- December 16, 2025
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Pastor Caleb Free of Risen Savior Lutheran Church said the expansion of Risen Savior Academy will be a blessing to the community.
“It’s another option for kids’ education — private Christian education right here in Lakewood Ranch,” Free said. “A lot of people value that, but they have to travel to Bradenton or Sarasota or somewhere else.”
The only K-8 Christian school close to Lakewood Ranch is the Woodland Academy on State Road 70.
Right now, Risen Savior Academy is only K-2, but the school is growing with its students and is in the process of expanding up to eighth grade. The academy will welcome its first third grade class in fall 2026 and is breaking ground on a new education building in January.
The school is currently operating out of four classrooms in a 5,500-square-foot wing of the church that was opened in 2023 to expand upon its already established preschool.
The academy has 88 students enrolled in preschool and 58 students enrolled in elementary school. When the building is completed, the academy will be able to accommodate up to 150 students in the preschool and up to 200 students in the elementary school.
The two-story building will feature nine classrooms, a library and a science lab. The pre-kindergarten classes will stay within the preschool.
When Risen Savior decided to expand to include a school, it was a decision made by the entire congregation.
With over $3 million raised over the past two years, Elementary School Administrator Jodi Batsch said 98% of those funds were donated by church members.
“We’re here to be a light in the community,” Free said. “There’s a solid commitment from the people in our church to offer Christian education.”
The entire expansion, which will also include a sanctuary that will seat up to 400 members and a larger parking lot, is estimated to cost $11.65 million.
The school was prioritized to keep up with its students as they age, so those who started in kindergarten will be able to continue their education through eighth grade.
The sanctuary will eventually double in size. The current seating capacity is 200, so the church runs three Sunday services to accommodate its approximately 500-member congregation.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the education building is scheduled for Jan. 11. The plan is to have the school move-in ready by June 2027, and then move forward with the second phase of expanding the sanctuary.
To reach the goal of $11.65 million, Risen Savior bonded $7 million and is working to raise an additional $1.1 million to close the gap by the end of 2026.
The bond went before the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners for approval Dec. 2. The county is not guaranteeing the bond, but because it’s being issued by the Public Finance Authority Education Facilities Revenue Bonds, the transaction was required to go before the commission and the public.
As a nonprofit organization, the church is able to finance the project on a tax-exempt basis and secure a lower interest rate.
Free said the project was phased to keep it financially manageable.
While not fully built out yet, the school is receiving positive feedback from parents, which is illustrated in its nearly 100% retention rate.
Each classroom has about 20 students with one teacher and one assistant.
The curriculum meets or exceeds state requirements and also includes chapel services and age appropriate Bible lessons.
“The low student to teacher ratio is intentional,” Free said. “We don’t want to minimize the quality of education we give to these families.”
Tuition costs $13,500 per year, and Step Up for Students scholarships are accepted. Step Up for Students is a nonprofit that provides funding for customized learning, including private school tuition.
The scholarship fund, which is provided by the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options, offers Florida residents enrolled in K-12 public schools an average of $8,000 to attend a private school of their choice.
The scholarship covers tuition, fees, books and testing.
