Wisconsin Lutheran High School


Wisconsin Lutheran High School, commonly referred to as WLHS or Wisco, is a private preparatory religious high school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. WLHS was formed when the Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, founded in 1903, split in the 1950s over doctrinal differences. Both resulting schools are use the 1903 founding date and are thus the oldest Lutheran high schools in the United States. WLHS is owned and operated by various Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod congregations in the Milwaukee area.

Curriculum

Wisconsin Lutheran High School's curriculum includes Advanced Placement courses, Project Lead the Way – a high-level engineering curriculum, and a Resource Center for those who need academic support. WLHS has attained accreditation at the exemplary level through Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation, Wisconsin Religious and Independent School Association, and the National Council for Private School Accreditation.

Student life

Students are required to attend a chapel service for 20 minutes each day. At school dances, students are permitted only to bring a date of the opposite gender. WLHS does not allow pregnant students to appear in any "school-related activities where the general public is present". According to the school's 2018-19 handbook, "the privilege of participation in all school-related activities where the general public is present will be denied for the remainder of the school year" if a student continues enrollment while pregnant. While pregnant students are permitted to participate in their senior graduation service, the administration reserves the right to restrict participation if the student "exhibits an unrepentant or rebellious attitude at some time during the pregnancy or if the student's physical well-being may be at risk", according to the handbook. The handbook does not state any restrictions for male students that caused pregnancy.

PAVE

Wisconsin Lutheran High School is a PAVE school. PAVE is an independent, non-profit foundation funded through corporate, foundation and individual support. It aims to give low-income families in Milwaukee options when selecting schools for their children.

Athletics

WLHS won state Division III football championships in 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2014. It was runner up in 2003 and 2011. The school won the Division II basketball state championship for the first time in 2009. and again in 2014. The WLHS boys cross country team has won the WIAA Division 2 State Championship three times: in 2011, 2013, and 2014. In 2019 the girls track team made it to state and took home a state champion title for the first time.
The high school's cheerleading program has won nine state championships and in 2009 made it to finals at the National High School Cheerleading Competition in Orlando, Florida. They reached sixth place at the competition. WLHS was also a national finalist in 2011 and 2015.

Extracurricular activities