Wouldn’t it be wonderful if choosing the right high school for your student was as easy as drawing a name from a hat? Truth is, just like a student, you'll have to do your homework to research and discover which high school is the right option for your family.
Our admissions department is here to help you navigate these questions and clearly define the mission of LuHi, so you have a well-informed understanding of our school as you do your research.
Private schools can be a great option to explore, as they have many advantages in terms of educational excellence and positive schooling experience. For instance, private schools can often offer dedicated teacher focus, a higher quality curriculum, better study facilities, and more diverse extracurricular activities. But each school can be massively different in its educational approach, so it takes careful work to determine which is best for your student.
Understanding the philosophy and vision a school applies to all its programming is critical, as it will define every aspect of the school’s teaching, student activities, conflict management, and more. If you aren’t aligned with it, you and your student will struggle.
How does the school address different learning styles and what is the ultimate goal for the students in their classrooms? Are they prioritizing high grades on state testing? Do they aim for placement in top universities? Who is available to help students navigate life after high school? Do they listen to each student's individual goals and make recommendations based on those goals?
You aren’t just picking a school–the school wants to invest in your student as well, and some may recognize that certain students won’t be successful due to certain offerings or would struggle due to program expectations.
Each school has a unique set of values that guides how it operates day to day and what’s most important to them. Some schools clearly define and publicize their values. Others may not have anything on paper, but the values are still present in everyday interactions. Engage an admissions counselor or administrator in a conversation about the “why” behind the school and its mission.
Not only is it important to be aware of the curriculum prior to enrolling (how is curriculum chosen, what textbooks are used, what are the classroom philosophies), but it is important to have an understanding of how curriculums are evaluated each year and how the school plans to keep up with educational standards and evolving learning technologies.
It’s crucial to not hyper-focus on teacher/student ratios. Rather, gain an understanding of how class sizes actually average out in certain schools and what this might mean for your student. Does your student do best with more one-on-one attention in the classroom or are they able to be more self-guided in their learning and homework? How well-equipped are the teachers in being able to support the goals and needs of all their students?
Aside from attendance, what other benefits does tuition provide? What programs become available to students or to you as parents? Where and how is your money being used? How will tuition change during your student’s high school career?
Are students given access to the latest learning platforms and software, or are families required to provide these tools? Are students learning how to handle technology in a mature manner that empowers them for a tech-enabled world?
Alongside grades and report cards, what do faculty look for to determine whether students are moving toward and achieving larger goals in their education and career planning?
Teachers need all the help they can get in reaching students, so what plans and resources are in place to help them offer top-notch instruction? Do teachers feel supported by their administration?
There are plenty of questions to ask when exploring high schools. This list can hopefully guide your research, in addition to your own personal questions and concerns. We recommend finding a school that fits with what your family teaches at home, meets the needs of your students, and offers the opportunities to help them get ahead in their future. Please contact us today if you would like to learn how Lutheran High School would answer any of these questions.
Updated in 2025 for accuracy.