Lift for Life Academy
Charter school district in St. Louis, Missouri, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lift for Life Academy (LFLA) is a public charter school district in St. Louis, Missouri. The district operates three schools—Lift for Life Elementary, Lift for Life Middle, and Lift for Life High—serving students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The academy has been sponsored by Southeast Missouri State University since opening in 2000.[4]
| Lift for Life Academy | |
|---|---|
Lift for Life Academy | |
| Address | |
1731 South Broadway
, Missouri, 63104United States | |
| Coordinates | 38°36′32″N 90°11′59″W |
| District information | |
| Type | Public charter school district |
| Grades | PK–12[1] |
| Established | 2000 |
| Executive director | Marshall Cohen |
| Schools | 3 |
| NCES District ID | 2900574[2] |
| District ID | 115-902[1] |
| Students and staff | |
| Students | 865 (2024–25)[3] |
| Teachers | 70.2 (on FTE basis)[3] |
| Student–teacher ratio | 12.3:1[3] |
| Colors | Red, black, and gold |
| Other information | |
| Website | liftforlifeacademy |
History
Lift for Life Academy developed from Lift for Life Gym, a nonprofit youth organization founded by Marshall Cohen in St. Louis in 1988.[5] After observing that many of the gym's participants were struggling academically, Cohen established a school alongside the youth program. His wife, Carla Cohen, wrote the school's charter. In 2000, LFLA opened as a small middle school inside Lift for Life Gym with 65 students enrolled.[6]
In 2008, LFLA expanded with the establishment of its high school, graduating its first senior class of 70 students in 2012.[6]
LFLA purchased the former Metropolitan Community Church building, which was adjacent to the LFLA campus, for $1.8 million to establish an elementary school in its place.[7] This elementary school held its first day of class on August 14, 2019.[8]
Academics
Lift for Life Academy serves students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12: Lift for Life Elementary serves PK–4; Lift for Life Middle serves 5–8; and Lift for Life High serves 9–12.[1]
LFLA's SOAR program allows juniors and seniors to pursue career-oriented pathways and participate in paid internships during the school day. Students currently have the option to choose between eight different pathways: arts and design; business and entrepreneurship; computer science; culinary; fashion; health sciences; social justice and civil service; and trades.[9]
Athletics
Lift for Life's athletic teams are called the Hawks. The school participates in MSHSAA-sanctioned boys' and girls' cross country, football, girls' volleyball, boys' and girls' basketball, boys' and girls' wrestling, boys' and girls' track and field, cheerleading, and girls' flag football.[10]
The girls' basketball team has won four state championships: 2021 (Class 3), 2024 (Class 4), 2025 (Class 5), and 2026 (Class 5).[11]
In 2025, the football team reached the Class 3 state championship, where it lost to Seneca 33–26.[12] In 2021, the boys' basketball team finished fourth in Class 3. The boys' track and field team finished third for Class 3 in 2025.[11][13]