BUILDING ON OUR SUCCESS

A N N U A L R E P O R TLake Wales Charter Schools, Inc.

F i n a n c i a l R e p o r t

130 centr al avenue Ea st • P.O . Box 3309 • L ake Wales , FL 33853

863.679.6560 • lwcharterschools.com

2017 donor honor roll

CHANGE IN NET POSITION $1,281,608 $83,707 Net position at beginning of year 6,212,993 7,494,601 Change in net position 1,281,608 83,707 Net Position at end of year1 7,494,601 7,578,308

1The June 30, 2017 net position at the end of the year is prior to the accounting standards and reporting requirement posting the school system’s valuation share of the net pension liability in the Florida Retirement System during 2017.

The Lake Wales Charter Schools Foundation Inc. is a 501(c)(3) direct-support organization whose purpose is to provide financial support for the Lake Wales Charter Schools. The community volunteers who help guide the Foundation include:

Chair Keith Wadsworth, Vice Chair James Tully, Secretary Dr. Jesse Jackson, Treasurer Brian Fisher, Matthew Cain, Pat Cain, Carol Collins, Cassandra Denmark, Doug Elmore, Ruth Freeman, Robin Gibson, Brenna Hodach, Henry McCance, Tom McCance, Dr. Thomas McKeon Jr., Jerry Miller, Violeta Salud, Kyle Story, Lawrence Updike.

Thank you to every individual, organization, business and foundation that contributed to our success. Because of their generosity, we have raised nearly $1,019,000 in 2017. We also had volunteers in every school who donated countless hours of service and time. (This list reflects

Foundation gifts received between July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017. We regret any omissions or errors.)

VALEDICTORIAN ($50,000 or more)AnonymousHenry & Allison McCance

SALUTATORIAN ($20,000-$49,999)Myers Grove Inc.George Wood

SUMMA CUM LAUDE($10,000-$19,999)AnonymousChrist’s Church on the MoveRebekah “Becky” Johnson

DEAN'S LIST ($5,000-$9,999)Mr. & Mrs. Bracewell C&T Groves Matt & Heather CainPat & Nancy CainFirst Baptist ChurchJahna Foundation Inc.John & Martha Carter

Foundation Ed & Renee LassiterLoyce LilyLowe’s of Lake Wales Polk Education FoundationRuth V. Machione Foundation SLA Management

HONORS($1,000-$4,999)Acaletics Mark & Paula Alford AXA Foundation Robert & Lauren BogueBreakfast Rotary Club of Lake

WalesBrown & Brown InsuranceCapernaum MinistriesCenter State Bank Cleaning Management

Solutions Rossella Contiero Dawn’s Flower Patch

Kirk Dodge Mr. & Mrs. Frank Driskol Duke Energy Donna DunsonEcotek Lab Edward Jones Investments John & Mari FazziniFlorida’s Natural Growers Dr. Max Forni Dr. Christopher ForseeRuth Freeman Robin & Jean GibsonGiveWell Community

Foundation Greater St. Thomas Holiness

ChurchHis Way Creations Mr. & Mrs. Tim Houston Roger Ingley Dr. Jesse Jackson Bill & Shelli JacobsJohn Winthrop Charitable Trust Lake Ashton Blankets of Love Lake Wales Quilters Lamb of God Lutheran Church Leonard’s PhotographyLexi Wharem Greenprint

PhotographyMarilyn P. Rinker FundMarion Nelson Funeral Home McKeon Chiropractic ClinicDr. Damien Moses John Oster Maureen Oster Michele Ouellette Peterson & Myers PAPolk State College Cheryl Rigel Violeta Salud School Glow Software, LLCSouth Lake Wales Church of

God State Farm – Kevin Weltlin Kathryn Stone The Benevity Community The Story Companies James & Amy TullyAnn Marie Tyler

United Healthcare Kevin & Christina Updike Lawrence Updike Samuel Updike Walmart Stores Inc. James & Kay Weaver

SCHOLARS($100-$999)AAUW Lake Wales Branch AD Baynard Plumbing All County Real Estate Services Arnolo Offerman Lighting Jeff & Jennifer Barrow Mary BellHunt & Mary Berryman BKHM PAMr. & Mrs. Reginal BlauveltKevin & Katherine Broderick Business Civic & Ministries

Coalition Curchy Design Central Florida Tree & Land Barrett & Lori Chandley Marie Cherrington-Gray Church of the Good ShepherdCitizens Bank & TrustRichard Columbo Craig Family Mr. & Mrs. Damon Crystal Raymond De Castro Cassandra Denmark Edward Jones Investments Chip & June Elfner Everett Whitehead & Son Inc.Mary Fillingim First Presbyterian Church Brian & Theresa Fisher Floyd Erin Floyd Bruce Floyd Jr.Glenda Fontaine Forestor Financial Garden Grove Animal Hospital

