Luther Preparatory School
Encyclopedia
Luther Preparatory School (LPS or Luther Prep), established in 1995, is a residential four-year secondary
school located in Watertown, Wisconsin
, USA and is owned and operated by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
(WELS). LPS, along with its sister prep school Michigan Lutheran Seminary
in Saginaw, Michigan
, focus on preparing students to become WELS pastors and teachers and to continue their education at Martin Luther College
(MLC), a WELS college in New Ulm, Minnesota
. Curriculum
at LPS focuses on the liberal arts
and religious studies
. In a given year, half or more LPS graduates will usually continue their studies at MLC.
LPS has enrollment of approximately 415 students, with slightly more girls than boys; three-fourths of these live in dormitories on the 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) campus
. The campus has a main classroom building, dormitories, a student union/gymnasium, an auditorium, and cafeteria. There are several sports fields, including a track, tennis courts, a football field, a soccer field, and softball and baseball fields. There are currently 35 full-time faculty members and eight additional piano instructors. Ten tutor
s live with students in the dormitories.
, a preministerial college established in 1865, and Northwestern Preparatory School
(NPS), a high school, both run by the WELS. In 1995, Northwestern College was moved to New Ulm, Minnesota
and combined with Dr. Martin Luther College to form Martin Luther College
. In the same year, Martin Luther Preparatory School
(MLPS) of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
was closed and combined with NPS to form Luther Preparatory School. The years after 1995 are known as the post-Amalgamation Era.
With the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit, this school will strive:
. LPS plays in the Capitol Conference of WIAA. LPS formerly played in the Parkland Conference. Fall sports include football and soccer for boys, volleyball and tennis for girls, and cross country for both. In the winter, there is boys' and girls' basketball. Spring sports for LPS are baseball, softball, track and field, boys' tennis and girls' soccer. Luther Prep also offer intramurals such as basketball and bowling.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
school located in Watertown, Wisconsin
Watertown, Wisconsin
Watertown is a city in Dodge and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Most of the city's population is in Jefferson County. Division Street, several blocks north of downtown, marks the county line. The population of Watertown was 21,598 at the 2000 census...
, USA and is owned and operated by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod is a North American Confessional Lutheran denomination of Christianity. Characterized as theologically conservative, it was founded in 1850 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As of 2008, it had a baptized membership of over 389,364 in more than 1,290 congregations,...
(WELS). LPS, along with its sister prep school Michigan Lutheran Seminary
Michigan Lutheran Seminary
Michigan Lutheran Seminary is a private preparatory boarding high school affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod located in Saginaw, Michigan...
in Saginaw, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, focus on preparing students to become WELS pastors and teachers and to continue their education at Martin Luther College
Martin Luther College
This article deals with the WELS-affiliated tertiary institution in Minnesota. See Luther College for the ELCA institution in Iowa.Martin Luther College is the college of ministry operated by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod...
(MLC), a WELS college in New Ulm, Minnesota
New Ulm, Minnesota
New Ulm is a city in Brown County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,522 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brown County....
. Curriculum
Curriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
at LPS focuses on the liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
and religious studies
Religious studies
Religious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives.While theology attempts to...
. In a given year, half or more LPS graduates will usually continue their studies at MLC.
LPS has enrollment of approximately 415 students, with slightly more girls than boys; three-fourths of these live in dormitories on the 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
. The campus has a main classroom building, dormitories, a student union/gymnasium, an auditorium, and cafeteria. There are several sports fields, including a track, tennis courts, a football field, a soccer field, and softball and baseball fields. There are currently 35 full-time faculty members and eight additional piano instructors. Ten tutor
Tutor
A tutor is a person employed in the education of others, either individually or in groups. To tutor is to perform the functions of a tutor.-Teaching assistance:...
s live with students in the dormitories.
History
Luther Preparatory School is the oldest Lutheran high school in the United States. It occupies the former combined campus of Northwestern CollegeMartin Luther College
This article deals with the WELS-affiliated tertiary institution in Minnesota. See Luther College for the ELCA institution in Iowa.Martin Luther College is the college of ministry operated by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod...
, a preministerial college established in 1865, and Northwestern Preparatory School
Northwestern Preparatory School
Northwestern Preparatory School was a four-year Lutheran high school founded in 1865 and located in Watertown, Wisconsin. The school merged with Martin Luther Preparatory School in 1995 to become Luther Preparatory School. It was affiliated with Northwestern College of Watertown, which merged with Dr...
(NPS), a high school, both run by the WELS. In 1995, Northwestern College was moved to New Ulm, Minnesota
New Ulm, Minnesota
New Ulm is a city in Brown County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,522 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brown County....
and combined with Dr. Martin Luther College to form Martin Luther College
Martin Luther College
This article deals with the WELS-affiliated tertiary institution in Minnesota. See Luther College for the ELCA institution in Iowa.Martin Luther College is the college of ministry operated by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod...
. In the same year, Martin Luther Preparatory School
Martin Luther Preparatory School
Martin Luther Preparatory School was a college-preparatory school located in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. It was owned by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod from 1979 to 1995, when it was closed and moved to the campus of Northwestern Preparatory School in Watertown, Wisconsin...
(MLPS) of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
Prairie du Chien is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 5,911 at the 2010 census. Its Zip Code is 53821....
was closed and combined with NPS to form Luther Preparatory School. The years after 1995 are known as the post-Amalgamation Era.
Purpose
The continuing mission and purpose of Luther Preparatory School is to prepare and encourage young men and women for the full time ministry in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.With the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit, this school will strive:
- To proclaim, teach, and apply faithfully the Word of God in all courses of instruction and in all other areas of campus life, in keeping with the holy Scriptures and the teachings of the Lutheran Confessions.
- To promote continuing spiritual growth and faithful Christian discipleship among all members of our campus family through the use of the means of grace.
- To provide a challenging academic course of study in religion, languages, history, science, mathematics, and the arts, in order to prepare students for continuing their preparation for full time ministry.
- To enable all students to develop their God-given talents by providing them with a wide range of opportunities in the areas of music, forensics, drama, athletics, social life, and Christian service.
- To promote the high calling of the public ministry through the continuing recruitment and retention of qualified students and through a positive image of the ministry among faculty members.
- To deal lovingly and evangelically with each student as a redeemed child of God, offering counseling, encouragement, and loving Christian discipline.
- To regard seriously the great trust that parents have placed in the school and to deal with all of our students in a way that reflects our role as caretakers and parental representatives.
Athletics
Prep's mascot is the Phoenix (mythology)Phoenix (mythology)
The phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians....
. LPS plays in the Capitol Conference of WIAA. LPS formerly played in the Parkland Conference. Fall sports include football and soccer for boys, volleyball and tennis for girls, and cross country for both. In the winter, there is boys' and girls' basketball. Spring sports for LPS are baseball, softball, track and field, boys' tennis and girls' soccer. Luther Prep also offer intramurals such as basketball and bowling.