Now enrolling · 2026–27 · Middletown, NY
Shaping Character. Nurturing Minds.
Little Lotus Academy offers a bilingual English–Mandarin curriculum for Pre-K through Grade 5, designed to develop strong language skills and cultural understanding in both languages. No phones, no screens. Small class sizes and a curriculum where virtue and good habits are central in every subject, every day.
We'd love to hear from you.
Have a question? We'll call you.
Tell us how and when to reach you, and a member of our team will call back within one school day.
WHY FAMILIES COME TO US
Integrity and kindness, through every activity and lesson.
Consistent focus on our core values assures parents of their child's growth.
Six students per teacher
Class sizes of about ten with a 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio foster close connections. Your child's needs are noticed early, and teachers keep you informed.
Bilingual English & Mandarin
Children read, write, and speak in both languages every day. This builds confidence in their language skills, cultural understanding, and intellectual growth, making us unique.
Character-building curriculum
Our virtue classes and monthly virtues, like respect and kindness, are woven into every lesson, assuring parents that moral growth is central to their child's education. Children share with their parents about the virtue classes, which fosters a community built on trust and shared values.
Very low-tech
Lessons are conducted with books, blackboards, paper, and warm conversation. Children develop without distractions from screens.
A classical East–West curriculum
Singapore Math, classical Chinese, great English literature, world and US history, geography, natural sciences, as well as calligraphy, watercolor, and classical Chinese dance.
Affordable private school
Tuition is $1,100 per month, over ten months. Schools with a ratio this small in our region typically charge two to three times more. Financial aid is available.
A day at Little Lotus.
OUR ORIGINS
Why and how we started
Little Lotus Academy was founded in 2021 by families who practice Falun Dafa, a traditional Chinese meditation discipline built on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, shaping the school's approach and daily routines. This includes how conflicts between children are handled, what is expected of teachers, and why students are taught to meditate.
Students take part in the daily morning study and exercises as part of school life. These instill in our students self-control, calm, confidence, empathy and so many other fine qualities that make our environment unique.
People from all ethnicities, cultures and faiths have taken up Falun Dafa. Find out more here.
Virtues our students aspire to:
- Respect
- Good study habits
- Gratitude
- Kindness
- Honesty
- Perseverance
- Responsibility
Notice of nondiscriminatory policy. Little Lotus Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school, and does not discriminate on those grounds in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, or other school-administered programs.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
Why excellence is natural
We don't teach to a standardized test, but we don't shy away from it either. By focusing on character development, virtuous skills, and warmth and joy, we help our students become naturally curious and confident learners.
More than half of students in Grades 3–5 scored above the 90th percentile in mathematics against their US peers.
Nearly all students tested above grade level and above the national average in mathematics.
Children graduate Grade 5 speaking, reading, and writing in both English and Chinese.
Source: Iowa Assessments administered to Grades 3–5, April 2024. Ask us for the full results on your call.
TESTIMONIALS
From parents, teachers, and community members
“We've noticed they're learning about traditional morality, moral values. They have a virtue of the month, and they do come home and talk about it and tell us all about it. You can see they're trying to implement it in their daily lives.”
“You speak English, you can talk with a quarter of the world. You speak Chinese, you can talk to another quarter. What could be better than a child being able to say: I am fluent in English and Chinese?”
“We take building good character as the central aspect of the children's education. I have seen a great change in the hearts of many students.”
Tuition
Sibling and pay-in-full discounts are available. Financial aid is need-based and typically covers 10–50% of tuition; families apply with tax returns and a statement of need, and a board-appointed committee reviews each case. A $500 deposit secures a place once a child is accepted, and it counts toward tuition.
FAQ Before calling,
Here’s a list of common questions:
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No. Many of our children arrive with no Chinese at all, and we teach Chinese for beginners alongside the main program. We also support children who arrive with limited English. Both languages are taught at each child's level, which is much easier when a teacher has six students. Our students graduate bilingual.
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Falun Dafa families founded the school, and the practice is part of the school day: everyone participates in the morning exercises and study. Families from all backgrounds are welcome, and we've found it works best when parents understand exactly what the day involves before they enroll. That is one of the things we'll walk you through on the call.
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$11,000 for Pre-K through Grade 5, spread over ten monthly payments. Sibling and pay-in-full discounts apply. Need-based financial aid typically covers 10–50% of tuition.
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47 Academy Avenue, Middletown, NY 10940. Busing may be available depending on your district. Tell us where you live and we'll check it for you. Families currently travel in from across Orange County and the wider Hudson Valley.
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About ten children per class, at a 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio.
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Four steps. You complete a registration form; we schedule an interview with you and your child, online or in person; your child takes a short academic placement assessment in English, math, and Chinese; and on acceptance, a $500 deposit, credited against tuition, secures the place.
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Yes. A simple uniform, which most parents tell us they are thankful for. It helps children stay focused on their studies and builds a greater sense of community.
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We teach through Grade 5. Our families move on to a range of local schools, and we're glad to talk through the options, including nearby schools with a similar East–West classical approach, well before your child gets there.
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Please do! Most families start with a phone call, then come and see a normal school day, not a staged tour. Ask about a visit when we call.