Gary’s Boating Center Grape Hammock Fish Camp Greater Macedonia Ministry Inc.Eddy Hernandez High Point ChurchAlan & Eileen Holden Hughes Corporate Printing Frank Hunt IIIMr. & Mrs. Dave Huston Indoor Comfort Solution J&K Equipment Jaybees Restaurant, LLCDr. Barbara Jones Joan Kunzelman Brystal Michalkiewicz Representative Mike LaRosa Lake Wales Kiwanis FoundationLake Wales Medical Center Lake Wales Veterinary Hospital Max Linton Magic Nail & Spa Hugh Montgomery Gail Morgan Motis Family Neal & Dixie Myers New Divine Church of

God by Faith

Metta & Travis O’Bryant Parlier & Crews ArchitectsPeterson Industrial Machines Pilkington FamilyPolk State College Prime Food Brokers Edward Probert Proclaim Engineering Inc.Rob & Gail QuamChris Reams Barabara Reeves Anuj Saran & Ambica RandevMr. & Mrs. Joseph Sichler James Smith Maeleesa Strong Chip Thullbury Ann Tompkins Elizabeth Tyler June Ullman Carlos Unzueta Julie Unzueta Judi Whitaker Ella Whitehead John & Mary Wight Larry Alan Wilson Kate WoodNelson & Kelly Zenteno

6/30/16 6/30/17 REVENUES Federal sources $5,130,720 $4,922,657 State and local sources 27,487,814 28,615,520 Contributions and other revenue 1,985,882 2,523,751

T O T A L R E V E N U E S 34,604,416 36,061,928

EXPENSES

Instruction 19,173,256 20,832,105

Pupil personnel services 1,038,037 1,077,356

Instructional media 288,915 369,454

Instruction & curriculum development 1,218,484 957,895

Instructional staff training 277,646 230,384

Instructional related technology 280,236 400,396

Board 116,943 263,188

General/school administration 3,223,320 3,648,096

Facilities acquistion and construction 176,149 474,321

Fiscal services 391,049 450,408

Food Services 2,345,592 2,459,958

Central services 224,560 102,932

Pupil transportation 1,702,942 1,835,119

Operation of plant 2,206,611 2,216,341

Maintenance of plant 5,504 2,190

Administrative technology services 23,168 57,599

Community services 476,079 460,327

Debt service 154,317 140,152

T O T A L E X P E N S E S 33,322,808 35,978,221

G O D P U T S R A I N B O W S I N T H E C L O U D S S O T H A T E A C H O F U S — I N T H E D R E A R I E S T

A N D M O S T D R E A D E D M O M E N T S —

C A N S E E A P O S S I B I L I T Y O F H O P E .

Our Vision

One learning community of great schools where all

students flourish.

Our missionTo bring the best of public education to our community by providing innovation and choice within a continuous pre-school through post secondary curriculum so that each child recognizes the benefits of lifelong learning, constructive citizenship and personal happiness.

board of trustees

Jimmy Nelson, Chair Angela Pulido, Vice Chair

David Fisher Danny Gill

Howard Kay William Lockhart

Andy Oguntola Pete Perez

Dr. Jesse Jackson, Superintendent of Schools

Robin Gibson, General Counsel

While reflecting on the abundance of educational successes that our community has experienced since the conversion of local schools to public charter schools, I am mindful of a statement once made by Dr. Maya Angelou. Speaking of hope, Maya Angelou said, “God puts rainbows in the clouds so that each of us — in the dreariest and most dreaded moments — can see a possibility of hope.”

In so many ways, I believe Maya’s statement reflected the inner spirit of an extremely hopeful Lake Wales Charter School Steering committee, consisting of Robin Gibson, Jerome Mack, Laura Hunt, Clint Horne, Bolet Salud, Alex Wheeler, and Marvin Pavy. Because, this committee was principally responsible for the conversion of our local public schools to public charter schools. Their hopeful vision for a better day of public education in Lake Wales continue to inspire the many successes that we are all very proud of and could have never imagined prior to their work.

The public support for Lake Wales Charter School that’s offered by our community, like a rainbow, is a sign of trust and confidence for those of us who work tirelessly to make our system great. We are determined to remain student and community focused while providing the best care possible for the nearly 4,300 students that are enrolled in our school. Behind the scenes, our school leaders are working tirelessly to ensure that all students have access to top quality instructors. Our teachers and administrators are supported professionally with ongoing training and development opportunities, and a continuous effort is made to ensure that our pay and compensation system is competitive with the surrounding markets.

