School Spotlight: Lutheran High School Association
Last year we partnered with the Lutheran High School Association of St. Louis where we currently have 24 international students placed with fantastic host families between the two high schools. The Lutheran High School Association is comprised of 2 high schools- Lutheran High School North and Lutheran High School South. Between there two, there are over 850 students to whom they offer a wide variety of AP courses, athletics, and extracurricular activities.
The Lutheran High School Association and LPI Learning have moved their international program from a dorm stay to a full home stay where students receive a full immersive experience. Most of the international students here have hopes to move on to an American University after graduating. The students have all taken a real interest in the debate in and out of the classroom.
The world tuned into the Presidential Debate on October 9, 2016 on the campus of the top-ranked Washington University in St. Louis. This elite research university is right down the street from our partner schools Lutheran High School North and Lutheran High School South.
The Lutheran High School Association has many connections to Washington University. Students often find opportunities to take advantage of educational opportunities at this top university. For example, Lutheran High School international students have attended writing workshops with faculty. Lutheran High School North students were chosen to participate in a Saturday Scholars seminar series for future medical professionals. Additionally, a Lutheran South international student was invited to attend Washington University’s prestigious Global Leaders Institute in 2015. Washington University recently invited Lutheran High School Association International Program Director, Ms. Ali Thomas, Ed. M., Harvard University to tour their state-of-the-art School of Engineering to discuss future collaboration. The Lutheran High School Association has a strong connection to Washington University, as well as other top area universities. For example, Lutheran High School South and North participate in the St. Louis University 1818 Program, which allows students to earn college credit through courses offered at the high schools. Lutheran High School international students regularly visit area universities and take advantage of opportunities for partnership.
Students were actively engaged in the debate and have spoken about what immersion in an American high school has allowed them to learn first-hand.
“It is great to be able to talk about American politics with my teachers, classmates, and host family. I have learned so much about the American political system that I never would have known if I had not studied abroad”
Shares Lutheran High School South Senior ChaCha Xie, who hails from China.
“It’s cool to be able to be so close to the action.”
Lutheran High School classes have incorporated the debate into their classes. At Lutheran High School South, students have engaged in a contemporary issues discussion around the political climate and the election. Classes at Lutheran High School North have looked at the debate from a historical perspective, comparing it to the 1828 Presidential debate.
This connection to Washington University in St. Louis is just one of the many opportunities that is available to student in the Lutheran High School Association International Program.
