Lutheran High School of Orange County (commonly known as Orange Lutheran High School or OLu) is a private Lutheranhigh school in Orange, California, in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, founded in 1973.[2] The school offers on-campus, online, and blended schedules for its students.[3] Orange Lutheran is accredited by the National Lutheran School Accreditation Organization and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The school is also known for its Missions Program, which travels internationally and domestically on a year-round basis.[4]
History
School buildings
In the fall of 2003, the Alexandra Nechita Center for the Arts opened in the space once occupied by an old gym. The 740-seat performance hall is home to drama, dance, instrumental and vocal music productions, guest speakers and chapel services.[5]
In 2014, the school completed a round of renovations as part of its "Beyond Expectations" program which added 40,000 sq. ft. of new buildings to the school’s footprint, including a new academic center, three new classrooms, and new collaborative meeting spaces for students, teachers and parents, in addition to the student union and a 12,900 sq. ft. covered lunch area.[6]
In late 2004, Orange Lutheran partnered with the Apollo Group to offer online classes.[7] In 2013, the school launched a new enrollment system[8] and integrated tablets into its curriculum.[9]
Academics
The school operates under a two semester system and eight periods on a block schedule. Four are periods offered each day that are 75 minutes in length. All students attend Daily Gathering, which includes Praise & Worship, Chapel and school activities.[10]
Orange Lutheran incorporates 19 Advanced Placement classes into its curriculum. The Orange Lutheran Online (OLO) program allows for students to complete coursework online on a full-time basis. "Blended" schedules allow students to work online and attend on-campus classes.[3] The school also offers a STEM program.[11]
Service
All students are required to complete a minimum of 20 hours of "Service to Society" community service for each year of attendance. Five of the 20 hours will involve participation in one Service Day event each year.[12]
Athletics
Orange Lutheran has 23 varsity athletic teams, including Ice Hockey, which won back to back state titles in 2015[13] and 2016,[14] Surf, and a 2014 Track and Field State Title in the Pole Vault by Carl Johansson.[15] Athletics are divided into three seasons throughout the year: fall, winter, and spring. The fall sports feature cross country, football, girls golf, surf, girls tennis, girls volleyball, and boys water polo. The winter sports feature boys basketball, girls basketball, ice hockey, boys soccer, girls soccer, girls water polo, and wrestling. The spring sports feature baseball, boys golf, boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse, softball, swim & dive, boys tennis, track & field, and boys volleyball.[16] The school competes in the CIF Southern Section and the Trinity League.[17]
^Damast, Alison (April 19, 2007). "Be True to Your Cyberschool". Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2014. Apollo's entry into the online high school market began two-and-a-half-years ago, when the company formed a partnership with Orange Lutheran High School in California.
