Admissions

Tuition & Financial Aid

Making a Lake Ridge Academy Education Affordable

At Lake Ridge Academy, we believe an exceptional education should be financially accessible to all families. We partner with families to ensure school is within reach for students who will thrive here. For the 2025-2026 school year, our average family out-of-pocket expense is $11,600.

Your Financial Aid Opportunities

List of 3 items.

  • Need-Based Tuition Assistance

    We review each family's financial profile to determine an award based on demonstrated need and family size. This process ensures fairness and transparency, and helps extend access to a broader range of deserving students.

  • Scholarships

    Academic, leadership, and service scholarships are available for students starting in 6th grade. Scholarships may be renewed annually and are conditional upon maintaining academic and community standards.

  • EdChoice Scholarship

    Lake Ridge Academy participates in Ohio’s EdChoice program and the Cleveland Scholarship program. Students in grades K–12 who qualify through traditional or expansion pathways may receive state scholarship funding. All applicants for need‑based aid should also apply for EdChoice; awarded amounts will be applied toward their tuition assistance package.
Let's make your child's dream of a Lake Ridge Academy education a reality!

How It Works

  1. Apply for Need‑Based Aid

    • Upload your most recent tax documents in the Parent Portal.  If you are married, filing separately, please upload both parents' tax documents together.  If there are two households, please contact us at finaid@lakeridgeacademy.org for next steps.

    • Award notifications are sent on a rolling basis, starting in late fall and early winter, with financial decisions finalized by February.

    • Admissions and financial aid decisions are made independently to ensure fairness and impartiality.

  2. EdChoice Eligibility

    • Families can also apply for the EdChoice or Cleveland Scholarship through the Ohio Department of Education. If eligible, this scholarship is applied directly to your tuition, reducing your out‑of‑pocket cost.


  3. Annual Review

    • Aid awards typically adjust slightly each year due to grade-level increases or inflation.

    • Significant changes in a family’s financial circumstances may warrant a re-evaluation.

FAQs

List of 3 frequently asked questions.

  • What is need-based aid?

    Financial assistance based solely on family need, determined through household(s) adjusted gross income, family size, and special circumstances.

  • How is aid calculated?

    We align our need-based aid awards with federal poverty levels, which are based on household(s) adjusted gross income and family size.  Generally, if a student has parents who do not live in the same household but both have custodial rights, we consider both households' adjusted gross incomes.

  • Can we combine aid with other scholarships?

    Yes. Need-based aid, merit-based scholarships, and EdChoice awards are often combined to reduce total out-of-pocket expenses.

EdChoice

Lake Ridge Academy accepts the EdChoice Scholarship for all eligible students. Every Ohio student in grades K-12 is eligible for an EdChoice scholarship in either the "Traditional" form, based on assigned public school building, or the "Expansion" form, based on a decreasing pro-rated scale according to a family’s income. The state of Ohio determines eligibility under its guidelines. Once a student qualifies with the state, the scholarship remains in place through 12th grade, provided the student remains eligible. All families who request need-based tuition assistance from Lake Ridge must also apply for EdChoice, and your EdChoice award will be factored into your need-based tuition assistance package.
For more information about the EdChoice Scholarship, please visit the Ohio Department of Education’s website. 

Please note that admissions decisions are made independently of financial aid considerations.

List of 5 items.

  • Apply Online to LRA

    Apply here and be accepted to Lake Ridge Academy.

  • Enroll in Lake Ridge Academy!

    You will be issued a contract that reflects an EdChoice scholarship amount, if applicable, along with any additional scholarship or need-based aid you may receive.

  • Determine Your EdChoice Eligibility

    The Educational Choice Scholarship Program (EdChoice) has two options: Traditional or Expansion. To see if you qualify for the Traditional Program, search for the student's designated school building in your home location's public school district. Other ways to qualify for Traditional EdChoice are outlined here. When applying for Traditional EdChoice, you do NOT need to complete the Income Verification process unless instructed by a Lake Ridge employee.

    If you do not see your designated public school building on the list or do not meet the additional eligibility requirements, you will apply for EdChoice Expansion. Most families apply through this program. The Expansion program requires you to submit Income Verification on the State of Ohio website.

  • Complete the Program Request Form

    Submit a completed EdChoice Scholarship Program Request Form to Lake Ridge Academy along with the child’s birth certificate and proof of current address (most recent utility bill displaying both service address and billing address). Lake Ridge will then submit your EdChoice Scholarship application on your behalf.

  • Income Verification

    If you apply to the EdChoice Expansion program, you must verify your income through the state. Here is a step-by-step guide to the state’s income verification process. Please use your most recent 1040s when uploading documents. For assistance with this process, please contact the Financial Aid office.

Scholarships

Scholarships provide additional financial support to exceptional students entering grades 6-11. Scholarships are awarded based on various factors, including but not limited to financial need, academic merit, community service, or leadership. Scholarship awards will continue through graduation and will not be altered, augmented, or replaced, provided the student maintains their academic and behavioral eligibility. To learn more about our scholarships and their criteria, read below:

Current Use Scholarships - Supporting Students for a Specific Term

List of 7 items.

  • Aspire Scholarship

    The Aspire Scholarship is funded by donors who offer deep financial support to strong academic leaders.

