HOUSTON, TX – Lightbridge Academy®, one of the nation’s leading providers of early education and child care, experienced extreme growth in 2021, opening nine new locations and completing ten signings. With the goal of expanding to 150 centers by 2025, the brand plans to keep the momentum going this year with a focus on Texas, specifically cities in greater Houston including Katy.
Houston has seen major growth over recent years. According to the census, the population has grown 10.76% since 2010, and the number of children under the age of five has increased more than 7% during that time span. Home construction is booming in the area, meaning more and more families will move into the suburbs and need child care.
Jim DiRugeris, senior vice president of sales for Lightbridge Academy®, says the market has the capacity for about 30 to 35 centers.
“With 25 years of child care operations and 10 of those years in franchising, Lightbridge Academy is highly experienced in expanding into major markets such as Houston,” DiRugeris said. “It’s very attractive for franchisees wanting to own more than one child care center.”
Lightbridge Academy utilizes a customized technology platform and analytic modeling to perform extensive research. The proactive approach to market planning and site selection has helped identify prime areas to locate centers. As a result, the brand is focusing on establishing a presence in the flourishing markets of Katy, Cypress, The Woodlands, Atascocita and Pearland.
DiRugeris stated that they are experiencing strong interest in Lightbridge from those researching child care franchising in Texas because of the brand’s quality educational curriculum and program but also because of the services and technology available to support busy working parents.
“We utilize industry-leading technology to create a more secure and healthier learning environment and a deeper connection between home and school. One of the services we offer is the ParentView® internet monitoring system and along with an e-Communication app, we provide a real-time and ongoing connection for families,” said DiRugeris. “With centerwide air purification and filtration and facial recognition security systems, we set the Gold Standard for health and safety in the child care industry along with the high quality educational child care program that families expect.”
About Lightbridge Academy:
Established in 1997, the company was founded as a family business based on core values and a Circle of Care philosophy that places equal importance on the needs of children, their families, teachers, center owners and the community. Lightbridge Academy provides quality early education and child care programs to children aged six weeks through kindergarten. The company currently has over 120 child care centers either open or in development throughout Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. In response to COVID-19, Lightbridge Academy launched The Lightbridge Promise as the Gold Standard for health & safety in the child care industry. In 2022, Lightbridge Academy was featured for the 7th year on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500. In 2020, the company was featured on the Inc. 5000 ranking, Franchise Times Top 200+ awards, and on Newsweek’s 2021 list of America’s Best Customer Service.