LILA Lower School

Lakes International Language Academy (LILA) is a tuition-free public charter school located in Forest Lake, Minnesota, that serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The school is widely recognized for its unique immersion-based curriculum, which offers students the opportunity to become fluent in either Spanish or Mandarin Chinese while adhering to rigorous academic standards. By integrating language acquisition with core subjects, the school aims to foster global citizenship, critical thinking, and cross-cultural understanding in a diverse and supportive learning environment.

Beyond its focus on bilingualism, LILA emphasizes the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework, which encourages students to approach their education through inquiry and community service. The school operates across two campuses—a lower school for younger students and an upper school that prepares older students for post-secondary success. With its emphasis on holistic development and academic excellence, Lakes International Language Academy is a destination for families seeking an internationally-minded education that goes beyond the traditional public school model.