About Lutheran High 

Introduction

Lutheran High School of Sioux Falls will be the area’s newest high school, opening its doors to its first class of ninth and tenth grade students for the 2010-2011 school year. An additional grade will be added in each of its next two years and the first senior class will graduate in 2013. It is a faith based, Christian school, which is built on the strong tradition of Lutheran education in the United States. Lutheran High will offer a full range of academic and extra curricular opportunities and will be unique in it’s preparation of students for a life of service and for the next step in their career.

Lutheran High was officially incorporated on October 1, 2008 as an association of five Lutheran Congregations in Sioux Falls and is governed by a nine member Board of Directors. The Association expects to grow as additional Lutheran congregations join, either as Association Member Congregations (LCMS) or as Supporting Congregations (other Lutheran).

Accreditation

Lutheran High will be accredited by the State of South Dakota as a secondary school and will qualify students for all available post secondary opportunities. It will offer a complete curriculum of instruction as well as a variety of extra curricular act ivies such as athletics and fine arts programs. It will be recognized by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod as a Lutheran High School.

History

Sioux Falls Lutheran School: The desire to start a Lutheran high school grew out of the success of Sioux Falls Lutheran School, a prekindergarten to eight grade school operated by five Lutheran Congregations in Sioux Falls. Parents and sponsoring congregations had a strong desire to continue the educational experience of Sioux Falls Lutheran School students beyond the eighth grade level. This led to the formation of a Steering Committee in July of 2005. Funding needed to allow the development of the school was generously provided in a substantial gift from an anonymous donor.

Genesis Study: The Steering Committee conducted an extensive feasibility study called the “Genesis Study” which was completed in June of 2006. The study concluded that there was a need and adequate support for a Lutheran high school in Sioux Falls and recommended that a Planning Committee be formed to continue work on starting a high school.

Planning Committee: The Planning Committee was formed and began meeting in July of 2006. The committee laid the foundation for the Lutheran High School of Sioux Falls Association by securing the participation of Association Members and writing Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. The Articles and Bylaws were used to incorporate the Association under the laws of the State of South Dakota on October 1, 2008.

Board of Directors: The initial Delegate and Representative Assembly met on November 23, 2008 and elected a nine member Board of Directors. The Board immediately began steps to call a principal and in May of 2009, Mr. David Waterman, then Headmaster of Lutheran High North in Houston, Texas, accepted the Call to serve Lutheran High School of Sioux Falls. He began his duties in July of 2009 and with the Board is working toward the goal of opening the school in 2010.

Governance: Activities of the Association are guided by the Board of Directors. The Board has broad authority to conduct the affairs of the Association and meets regularly each month and reports annually to the Members of the Association in an annual Delegate and Representative Assembly held in the second quarter of each year. Member Congregations are congregations that belong to the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Each congregation elects Delegates whose number varies with the size of the congregation. The Delegates serve for a one year term. Their duties at the Delegate and Representative Assembly are to elect the Board of Directors, to review the of the school, to amend or repeal the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Association and to ratify the purchase, sale, or transfer of any real estate, buildings, or permanent structures.

Supporting Congregations are Lutheran congregations that are not members of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Each Supporting Congregation elects Representatives whose number varies with the size of the congregation. The Representatives serve for a one year term. They participate in the debate at the Delegate and Representative Assembly but do not have voting rights. Collectively they elect a non-voting member of the Board of Directors.

Lutheran High School Brochure.pdf ( 2.49 MB )