LEHMAN ALTERNATIVE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

www.ithacacityschools.org

286 Students

High School 6th - 12th

School Overview

Lehman Alternative Community School (LACS), located in Ithaca, New York, is a unique 6–12 public school that operates on a philosophy of democratic governance and progressive education. Unlike traditional middle and high schools, LACS emphasizes student agency, community involvement, and personalized learning. The school is known for its "community meeting" structure, where students and faculty participate in the decision-making processes that shape school policies, creating an environment that fosters civic responsibility and mutual respect.

Academically, the school moves away from rigid standardized testing, instead focusing on project-based learning, interdisciplinary studies, and comprehensive student assessments. LACS encourages students to take an active role in their education by offering a high degree of flexibility in how they meet graduation requirements. With a strong focus on social justice and inclusivity, the school aims to cultivate a tight-knit, collaborative atmosphere where students are treated as valued members of a community rather than just pupils, preparing them to be engaged and thoughtful citizens.

286

Total Students

30.8

Full-Time Teachers

9.3

Student/Teacher Ratio

34.6%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for LEHMAN ALTERNATIVE COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Demographic	Student Count
White	215
Hispanic	19
Black	7
Asian	7
Two or More	35
American Indian	1

White
215 (75.7 %)
Two or More
35 (12.3 %)
Hispanic
19 (6.7 %)
Black
7 (2.5 %)
Asian
7 (2.5 %)
American Indian
1 (0.4 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Phone:	(607)274-2183
Website:	http://www.ithacacityschools.org
Grade Range:	6th - 12th
Total Students:	286
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	30.8
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	9.3
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	98
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	1

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 6 41

Grade 7 43

Grade 8 44

Grade 9 42

Grade 10 37

Grade 11 34

Grade 12 44

Ungraded 1