Lutheran Schools . . . A Rich Tradition

Lutheran schools have thrived in the United States even before the country was founded. The first schools go back to the settlement of colonial Delaware. The oldest Lutheran school still in existence is in Manhattan and opened its doors more than 200 years ago. Early schools helped maintain the teachings of the Lutheran church and the European heritage.

More recently, Lutheran schools exist to provide top quality programs, reach out to the community they serve, and share the Christian faith to all who are enrolled. Today, Lutheran schools are the largest group of Protestant Christian schools in the country.

As the Portland metropolitan area has grown, so have the number of Lutheran schools, with the greatest growth at the early childhood level. This website is intended to provide basic information about those schools as an aid to those seeking a school. Links to the schools and other contact information are provided for further connections.

Lutheran schools exist to connect learning with faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. To that end, this website will be a tool to assist in that connection.

Types of Lutheran Schools

For the purpose of this website schools have been classified by level and region. To access information about individual schools, see the listing under the respective categories. The four levels are:

Early Childhood Schools which offer preschool classes for young children. The school may also offer child care for young children before and after class sessions. Schedules are indicated. Some early childhood programs include kindergarten classes.

Elementary Schools offering kindergarten and elementary grades are listed. Elementary schools may extend through the 8th grade. Some also offer preschool and child care programs.

High School Schools which offer grades 9-12.

College Schools offering baccalaureate and graduate programs.

Regional Listings

For the purposes of this directory, schools have been separated into four geographic regions, as follows:

Portland Area Map

North - Vancouver Schools north of the Columbia River in Vancouver, Washington

Northeast Portland & East Portland Schools east of the Willamette River extending through Gresham and eastward

South Portland Schools directly south of downtown Portland

Westside & Southwest Portland Schools in Washington County to the north and south

Affiliation

LCMS cross The schools in this listing are owned and operated by congregations of nwdist logo The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. Geographically, they are also affiliated with the Northwest District of the LCMS.

Links

Where possible, links to school and congregation websites have been provided on the respective school pages. The following links of a general nature offer connections to Lutheran school resources.

	Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS)	National church body which operates a system of teacher training programs, and provides other school related resources. Directories of schools and church workers are also provided at the site.
	Northwest District - LCMS	Regional office for Alaska, Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Provides staff and resources to schools of the region.
	Lutheran Education Association (LEA)	National independent service organization provides professional resources, conferences and consultation to church workers.
	Association of Lutheran Secondary Schools (ALSS)	Nearly 100 Lutheran high schools are affiliated through this organization which provides various professional services to schools and staff.
	LCMS School Ministry Department	Consultation, conferences, accreditation and coordination are provided from the national office of the LCMS through several staff members.
	LCMS Children's Ministry Department	Provides resources and consultation to early childhood centers and staff through a variety of means.
	Open Arms Institute	Church-affiliated organization which encourages and enables quality Lutheran childcare ministry in connection with new church planting or expanded Gospel outreach.