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History

History

Since its establishment in 1954, Lakeland Christian School has experienced God's continuous blessings as it has expanded into Polk County's oldest, largest and most comprehensive non-public school.

Lakeland Christian School began as a dream of one local schoolteacher—Evelyn Wheeler—and a small group of area families who recognized the need for Christian education in Lakeland, Florida. On July 21, 1954, this group established Lakeland Christian Grammar School.

 

What began with 19 students and two teachers in three small Sunday school classrooms has slowly evolved to a vibrant school community of approximately 1,000 students, a faculty of nearly 70 teachers, and a 25-acre, ever-expanding campus.

The vision of the school founders—to provide a Christian education, to impact the lives of our students and their families and to be a positive influence in our community—has remained the same for more than half a century.

Lakeland Christian School Historical Timeline
1950s - A School is Founded
July 21, 1954 - Lakeland Christian Grammar School opens for students in grades Kindergarten through Sixth Grade
1955 - LCS purchases a house on 735 Chiles Street, in downtown Lakeland, where school was located until 1962.

1960s - Current Property Purchased; School Begins on Forest Park Street
1960 - The Viking is chosen as the school mascot, and blue and white are chosen as the official school colors.
May 1961 - The current property is purchased for $10,000.
March 6, 1962 - Construction begins for six classrooms, an office, and a cafeteria to serve Lakeland Christian School, which now includes Kindergarten through Ninth Grade students.
September 1962 - With 110 students, Lakeland Christian School begins its first day of school at 1111 Forest Park Street.
September 1963 - The Board of Directors begins to meet regularly for the purpose of praying for the administration, faculty, staff, students and parents of LCS.

1970s - Campus Begins to Expand; First Commencement is Held
1970-71 - Campus expansion projects include a kindergarten building and two classroom wings.
1972 - Six more classrooms are added. Groundbreaking is held for a new gymnasium. The LCS piano program begins.
June 1973 - Ten graduates participate in the first-ever LCS commencement.
1974 - Lakeland Christian School becomes a member of the Florida High School Activities Association (FHSAA).
1976 - Derek Keenan becomes the principal and enrollment expands to 596 students. Construction begins on the cafeteria. The soccer and band programs begin.
1978-1979 - Spirit Week and Homecoming begin. The Special Programs department is founded, the science wing is built and the Viking soccer team wins the school's first-ever state championship under the leadership of first-year head coach Dean Johnson.

1980s - Construction Continues; LCS Runners Dominate State
1982 - Enrollment grows to 700 students. The first Work-A-Thon is held to raise funds for school projects and to serve the community.
1983 - The girls' cross-country team, under Coach Mike Musick, wins their first-ever state championship title.
1984 - The Walter E. Sligh Memorial Center is added to the front of the gym, which provides additional classroom space, band facilities and concession stands. The girls' cross country team repeats at state champion.
1985 - Coach Mike Musick leads the boys' cross country team to its first state title.
1986 - The boys' track and field team wins its first state title under Coach Musick.
1988 - A new library is dedicated to the memory of Leroy J. and Doris B. Douglass.
1989 - The girls' track and field team wins its first state title under Coach Musick.

1990s - Shaping Young Lives Campaign Begins; Vikings Win Four State Soccer Titles
1990 - The Shaping Young Lives Campaign begins to raise funds for classrooms, a new gym and to relocate the baseball field. The Viking soccer team wins their second state title. The girls' cross country team and track and field team earn state titles.
1992 - After winning the state titles in 1991, the girls' cross country team earns their third consecutive state title while the girls' track and field team earns its fourth consecutive championship.
1993 - The Ray and Florence Snyder building is completed, providing secondary classroom space. The girls' track and field team earns its fifth consecutive state championship.
1994 - LCS adds a secondary computer lab. The Viking soccer team wins the state title for the third time. The girls' track and field team wins a sixth consecutive state title under Coach Musick.
1997 - An elementary computer lab is added. After winning their fourth soccer title in 1996, the Vikings earn their fifth championship title. Dr. Mike Sligh becomes headmaster of Lakeland Christian School.
August 1998 - Enrollment reaches 870 students. Groundbreaking ceremonies are held for the new gym/band complex.
1999 - Blanton Center construction is completed, providing the school with one of the premier athletic facilities in Polk County.

2000s - Campus Renovation Gets Underway; Record Enrollment Continues
2001 - Renovations begin on the Sligh Center. The former gymnasium facility is renovated to include a cafeteria/auditorium, piano studios, choral music room, gallery, and conference room. LCS students top local, state, and national averages on SAT and ACT scores. The high school band earns straight superiors at the Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA) District Festival. The junior high and senior high choirs received straight superiors at the Florida Vocal Association (FVA) District Festival.
2002 - Sligh Center renovations are completed. Viking soccer team earns their sixth state championship title. The Viking Fund annual giving program is instituted to help provide financial aid, facility/program enhancements and faculty benefits. For the second consecutive year, the high school band earns straight superiors at the FBA District Solo and Ensemble Festival.
2003 - Piano department enrolls a record number of students, with 256 students participating in grades K-12.
December 2, 2003 - Lakeland Christian School celebrates its 50th anniversary. Chuck Colson serves as keynote speaker at the anniversary banquet, appropriately themed "Celebrating the Heritage & Sharing the Vision."
2004 - The LCS Concert Choir earned an excellent rating at the FVA State Music Performance Assessment.
2005 - Secondary bands win highest honor at FBA District Festival. Football debuts at Lakeland Christian School with an 18-0 victory over Ocala Christian School. LCS students continue to score above local, state, and national averages on standardized tests.
Winter/Spring 2006 - Lakeland Christian School holds its 25th annual Work-A-Thon and raises more than $42,000 for the school. Boys' soccer team earns second place in State tournament. Both junior high and senior high bands receive straight superiors at FBA District Assessment.
Fall 2006 - Enrollment soars to 1,000 for the 2006-2007 school year. Lakeland Christian School kicks off "Embrace the Vision, Deliver the Dream," a $27 million+ massive expansion campaign to build a new elementary/middle school complex and a science and technology center.

Winter/Spring 2007 - Construction begins as land is cleared for expanded parking and the new Viking Stadium. Construction on the new maintenance building is completed, and the old maintenance facility is torn down to make room for the new school entrance and covered dropoff.

Summer 2007 - Lakeland Christian School undergoes massive construction as it prepares for the new school year.  Expanded parking and the new main entrance are finished in time for the first day of school, and the new Viking Stadium is completed in time for the beginning of football season. Site work continues for the new elementary and middle school building.