2/22/2022

Lake Center Christian is a Dually-Accredited K-12, Private School

LCCS is ‘adhering to high-quality Christian education standards’

By: Emily Chesnic, Campus Communications & Volunteer Coordinator

HARTVILLE – Lake Center Christian School’s (LCCS) K-12th grade has been granted accreditation by the Association of Christian Schools (ACSI) and Cognia, following a recent internal and external assessment.

LCCS, now in its 75th year, has a mission to “assist Christian families and their churches in equipping students for lifelong learning and service to Christ,” and is one of more than 5,000 schools in the United States supported by ACSI.

According to its website, ACSI strives to “strengthen Christian schools and equip Christian educators worldwide as they prepare students academically and inspire them to become devoted followers of Jesus.” 

Superintendent, Dr. Joseph Beeson, said LCCS teachers are certified through ACSI in addition to being licensed by the state of Ohio, ensuring not only a deep understanding of the Bible but a fruitful application of The Word in their lives. 

ACSI offers joint accreditation through its partnership with other U.S. regional accreditation agencies, including Cognia, an organization assisting educational providers with meeting goals to better learner outcomes. Cognia accredits schools through the U.S. and internationally.

Lake Center Christian School’s dual accreditation, now in place for another five-year term, is an “assurance of a quality program,” LCCS Director of Curriculum and Instruction Gretchen Shaffer said. 

The accreditation review process is a “best practice exercise for Lake Center, as the school is committed to continued spiritual and educational excellence,” she added. 

LCCS’s accreditation process began with a self-study, during which input from stakeholders, including groups of students, parents, board members, and teachers, was collected, said Dr. Beeson. During the self study, areas of both strength and growth potential were identified, he said.

In the fall, an independent review team consisting of members from five other schools visited LCCS, conducting its own analysis to assess how the school is performing in foundational areas of Christian education and living out its mission. 

The LCCS community and review team also examined how the school is meeting its core values: “academic excellence, Biblical worldview, Christian character, diversity, and service to Christ,”  Dr. Beeson said.

Shaffer said renewal of ACSI accreditation, which has been in place since 2002, shows current and prospective families LCCS is adhering to high-quality Christian education standards and professional practices. 

Parents can be assured, through the school’s dual-accreditation, LCCS is providing a safe and enriching learning environment in which students are thriving academically and spiritually, said Dr. Beeson.

According to ACSI, each step in the accreditation process is a useful tool for driving improvement. Areas of growth identified through the accreditation process have become a part of LCCS’s school improvement plan, Shaffer said.

To learn more about Lake Center Christian School and to schedule a campus tour or shadow day, contact LCCS Director of Admissions, Jackie Gilin, at (330) 877-2048 or [email protected]. You can also learn more at www.lccs.com/visit.