  • College Bound Scholarship

    The College Bound Scholarship is funded by Jeff Knapp '83 and Annette (Wasem) Knapp '84 to support students with an outstanding academic commitment.

  • Harding Family Charitable Trust Scholarship

    The Harding Family Charitable Trust Scholarship is a competitive, renewable, need-sensitive, and merit-based scholarship for Upper School students from Olmsted Falls or Berea.

  • Kauffman Family Scholarship

    The Kauffman Family Scholarship is funded by a Lake Ridge family and is offered as a competitive award that supports students with financial need.

  • Public Service Scholarship

    The Public Service Scholarship provides a scholarship to children entering grades 9-12 who are the sons and daughters of first responders (police officers, paramedics, firefighters, and active military personnel). Several scholarships are offered through this program by Atlanta friends of Mitch White, the Fauver Family; Nancy and Joe Scarpitti; Eric Sutherland '80; and Chrissy and Don Wostmann in honor of their son, Alec '19, on the occasion of his graduation from Lake Ridge Academy.

  • The Joyce B. Sommer Memorial Scholarship

    The Joyce B. Sommer Memorial Scholarship was established in 2001 by Ken Sommer and his family, who have been part of Lake Ridge Academy's community since its founding. The scholarship honors Ken’s late wife, Joyce, and is awarded to a deserving student each year without restriction.

  • The Sheerer-Filion Scholarship

    In honor of Evan Filion ‘16, the Sheerer-Filion Scholarship is a competitive scholarship awarded to one or more students with financial need in the Middle or Upper School. 

Endowed Scholarships - Supporting Students in Perpetuity

List of 12 items.

  • Carol Klimas Scholarship Fund

    The Carol Klimas Scholarship Fund was created in 2018 at the time of President Carol Klimas’ retirement in recognition of her longstanding devotion to deserving students who can thrive at Lake Ridge Academy. The scholarship is awarded to entering students in grades 6-11 whose actions, community service, or other leadership suggest a high degree of integrity and respect for others.

  • Chloe Geiselman Scholarship Fund

    The Chloe Geiselman Scholarship Fund was established in 1992 for Lower School students by Chris Geiselman and Greta Lesher in memory of their daughter, Chloe.

  • Dresing Family Scholarship

    The Dresing Family Scholarship, created by Tom '83 and Janna Dresing, is a competitive award that supports students with financial need.

  • The Fauver Family Scholarship

    The Fauver Family Scholarship was funded by Cole M. Fauver ‘79 in 2020 to support students with financial need.

  • General Scholarship Fund

    The General Scholarship Fund was established in 1993 to support K-12 students with demonstrated financial need.

  • Herbert W. and Mildred N. Kaatz Scholarship

    The Herbert W. and Mildred N. Kaatz Scholarship supports students with demonstrated financial need. Herb and Don Kaatz, '70, established the scholarship in 1992 in honor of Mildred, their wife and mother, respectively, who was an active supporter of Lake Ridge Academy.

  • J.A.G. Scholarship

    The J.A.G. Scholarship supports students with the highest level of financial need and was established in 2014 with a gift by a former Lake Ridge mom in honor of her own mother and son.

  • Jane Maczuzak Scholarship Fund

    The Jane Maczuzak Scholarship Fund was created to honor former Lake Ridge Academy faculty member Jane Maczuzak and supports deserving Upper School students interested in science.

  • John W. Kemper Scholar Award

    The John W. Kemper Scholar Award was established in 1980 by John and Betty Kemper to support students entering grades 9-11 whose outstanding academic achievements could make an exceptional contribution to the school.

  • Michael Benjamins '94 Memorial Scholarship

    The Michael Benjamins '94 Memorial Scholarship was established in 2000 by William R. Litzler, President of C.A. Litzler Co., in memory of Lake Ridge Academy alumnus Michael Benjamins '94. It supports students with demonstrated financial need.

  • The Norton Family Endowed Scholarship

    The Norton Family Endowed Scholarship was created in 2022 by Ben and Brenda Norton to support students with demonstrated financial need. Preference is given to students who live in Lorain County.

  • Yanna Voutsiotis '05 Endowed Scholarship

    The Yanna Voutsiotis '05 Endowed Scholarship was created in 2012 by George, Vivy, and Alexia '07 Voutsiotis in memory of their daughter and sister, Yanna '05. The merit scholarship honors one or more students entering grades 9-12 who embody Lake Ridge Academy's core values and demonstrate extraordinary excellence in athletics, academics, and community service.

Questions?

Contact our Admissions & Financial Aid Office at 440‑327‑1175 or via email at finaid@lakeridgeacademy.org. We’re committed to working with you to make an outstanding Lake Ridge Academy experience a reality.
37501 Center Ridge Road
North Ridgeville, OH 44039
Tel: (440) 327-1175
Fax: (440) 327-3641
Lake Ridge Academy is the only independent college preparatory school on Cleveland's west side. Our co-educational curriculum offers a unique blend of academics, extracurricular activities, and a focus on character development, all on our beautiful 93-acre campus. With a student-teacher ratio of 8:1, our devoted faculty provides personalized attention to help every student thrive.