunch or after school. They offer summer boot camps, tutoring and extra learning sessions. They simply want their students to succeed.

“This is so important for our kids who have gaps, especially if they’re coming from a traditional school schedule,” Parrish says. “When we get those kids, we take time to get to know them. We offer so many opportunities to fill those gaps so they can be successful.”

Academics Paired with Social and Emotional Learning

Students at LECS are receiving top education when it comes to academics. Cluster configurations beyond third grade—when fourth and fifth graders learn together and sixth through eighth graders are also in the same classroom—has proven to help student success.

“We go out of our way to blur the lines,” Frost says. “Compared to traditional schools, instead of being in your own bubbles, kids get mixed up and really get a chance to know everybody across the campus.”

The school’s curriculum earned an “A” from the Governor’s Recognition Program, too. But it’s not all about book smarts.

Reaching children in every way, which includes social and emotional learning, is the goal at LECS. And as a charter school, “we have that time and space to slow down and incorporate those lessons,” Frost explains.

Small student-teacher ratios help with this mission, although the small class sizes are also why teaching social skills is so important.

“We only have 80 students in the middle school. If 10 of those students can’t interact with each other, that’s going to become an issue,” Parrish says. “It’s our job to help every kid become successful as a person, not just as an academic student. When kids know how to act in school they know how to learn in school as well.”

Beyond the Classroom

In addition to its academic curriculum, LECS offers clubs and activities that traditional charter schools don’t often have. There are sports programs (the school won districts for basketball last year) and performance opportunities, such as when the school sang the national anthem at an Orlando Magic game.

Volunteerism is stressed, and the students take part in community service and outreach projects around Downtown Orlando. Students’ families are also involved, with parents required to do a minimum number of volunteer hours with the school, too.

From a teacher’s perspective, Frost says the school’s Wednesday morning meetings, which bring the entire school together for an hour to start the day, is a great way to support the closeness of students and staff.

“Having that time just sit together as one group, see everybody in the room and feeling that love and energy in the room, that’s a really big thing,” Frost says.

Joining the LECS Family

LECS enrolls to capacity each year, which means there is typically a fairly long wait list for students who want to join the school. Currently, however, there are a handful of spots open in the third through eighth grades.

Parrish encourages anyone interested to reach out.

“We would love to be full,” he says. “We think that we have something really special to offer our community, and we’re looking for future family members to join us.”

Lake Eola Charter School
Orlando
(407) 246-0900
LECS.org