Middle School: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it true that Lutheran West is starting a middle school?
A: Yes, Lutheran West is planning to have students in grades 6 through 8 starting in August 2022.
Q: Why is Lutheran West starting a middle school?
A: There is a unique opportunity at this point in time to make a middle school a reality at Lutheran West, and there are a lot of reasons for that. The middle school as it is planned will be able to offer a robust curriculum, electives, and extra-curricular activities that are currently not feasible or available at some of the area private/Christian K-8 schools and at some of our area public schools. After extensive research and planning, Lutheran West believes it is positioned to take this step now.
Q: Will the Lutheran West middle school impact the other area Lutheran K-8 schools?
A: Our administration has involved the area Lutheran K-8 schools in conversations and planning for this initiative, and it is our hope that Lutheran West’s middle school can operate alongside and/or partner with the ministries currently offered by the Lutheran grade schools. We believe that we can work together to expand and elevate Christian education in Northeast Ohio.
Q: When might we be able to start applying for the middle school?
A: As soon as late summer of 2021, our Admissions office will begin accepting applications for grades 6 through 8 for the 2022-2023 school year. We are already inviting families of prospective middle schoolers to visit us for a campus tour at any time that is convenient for them.
Q: What will the tuition cost be for the middle school?
A: Middle school tuition rates are being finalized and will be published when the application becomes available in late summer/early fall 2021.
Q: Will there be financial aid for middle school students?
A: Yes, just as we offer tuition assistance for qualifying high school students’ families, we will offer a tuition assistance program for students in grades 6-8. If you are interested in applying for tuition assistance, you’ll do so at the same time that you complete your student’s admission application.
We plan to offer available state scholarships to families who qualify. Those interested in learning more about scholarships offered by the State of Ohio can contact our Admissions office.
Q: Will middle schoolers and high schoolers be separated?
A: Lutheran West takes pride in its school community and culture of positivity, welcoming, and Christian behavior, so we’re confident that our high school students and middle school students will co-exist without issue. That being said, we have planned the middle school so that middle schoolers have their core classes and lockers in a specific area of the building which is closest to the main office and student life center, and that their passing periods and lunch periods are staggered with those of their high school counterparts.
Q: Will you be renovating the school to accommodate the middle school plans?
A: Yes. We have extensive plans to renovate and add on to our current facilities in some really exciting ways. We hope to put into practice a more robust, 21st century curriculum for both middle schoolers and high schoolers, which focuses around Centers of Excellence in the areas of arts, athletics, STEM, business & entrepreneurship, and more. Obviously to do this we’ll need to increase our spaces for these types of high-engagement, hands-on classes. Our development office and administration have detailed plans to raise the funding for these improvements and to make the renovations a reality in the next several years.
