Open Houses Welcome Prospective Students

02/10/09 The reasons for getting a Lutheran education are as varied as the students who attend the schools.

The Lutheran schools in the St. Louis area want to make that point as they invite families of all faiths to visit nearly 40 Lutheran elementary and high schools during a special open house event Feb. 8 sponsored by the Lutheran Elementary School Association, or LESA.

Among the LESA member-schools in South County are Lutheran High School South, Salem Lutheran in Affton, Abiding Savior Lutheran in Mehlville, Christ Community Lutheran Pre-school in Crestwood, Green Park Lutheran in Green Park.

In South St. Louis city they include King of Glory Lutheran, St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran, Word of Life Lutheran and Hope Lutheran.

Jayne Lauer, director of recruitment and Community Relations at Lutheran High School South in Affton said the advantages for students coming to a Lutheran school are many.

"Our main focus is the Christian education and the focus on Christ as the center of everything we do," Lauer said. "That's the primary reason we exist. Secondary to that, our academic program is very good and our college prep comes in at higher levels, generally, than in the public schools.

"We will prepare them in a smaller environment with challenging college prep courses," she said. "We also have a full athletic program that allows for greater participation than you will usually find at a public school."

Perfect examples of what Lauer means are three freshmen attending their first years at a Lutheran school after attending public school systems for their elementary education.

Haley Fitzgerald, 14, immediately noticed the contrast between Lutheran South and the Affton school she previously attended.

"I wanted to be in a Lutheran community and everybody is very close here and more like family," Haley said. "They have a much better social studies program here, which I'm not very good at. We also have a lot of science classes here."

A starting cheerleader, Haley thinks the smaller size of the school helped out in making the cheerleading squad.

Roaan Strohm, 14, came to Lutheran South from an Oakville school and likes South's smaller size.

"I just wanted to go to a smaller school because Oakville was so big," he said. "There are more opportunities here and activities to do."

Roaan is happy to be a starting basketball guard and left-handed pitcher and outfielder on the school's baseball team.

"I think I had a better opportunity to play here because less people go out for sports because the school is smaller," he said. "It gave me a better chance to make the teams. And my academic classes are challenging, but not too hard or too easy."

Stephanie Litzinger, 14, previously attended Oakville Middle School.

"I didn't like being in a big school and I like Lutheran South because everybody is so close," Stephanie said. "It's easier to fit in here. In a big community you're always kind of just out there, and Lutheran South just makes you feel like you're a big family. I like it a lot better."

Lauer said about 55 percent of Lutheran South's student body participates in athletic activities, which affords more personal attention than at other schools.

The school's graduation rate is estimated at 99.9 percent, Lauer said.

Full tuition is $9,425 per year and students who belong to a Lutheran Association church can also receive a $1,200 discount, Lauer said. There are also second and third child discounts available.

"It's (tuition) not necessarily being frozen at that level for next year (2009-10), and while the school board will make a decision soon, we're trying to keep any increase at a minimum," Lauer said. "At the same time we do offer a very healthy chunk of financial aid to families that qualify, and that has not gone down, and will probably go up."

Want to go?

Who: Lutheran Elementary School Association (LESA)-member Lutheran schools in the St. Louis Metro Area.

What: Open Houses for families interested in learning about the benefits of a Lutheran education

When: Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009 1 to 3 p.m.

Where: 40 Lutheran elementary and high schools in the St. Louis Metro Area.

For More Information:

Deb Schmich at 314-268-1522 or Brenda Kimberlin at 314-496-1799 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

For a list of schools, to check hours or to get directions, visit www.metrolutheranschools.org