Rockford Lutheran High School

Infobox Secondary school
name = Rockford Lutheran Schools

motto = Touching Lives for Eternity
principal =
established = 1964
type =
grades = K-12
city = 3411 N. Alpine
Rockford
state = Illinois
country = USA
enrollment =
faculty =
campus =
newspaper =
yearbook =
mascot =
nickname = The Crusaders
colors = Purple and White
website = http://www.rockfordlutheran.org
picture =

Rockford Lutheran High School is a private school in Rockford, Illinois. Established in 1964, Rockford Lutheran High School is associated with 25 area Lutheran Churches. The Lutheran churches have associations with both ELCA & LCMS. Students attend more than 100 area churches; 49% attend a Lutheran church. More than 2,000 students have graduated from Rockford Lutheran High School since the first graduating class in 1969. The school's nickname is The Crusaders and the school colors are purple and white.

History

Lutherans from Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin met in 1963, formed the "Central Committee", and charged them with developing a Lutheran High School. The following school year the committee initiated a 9th grade pilot program and incorporated the Lutheran High School Association, which purchased 65 acres of land on North Alpine road.

Twenty-five 9th grade students met at St. Paul's facilities in downtown Rockford during the 1965-66 school year. They added 10th grade the following year and enrollment increased to 69 students. Twenty-four seniors graduated in 1969.

High School construction began in 1971. The first classes in the new facilities were held during the 1971-72 school year. By fall 1974 the school had 182 students, 10 full-time teachers and three part-time teachers. LHS added 7th grade during the 1982-83 school year as an outreach tool to residents who sent their students to local elementary schools. During this time, the school broadened its mission to include the Lutheran Church in America and the American Lutheran Church as association members.

The Junior High flourished in this new era, feeding the expansion of the high school program. Interest in the lower grades led to the creation of Luther Academy at Gloria Dei, America's first ELCA-LCMS primary school. Gloria Dei opened its doors August 25, 1993, with 101 Kindergarten through 4th grade students. In 1997, Alpine Lutheran Church offered an additional site for another primary school. After 10 years of operation, Rockford Lutheran Schools consolidated the two academies at the Gloria Dei site and renamed the school "Rockford Lutheran Academy." The program now numbers over 350 students in Pre School through 6th grade at the Academy and 650 students in the Jr. & Sr. High School.

Enrollment in 2007

(Enrollment numbers as of 09/04/07)

All High School faculty are State Certified and average 16 years teaching experience

Graduate profile in 2007

* ACT scores: Composite 23.5 (State 20.5; National 21.1)
* 100% Graduation Rate
* 100% went on to post high school institutions
** 79% to 4 year institutions
** 21% to 2 year institutions
* 19 IL State Scholars in 2007
* Academic and Athletic Scholarships - $1,565,300

Course offerings and academic information

Honors Courses are offered in Math, Science, English, Foreign Language, and Social Studies
- AP testing is offered in Anatomy/Physiology, Physics II, College Calculus, Foreign Language, and Senior Honors English
- More than 85% of students who have taken AP tests are successful in receiving college credit
6 year study in 3 Foreign Languages (French, German, and Spanish)
Computer applications and programming
Award winning programs in Art, Band, Choir, Orchestra and Drama
- Students receive ratings of Division I in competition
Rockford Lutheran Junior High Students average 3 years above national averages.
89% of Jr. & Sr. High school students participated in an extra-curricular activity in 2006-2007
Stanford testing in grades K – 6. Student’s average 2 - 3 grade levels above the national and state averages
Foreign Language – Spanish is taught at all grade levels in Pre School – 6
Before/After School Day Care
- Students are attended to from 6:30 A.M. – 7:45 A.M. for before care and from 3:15 P.M. – 5:30 P.M. for after care
Music/Art and other Special Fine Arts Programs including Band and Orchestra, Drama / Music, Computer, Art, Gym, Library

Athletics and extra-curricular activity

The High School (grades 9-12) competes in the Big Northern Conference. The Junior High School (grades 7-8) competes in the Northern Conference. The school has three Gymnasiums, lighted Field and Track Complex, and a State-of-the-Art Weight Room.

Rockford Lutheran High School Sports
Boys - Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Track, Wrestling
Girls - Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Spirit Squad, Tennis, Track, Volleyball

Rockford Lutheran Jr. High School Sports
Boys - Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Soccer, Track, Wrestling
Girls - Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Spirit Squad, Track, Volleyball

2006-2007 Sports Summary
* 51 All-BNC Performers
* 2 BNC Team Championships – Golf (B), Soccer (G)
* 6 IHSA Regional Team Titles – Girl. X-Country (G), Golf (B), Golf (G), Basketball (G), Basketball (B), Baseball
* 2 IHSA Sectional Team Titles – Golf (B) & Soccer (G)
* 1 IHSA State Team – 3rd Place Finish – X-Country (G)
* 1 IHSA State Team Title – G. Soccer
* IHSA State Individual Qualifiers
* IHSA All-State Individual Performers
* 5 School Records in Track
* 11 IHSA State Track Qualifiers – Boys (2) and Girls (9)

Illinois Drill Team Association includes 2 Regional Championships, 2 Sectional Championships, and 1 State Championship.

Senior High School Team History includes 41 Conference Championships, 33 Regional Championships, 2 District Championships, 9 Sectional Championships, 3 Super-Sectional Championships, 14 State Tourney Appearances, and 1 State Champion.

Junior High School Team History State Championships include 5 Cheerleading, 5 Girls Track, 4 Boys Track, 4 Boys Basketball and 2 Volleyball.

Special Interest Competitions include Creative Writing Contest, Student Journalism, Illinois High School Sectionals, IL Art Education Youth Art Contest, and 65th Young Artist Show.

Academic Teams include Math Science Bowl, Worldwide Youth in Science, Engineering, Math Team, and Model UN.

External links

* [http://www.rockfordlutheran.org Official website]