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Lift for Life Academy

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Lift for Life Academy
Lift for Life Academy
Address
1731 South Broadway
St. Louis
, Missouri, 63104
United States
Coordinates38°36′32″N 90°11′59″W / 38.60889°N 90.19972°W / 38.60889; -90.19972
District information
TypePublic charter school district
GradesPK–12[1]
Established2000; 26 years ago (2000)
Executive directorMarshall Cohen
Schools3
NCES District ID2900574[2]
District ID115-902[1]
Students and staff
Students865 (2024–25)[3]
Teachers70.2 (on FTE basis)[3]
Student–teacher ratio12.3:1[3]
ColorsRed, black, and gold
     
Other information
Websiteliftforlifeacademy.org

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]

History

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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

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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

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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]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 "Charter Schools". Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education. Archived from the original on June 30, 2026. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Lift for Life Academy". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "District Directory Information (2025-2026 School Year)". NCES. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  4. ↑ "SEMO Board Renews Sponsorship of Lift for Life Academy". semo.edu. June 21, 2023. Archived from the original on March 8, 2026. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  5. ↑ USA Weightlifting (February 12, 2021). "Black History Month: Past, Present and Future". Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  6. 1 2 Fadem, Susan (May 22, 2012). "Unsung Heroes: Marshall Cohen". St. Louis Jewish Light. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  7. ↑ Bush, Rico (April 20, 2019). "New elementary school coming to Soulard". ksdk.com. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  8. ↑ Bernhard, Blythe (August 16, 2019). "Daughter follows mom's footsteps to Lift for Life Academy as charter school expands". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  9. ↑ "SOAR". Lift for Life Academy. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Lift for Life Academy Charter: Sports and Activities". mshsaa.org. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  11. 1 2 "Lift for Life Academy Charter: State Championships and Top 4 Finishes". mshsaa.org. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  12. ↑ Halfacre, Paul (December 5, 2025). "Missouri Class 3 football state championship: Seneca 33, Lift for Life 26". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  13. ↑ Austin Jr., Earl (December 4, 2025). "Hawks make history with first trip to the Show-Me Bowl". The St. Louis American. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
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