LOCAL SCHOOLS
Student Fees
About Student Fees
Annual student fees help cover the District's costs for providing "consumable" supplies (such as workbooks or art materials) that an individual student will use throughout the school year as part of their daily instruction.
Lakota is committed to minimizing the financial impact of student fees on families. The District's purchasing power, paired with its commitment to absorb more general supply costs into the general fund, help keep student fees low and school supply lists short.
Student fees will be restructured for the 2025-2026 school year based on what each student uses. Moving away from a "buffet-style" flat fee, the new approach ensures that families only pay for the specific resources and activities in which their students engage.
2025-2026 Student Fee Levels
Student fees are typically approved by the school board in June for the following school year. Any updated fee amounts will be posted here at that time.
Note that supply kits are given to all K-6 grade students with consumable instructional materials. Additionally, the District will purchase tissues and cleaning wipes in bulk for grades K-12 and paper towels for grades K-6. The charges listed for these items are the bulk purchase price the District pays for these items.
As part of the K-12 school fee structure for all students, a $35 digital learning fee is included. This fee helps support the District’s technology initiatives such as learning platforms and apps, as well as ensuring students have access to reliable digital tools for learning. This fee also includes a warranty for student-issued Chromebooks, providing coverage for repairs and maintenance throughout the school year. This helps minimize unexpected costs for families and ensures that students can stay connected and productive in their learning environments.
Any student on the district waiver will have the student fees waived.
Paying Fees
Parents or guardians have the option to pay student fees at the school office or via their PaySchools Central account. Balances are typically available for early childhood and elementary students in mid-August and for junior and high school students at the beginning of September.
District Waiver
Families who may qualify for free and reduced meals based on income or other qualifying factors will need to complete the LINQ Connect meal benefits application for the upcoming school year. Regardless of previous qualification, the meal benefits application must be completed on an annual basis.
Please note that we will be accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year beginning around July 28. Any applications submitted BEFORE this date will not be accepted.
View more details about free/reduced meal applications on the Child Nutrition website.