Lutheran North Academy Closing Announcement
Date: April 22, 2024
Dear Lutheran North Community,
After prayerful consideration and review, the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Education Association of Houston has made the very difficult decision to close Lutheran North Academy at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year. Just moments ago, we informed the faculty and staff of this decision. We understand that this is unexpected and painful news for many members of our LNA community, including us.
Even though the 2023-2024 school year began with lower-than-expected enrollment, early signs in the 2024-2025 admissions season gave us hope for growth. Throughout the year, we closely tracked increased interest and visits from prospective students, and we were excited about potential enrollment gains. It was only recently that most of those prospective families, and unexpected current families, made their final decisions to choose other school options, leaving us with critically low enrollment for next year. During the last few weeks, it became apparent that next year’s enrollment would be too low to operate the school.
This is not a decision that the Board of Directors wanted to make. We care deeply about Lutheran North Academy, its mission, and most importantly, our students, staff, and families. LEAH has faithfully supported and invested in LNA for over 20 years of declining enrollment and have implemented many strategies and changes in hopes of sparking a turnaround. This included significant changes and investments this academic year that we hoped would start a trend towards growth and financial viability. Unfortunately, the continued decline in enrollment makes the decision to close the school a necessary one.
This decision is also painstaking for the current school administration. The Korte’s and Zehnder’s sacrificed greatly to move to Houston just this last year. The administrative team did not want the school to close at the end of the 2023-2024 school year and hoped to be given additional time to make improvements and stimulate growth. They quickly grew to love LNA’s students, faculty, staff, and ministry and are disappointed the school is closing.
Lutheran North Academy will continue to operate fully through the end of the 2023-24 academic year to ensure our students, staff, and families can successfully complete this semester. All academic, extracurricular, and end-of-year activities and events will occur as planned.
We tried to anticipate many questions you may have in the LNA Closing FAQ Document (click the link to view or visit our website to see the FAQs). The FAQs also contain information about ways LEAH can assist current families in transitioning to next year. We will work diligently to support our families in the coming months.
We understand this is a difficult time and there are many questions or concerns you may have. In addition to the attached FAQ document, we will be holding two parent meetings tomorrow, Tuesday, April 23, for you to ask any additional questions that you have. We would like to spend the school day on Tuesday caring for our students and teachers. We respectfully ask that you bring your questions to the two designated meeting times below:
● Current 6-9th grade families - 5:00 PM in the school cafeteria
● Current 10-12th grade families - 6:00 PM in the school cafeteria
Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 23, LNA’s bell schedule will be adapted to provide students with time to process this decision with their friends, faculty members, and outside pastors/counselors, if desired. Classes will have a lighter schedule and all of tomorrow’s quizzes and exams will be postponed.
Also, there will be no school on Monday, April 29th to allow families time to seek enrollment opportunities at other schools.
For 44 years, Lutheran High North and Lutheran North Academy have faithfully served the students and families in north Houston. We want to thank all of those who have poured their lives into making LNA a wonderful place to learn about Jesus’s love and become disciples of the Gospel Message. To the past and current students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members who have loved Lutheran North, we honor your contributions to the wonderful Christian culture that existed regardless of enrollment numbers.
Please join us in thanking the current faculty and staff at LNA. For the past few years, they have faced difficult changes and repeated hard news. Still, through it all, they have faithfully served God and their students to the very best of their abilities. We thank them for their dedication and sacrifices. We are sorry for delivering such bad news to such wonderful people.
Most importantly, we apologize to our students for the uncertainty and hurt this decision causes. We would never make this decision if it wasn’t absolutely necessary. Thank you for making LNA a great place to go to school, learn, and have fun. We will also work hard to support you in any way we can in the coming months.
During difficult times like these, I’m reminded that our powerful God walks with us through these trials. We pray that this same God provides you with peace and comfort as you navigate this difficult time.
In Christ,
R. Scott Fogo Kurt Rosenhagen
LEAH Executive Director LEAH Chairman of the Board of Directors