The fact that most of our schools have waiting lists of potential students, reinforces the notion of hopeful expectations by our community. While we are pleased with this, we believe that our greatest priority and measure of success is our students’ academic growth and achievement. To this end, I believe one of the most telling example of our success is the 90% graduation rate of the 2017 Lake Wales High School graduating class. You see, it is this class that was the inaugural group of kindergarten students after the conversion of Lakes Wales schools to charter schools. The 2017 graduates (and their parents) were no doubt hopeful at that time that the changes being made would make a difference in their lives. Interestingly, the graduation rate in 2004 was around 70%. So, I guess it’s a fair statement to say that for many of the 2004 Lake Wales kindergarten students their hopes have been realized.

Dr. Jesse Jackson, Superintendent LAKE WALES CHARTER SCHOOLS

lake wales high school

edward w. bok academy

hillcrest elementary

• D E M O G R A P H I C S •

dale r. fair babson park elementary

Lake Wales High School is celebrating its highest graduation rate in decades. Our high quality staff values the pursuit of

excellence! We have been recognized by the Washington Post as one of America’s

Most Challenging High Schools. Over the past year our students have participated in a wide range of programs: Henry McCance International Baccalaureate Program; The

Bepler Design, Technology and Innovation Academy; Career Academies: Health, Early Childhood & Teacher Education; Culinary;

Web Design; Digital Design; Agri-Technology and Digital Film Production; 3-D & laser printers; 1 to 1 Chromebooks

and a technology rich environment for all students; International Film Festival; College Summit; Academic coaching

program to enhance achievement.

Dale R. Fair Babson Park Elementary's foundation is time-proven, research

based practices that foster independent learners with a solid academic future.

Believing that all students can learn, we accept the responsibility to provide quality

educational programs that also include digital opportunities and technology. The

staff works to meet the needs of each student regardless of their socioeconomic status or academic performance. Research tells us

that family support is more important than any other factor in determining a child’s

success in school. It is our desire to enhance parental support by providing numerous

opportunities for family involvement.

grade

Cgrade

Agrade

Cgrade

Bpolk avenue elementary

Polk Avenue Elementary educates and challenges

students to discover the leader in them-selves. Leadership development includes the following opportunities,

schoolwide leadership roles for all grades, as well the following

leadership academies for our fourth and fifth grade students:

robotics/STEM, technology/coding, band/chorus, art, forum

technology teams, garden/green team, book clubs as well as many other opportunities.

Our other enrichment activities include: Chess Team, Academic Team, and National Elementary

Honor Society.

grade

Cjanie howard

wilson elementary

Janie Howard Wilson Elementary School of Environmental Studies

integrates nature focused, hands on activities that support academics

and foster leadership skills. Students engage in experiences that connect to nature and sustainable

living. Students participate in Leadership Academies: 4H Youth

Department Club, Agriculture, Technology, Chess, Music, Career, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Farm to School, Environmental STEM, and Recyclable Art. Additional enrichment activities include

SPARKS (K-3) and IGNITE (4-5), STEM Projects, Academic Team,

National Elementary Honor Society, World Drumming, and Chorus.

grade

D

Total Pop Whites Blacks Hispanic Asian Indian Pacific Multi

PAE 511 152 128 219 3 1 1 7HcE 683 362 131 172 3 0 0 15JHW 431 122 136 152 4 0 0 17BPE 458 298 48 86 1 0 1 24

BOK 600 351 98 131 14 1 0 5LWH 1552 740 346 382 20 6 2 56

TOTALS 4235 2025 887 1142 45 8 4 124PERCENTS 47.75% 19.57% 26.02% 1.02% 0.20% 0.09% 3.01%

Fr/Rd % ELL Minority %

100% 27% 70%76% 10% 47%

100% 18% 71%62% 4% 35%52% 4% 40% 67% 3% 52%

We are a “High Performing Charter School” with Innovative Programs

to include: Robotics, IT Kid Academy, Zero Robotics (NASA/MIT champion 2016), Bok Farms,

Television Production, The Bok (Boat of Knowledge), and a state of the art Exceptional Education curriculum

that includes advanced technology and integration of the Inclusion Model.

Bok Academy has earned an “A” rating since inception. We are recognized by Apple for innovation, leadership and excellence since 2012. Ranked in the

top 10 in Math in our state Title I middle schools.

Hillcrest Elementary provides multiple opportunities for reaching the whole child including orchestra, show choir, visual arts, dance, coding, STEM and

after school activities. Our initiatives over the last year include our School of the Arts, technology-infused curriculum,

robotics & STEM, 1 to 1 Chromebooks for grades 1-5 with Chrome stations in

Kindergarten, SAP (Student Acceleration Program), K-5 Student Support Program, Foundations Academy (1st and 2nd Multi Grade Academy), SOAR Academy ( 3rd - 5th Multi Grade Acceleration Academy), 4th and 5th Grade Intermediate Lab and

National Junior Honor Society.

863.679.6560LWCharterSchools.com