Children’s Lighthouse Closes Out First Half of the Year with Five New Franchise Signings

FORT WORTH, TX – Children’s Lighthouse, the family-focused early education and child care franchise, is thrilled to announce an outstanding first half of 2024, marked by significant franchise growth and development. 

“We've been building up the foundation for really aggressive growth,” said Matt Kelton, vice president of franchise development at Children’s Lighthouse. “We’ve signed five locations, this includes three new franchisees and two existing owners who are expanding. This momentum is very positive.”

In the first and second quarters of 2024, Children’s Lighthouse signed five new franchise agreements, including three with new franchisees and two expansions by existing owners. The brand also celebrated its first opening in Virginia and a groundbreaking in Missouri, marking its expansion into two new states. And the grand opening of a new location in a suburb of Austin, Texas, achieved record-breaking enrollment numbers, underscoring the high demand for quality childcare. Children's Lighthouse now has more than 100 locations open or under construction.

“The demand continues to far surpass supply at this point,” said Kelton. “Our new openings and franchisee expansions reflect the growing need for quality early childhood education across the country.”

Over two-thirds of the nation’s children under 6 years old have both parents working, underscoring the critical need for premium child care services. The U.S. child care market size was valued at $59 billion in 2023 and is expected to surpass around $88 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 4.3% between 2024 and 2033. Children’s Lighthouse serves this demand with it’s comprehensive Lighthouse Pathways® approach to learning. This proprietary program focuses on three individualized, research-based and age-appropriate curriculums designed to meet each child in their unique learning pathway. Lighthouse BRIGHT® caters to children as young as six weeks old through two years old. Lighthouse CARES® focuses on children from two to five years, while xSTREAM Quest® caters to school-aged children. In the xSTREAM Quest program, students embark on “quests” encompassing science, technology, reading, engineering art and math (STREAM). Through a blend of engaging classroom activities and hands-on learning experiences, Children’s Lighthouse aims to equip children with the essential skills, knowledge, and values they need to succeed in school and beyond. Maintaining high standards of operational and educational excellence, each Children's Lighthouse school is independently owned and operated and may have its own Cognia™ or other accreditation.

To help usher in this new era of Children’s Lighthouse expansion, Kelton, a third-generation franchise executive, joined the team earlier this year as the new vice president of franchise development. Kelton brings over 25 years of executive and leadership experience, having previously served as chief operating officer at Showhomes Home Services and in various leadership roles at Computer Renaissance.

“There’s never been a higher demand for quality childcare than there is today,” said Kelton. “I’m excited to help meet our country’s need by welcoming new franchisees to Children’s Lighthouse and helping our current owners scale their businesses.”

The brand’s impressive momentum isn’t going unnoticed in the franchise industry. Children’s Lighthouse has also garnered prestigious accolades in 2024, ranking No. 327 on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list, No. 94 on the publication's Top Franchises for Veterans list, and No. 309 on the Franchise Times Top 400 list. 

To celebrate all these milestones, the Children’s Lighthouse franchise family recently gathered at the brand’s annual conference in Mexico, another significant moment of the past six months. “It was a huge success and an exciting moment for our franchise family,” Kelton said. “We saw record-breaking attendance, which is really a testament to how excited everyone is about where we are as a brand.”

With the momentum built in the first half of 2024, Children’s Lighthouse is poised for continued growth and success. The brand’s focus on family values, robust educational curriculum and strategic expansion positions it as a leader in the booming child care segment. 

“If you have a passion for education, for child care and for enriching your community, this could be a great opportunity for you,” said Michael Brown, president of Children’s Lighthouse. “It’s an industry that requires great responsibility, but it’s also so rewarding. It’s not for everybody, but if you have that passion, it can be a uniquely fulfilling experience.”

For more information on franchising opportunities, visit Children's Lighthouse Franchise.