Schools
Lakeland R-III School District
Mission Statement
The Lakeland R-III School District will prepare and empower students to become contributing members of a democratic society with high moral standards and who take responsibility for their own actions.
Vision Statement
The Lakeland R-III School District is known for its unified commitment to its students. An enthusiastic faculty implements a diverse, authentic curriculum utilizing the latest technology and innovative instructional strategies to prepare students for the world of work or post-graduate education. Experiencing a very low student/teacher ration, the faculty provides an exciting school environment, which is designed to be interactive with the surrounding community and the world.
The Lakeland community is extremely involved with the school district. The community shares a common purpose, pride and commitment to provide all learners a broad range of experiences and opportunities for excellence. Parents and other community partners are involved in helping students, pre-school through 12, through daily, meaningful interaction in the classroom and in community settings.
Lakeland students are enthusiastic and successful, possessing a strong sense of self-worth and accomplishment. They are highly sought after by employers and higher education institutions and all students leave with the skills necessary to succeed in a democratic society. Lakeland experiences a high graduation rate, and students are regarded by all as hard working, responsible, and having high moral values.
Recognizing that the physical environment can dramatically impact success, the Lakeland schools are safe, technologically rich, and appealing for students, teachers, parents, and the participating community. Buildings are clean, colorful, and well supplied with the latest equipment to support the efforts of all and to have a positive impact on the success of Lakeland students. The Lakeland R-III schools are a wonderful place to learn.
The Lakeland Board of Education Commitment Statement
Reaffirmation of Faith: Believing in America’s democratic processes, we, the members of the Board of Education, having been elected by the citizens of this community, hereby reaffirm our faith in the Lakeland R-III School System.
Educational Opportunities: Seeking to serve the best interests of all students at Lakeland, we declare publicly our aim to provide the highest educational opportunities for each and every one of our young people to the end that they may find challenge, inspiration, and success limited only by their own potential and ambition.
Best Teachers Available: In providing these opportunities, we shall continue our endeavor to discover, attract, and hold the best teaching talent available. To be successful in this quest, we shall offer professional salaries and other opportunities and benefits comparable to those available in school systems similar to ours.
Program of Quality: Respecting the administrators selected to supervise and direct the program of education, we shall encourage them by every honorable means to maintain an educational program of quality.
The Key Figure: Realizing that the key professional figure in all education is the classroom teacher, we shall exercise the power and authority vested in us to insure their freedom to teach under truly professional conditions.
Parents Invited: Understanding the concern and interest of parents whose children are in this district, we shall invite them and all other interested citizens to attend board meetings, visit the school, participate in appropriate activities and confer with teachers and school officials.
Recognizing our legal and moral obligations to the community, we shall strive most diligently to manage the schools in a sound and economical manner, to avoid unnecessary expense, to shun extravagance and wherever desirable to call on citizens to sit in on such deliberations in advance of decisions.
Grace Christian Academy
"A Small Town School with a Servant's Heart"
Training Christian youth in the highest principles of Christian leadership, self-discipline, individual responsibility, personal integrity and good citizenship. Our school stands without apology for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His standards for Christian behavior.
Grace Christian Academy is located in an historic church building in the heart of Lowry City, in west central Missouri.
Founded in 2020, our school is utilizing the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum (known as A.C.E.) with an emphasis on living a Christian life. We encourage our students, ages 10-12 to attend and participate in the A.C.E. Junior Convention; and ages 13 and above, to annually attend and participate in an A.C.E. Regional and International Student Convention.
For an optimum learning environment, we adhere to recommendations from A.C.E. curriculum, which is intentionally implemented in a unique individualized manner. After students have been diagnosed and placed in the curriculum at their performance levels, they are assigned study carrels located around the perimeter of a classroom called a Learning Center. These study carrels form an integral part of the A.C.E. experience and are referred to as student “offices.”
The individual offices minimize distractions and permit students to focus on their academics. To provide maximum privacy, safety, and effectiveness, a student office is accommodating in size, has adequate lighting, and is decorated with items that point their minds consciously and subconsciously toward Biblical values.
Lowry City’s Reputation for Christian Education
In 1982, people within our community saw the need for Christian education and thus Lowry City Christian School (LCCS) was born. Prior to the school’s closing, Lowry City Church of God Holiness played host to the highly regarded program. Many people sacrificed greatly in order to advance the school over the years. As a result students excelled in character, academics and post graduate achievements.
Grace Christian Academy expresses sincere gratitude to every person who was part of LCCS and the Church of God Holiness. Our goal is to continue the legacy established by their commitment and dedication. GCA would not be here today, but for the Board of Directors at the Church of God Holiness who helped in the establishment of GCA and blessed our new program with school furniture, supplies and prayers for continued success.
Open Hearts & Open Doors
Over the years, many people walked through the doors of the Lowry City United Methodist Church. Once upon a time, this vibrant little church with a heart for their community served over 400 in their small, basement fellowship hall at their annual fundraiser.
When LCCS decided to close the school, it was during that time, that God inspired the opening of a new school. With virtually no resources, the Lord would have to make a way. And boy, did He! After a meeting with the Pastor of LCUMC, the congregation voted unanimously that the school could use the Sunday school rooms, as well as the basement. We had a home for our school!
When the church decided to officially close December 31, 2020, we faced a daunting challenge. We were about to lose our brand new school.
BUT GOD.
Nothing is possible without Him and we cannot do anything apart from Him. He called the unqualified. He provided and protected in miraculous ways. Nothing is a coincidence when it comes to the things of God and what He has ordained.
The Regional Methodist Council called right before Thanksgiving to let us know that if the school was interested in the property, we would have to make an offer of at least $25,000 to purchase it. Since we did not have our 501C3 yet, they could not gift it to us. God whispered, “Watch the impossible, become possible.”
The late Mr. Don Rice, who served the church faithfully, insisted that I do not ever offer more than $10,000 for the parsonage. Even that amount would be impossible, and we were running out of time. But, God always shows up, often at the last moment.
Having learned about the school’s situation over an unplanned, but Holy Spirit prompted lunch with a friend, Ed Micham, we were just hoping for someone else to be praying for us. And then, he said, “I will buy it for the school. No matter how much they want, I will get it.”
How good is God? The Council accepted an offer of $10,000 for the church with contents, the parsonage and the field behind the church. How good is God?!
Thankfully, we were able to get the good news to Mr. Don the night before he passed into Heaven and assure him that his advice had been followed and the Lord had provided.
We are eternally thankful for Ed & Juana Micham at Grace Christian Academy.
As for the Lowry City United Methodist Church members, we are very thankful for every sacrifice they made over all those years for the Kingdom of God. They surely had no idea that 50 years later, a Christian school would call this building home.
Locations
Lakeland R-3 School District
12530 Lakeland School Dr
Deepwater, MO 64740
(417) 644-2223
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Grace Christian Academy
102 E 1st St
Lowry City, MO 64763
417-406-0097
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