Lake Center Christian School

Our History

Leaders of five Amish and Mennonite churches participated in 1947 to construct the first set of buildings and organize the program of Lake Center Christian School, which opened its doors in September 1947. During the first year sixty patron families enrolled 181 students in Grades 1 through 10. Grades 9 and 10 were discontinued in 1959.

The school was located on three acres of land on what is now Woodmont Street. The Amish built two one-room schoolhouses in 1949 and in 1952. The formation of Hartville Christian School in 1956 reduced the LCCS student body to 1/2 its size.

The original structures were two cinder block classroom buildings, which were listed as temporary buildings on the permit obtained from Columbus. In 1965 the cinder block buildings were razed and a new building erected.

With a new building and a new administration committed to growth, LCCS began a gradual increase in size throughout the 1960s. Kindergarten was introduced. One attempt was made in 1983-84 to revive the high school, but it was discontinued after the one year. The composition of the student body included more and more “other than Mennonite” students after 1965. In 1947 the student body was composed entirely of students from Amish and Mennonite families. Currently about 13% of the student population is from Mennonite Churches.  Over 100 other congregations are represented in the LCCS student population.

The year 1977 witnessed the structural change from an association to that of a corporation as it now exists. The present constitution was adopted in that year, but has been revised several times.

Another adjustment was that of financing construction costs. Bank loans were obtained for construction of both the 1947 buildings and the one constructed in 1965. The loan repayments from the tuition income placed a heavy burden on the operating budget. All the buildings on Kaufman campus have been constructed under a pay-as-you-go policy.  August 22, 2005 the new high school addition was dedicated.

One characteristic of the school has been volunteerism. Most of the masonry and carpentry labor needed on the buildings was donated. Parents and others have given sacrificially to the school in the operation of the program and in providing the support.

Lake Center was granted a charter by the State of Ohio in 1972. Its academic and spiritual programs have been strengthened since that time. The school is a chartered member of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and a member of the Mennonite Elementary Education Council (MEEC).