Lakeshore Learning: Why It's Our Go-To for School Supplies (And Where It Falls Short)

If you're managing school supply orders for multiple classrooms, you can skip the research. Lakeshore Learning is generally 15-30% more expensive than the big online retailers, but the time you save on vetting and returns often makes it worth it. This isn't a blanket endorsement. It's a breakdown of when to buy from them, and when to look elsewhere, based on 5 years of managing supply orders for 400 employees.

I run procurement for a mid-sized school district—roughly $200,000 annually across 12 different vendors. When I took over purchasing in 2020, Lakeshore was just one of many on the list. Now, they're my primary supplier for certain categories. Here's why.

What Lakeshore Learning Actually Gets Right

Lakeshore's real product isn't their art supplies or furniture. It's their curated curation. In an environment where teachers will ask for anything from a specific brand of crayon to a high school GPA calculator for a data project, having a vendor that has already filtered out junk is invaluable.

The Teacher Discount is Legit, But It's a Trap

Everyone knows about the Lakeshore Learning teacher discount. They advertise it heavily. But here's what I've learned from processing hundreds of expense reports: it's a tool for them to set a higher list price.

I'd wager that 30% of the items we buy from them are also available on Amazon or through a district contract. When I do the side-by-side comparison, the 'discounted' Lakeshore price often matches the regular price elsewhere. Take their standard sentence strip pocket chart: with a teacher discount, it's around $39. The same thing from a vendor we use for classroom basics is $27.

Does that mean the discount is a scam? Not exactly. But I'm now somewhat skeptical of any vendor who leads with a discount percentage. The question isn't 'how much off?' The question is, 'what's the final number?'

Quality? More Like Consistency

I wouldn't say Lakeshore's products are universally higher quality. I would say they are more consistent. When I order a 24-pack of washable markers from them, the caps fit. The colors are vibrant. They last a semester. When I order a cheaper brand from a discount catalog, I might get a box where 3 markers are dried out and the packaging is damaged. My teachers appreciate the lack of surprises.

At least, that's been my experience with their core classroom supplies. Their furniture? Different story. Their student desks and chairs are fine, but I found the assembly instructions to be frustratingly vague compared to a Herman Miller contract you'd get through a dedicated furniture vendor. (Should mention: we test-assembled one desk before ordering 60. A good idea for any large furniture order.)

Where Lakeshore Learning Falls Short

Lakeshore's convenience comes at a cost, and that cost isn't just in dollars. The biggest issue I run into is the limited scope of their catalog.

Need a specific type of bulletin board paper? They have it. Need a high school GPA calculator for a college prep fair? They don't sell those, and they won't point you to anyone who does. Their customer service is polite, but they rarely offer alternatives. This is where a vendor like Discount School Supply, which carries a broader range of 'consumables,' becomes more useful.

The 'Corporate Office' Issue

One thing that grinds my gears: trying to get ahold of the real people at the Lakeshore Learning corporate office. If you're ordering for a school district and need a direct line for contracts or large-volume pricing, good luck. I spent three days trying to get someone on the phone who could talk about a school set price for 200 storage bins. The online chat was useless. I had to email, get forwarded, and eventually speak to a regional manager who could cut a small discount. The process was 'sort of' inefficient.

I wish their B2B support was as good as their B2C experience. For a company that markets heavily to teachers (and thus, schools), the sales pipeline for procurement managers is clunky.

Practical Advice: When to Buy, When to Skip

Based on my experience, here's how I allocate my budget:

• Buy from Lakeshore: Classroom decorations, high-quality art supplies (like their tempera paint), learning games, and any item where 'durability' is the primary concern.
• Buy from a discount vendor (e.g., Amazon, Really Good Stuff, Discount School Supply): Bulk consumables like plain paper, dry-erase markers (if you don't mind inconsistent quality), and standard office supplies like a basic stapler or calculator.
• Go direct to manufacturer for: Furniture, technology (like projectors), and specialized equipment (like a high school GPA calculator for a guidance office—I buy those from a dedicated office supply vendor).

A specific example from last year: I needed a classroom set of 30 easels. Lakeshore's price was $80 each. A discount online retailer had them for $55. The $55 ones were flimsy and collapsed after 2 weeks. My teachers complained. I then bought a smaller set from Lakeshore ($85) to test. They held up for the rest of the year. The final decision: I bought 15 from Lakeshore and 15 from a cheaper source and just managed the risk. Not ideal, but workable.

The Bottom Line (With a Grain of Salt)

Lakeshore Learning is a reliable, high-quality vendor for a specific range of classroom products. Their teacher discount is a marketing tool; don't be fooled into thinking you're getting a bargain on everything. The real value is in consistency and convenience.

But if you're looking for a true 'one-stop shop' for an entire school year, you'll need a mix of vendors. Asking one vendor to be everything is a recipe for disappointment. For example, don't expect them to sell you a gratitude journal or a specialized grade average calculator—those are niche items you'll find on Amazon or at a dedicated educational publisher.

Prices as of January 2025; verify current rates with Lakeshore Learning (lakeshorelearning.com). According to the FTC's Green Guides (ftc.gov), claims about product durability should be substantiated, which I've found Lakeshore does better than most.