Frequently Asked Questions
Q – Where is the school located?A – Crean Lutheran South is leasing a brand new education facility at 4947 Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA 92604, on the St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church campus until the school’s permanent facility is completed.Q – Where is the permanent site going to be located?
A - On a beautiful 18 acre parcel of land located at Sand Canyon and Portola Parkway. With an additional and adjacent 11 acres, this campus will be nearly 30 acres.Q - When does the school hope to move to its permanent site?
A – Construction is underway -- and we anticipate moving into our new campus in the fall of 2010.Q – What grade levels will CLSHS have during the 2010-11 Academic Year?
A – The 2009-10 academic year was Crean Lutheran’s first year with all four grade levels. Enrollment projections for the 2010-11 school year anticipate 150 Freshmen, 115 Sophomores, 120 Juniors, 75 Seniors, for a total enrollment of 450.
Q – What is the estimated enrollment capacity after the school moves to its permanent site?
A – The school’s enrollment is expected to grow to somewhere around 1,200 students.
Q – What is CLSHS’s average class size?
A – Crean Lutheran South’s average class size is 17, with a maximum threshold of 25 students per class. Specific class sizes will vary depending upon subject matter
Q – Does a student have to be Lutheran to attend Crean Lutheran South?
A – No. Lutheran South is open to all students (families). However, Lutheran South will teach and operate from a Christian worldview perspective. While Crean Lutheran South is a Lutheran school and is anchored firmly in the evangelical heritage of Reformation theology in which salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ is foundational (please see our “belief statement” on our web site) and is to be proclaimed to all. Lutheran South also recognizes and respects the “enormous common ground of Christianity” (C. S. Lewis) and the rich heritage of the broader Christian Church.
Q – How is the school day structured?
A – Lutheran South utilizes an 8-period, modified block schedule, which rotates four, 80-minute periods every day. (Ex: On alternating days – Periods 1,3,5,7. Next day Periods 2,4,6,8, etc.)
Q - What is Crean Lutheran South’s educational philosophy?
A – At its core, CLSHS exists to proclaim Jesus Christ through excellence in education. This means each faculty, staff, and administrative member is charged with teaching and modeling the Gospel message at all times, and in every way. The Lutheran Church has a rich history of success in doing so, as the Lutheran school system is the largest Protestant school system in the United States. Moreover, the U.S. Department of Education, in a recent survey, ranked the Lutheran system of private education highest academically among all other schools, including public, Catholic, charter, other Protestant, or other private schools.
Q – What do the curriculum offerings look like?
A – Crean Lutheran High School offers a comprehensive, college prep curriculum, inclusive of a full complement of honors and AP classes as well as access to online classes that satisfy the University of California’s A-G list for college admissions and planning purposes. Additionally, Crean Lutheran South offers several dual credit high school and college courses which bring visiting Christian professors to teach selected classes on the Crean Lutheran South. At present, 23% of our current students are enrolled on at least one of these classes.
Q – What kind of athletic program does CLSHS offer?
A – The school provides a collegiate model athletic department that, with Christ as its cornerstone, seeks to grow each student spiritually, mentally, and physically. This model is predicated on the selection of quality coaches who develop CLSHS’s student-athletes with the most current training methods, while coaching them in competition with proven systems that best serve the needs of the team and student.
Crean Lutheran South fields 16 boys and girls teams in the areas of cross country, volleyball, basketball, track & field, baseball, soccer, golf, tennis, and competitive cheerleading. Next year CLSHS will add football and softball, with the desire to also add wrestling, boys’ and girls’ water polo and swimming.
CLSHS competes in the Academy League of the CIF.
Q – How does Crean Lutheran South accommodate students interested in the performing & visual arts, leadership, and club activities?
A – Crean Lutheran South has placed a premium on cultivating important educational partners. One such partner is the Pacific Symphony, with whom CLSHS is planning a community music school. Relationships with IVC and CUI for facility use over the next two years will also complement the school’s already outstanding performing arts program, led by renowned concert pianist Rob Blaney. Guiding the visual art program is published illustrator and professional artist Jeannie Mooney. The CLSHS faculty is guiding an array of important campus activities such as student government, clubs, yearbook, cheerleading, and more. In order to grow these programs to their full potential CLSHS has in its master plan a design to incorporate a performing arts facility to house comprehensive choir, band, and orchestral endeavors, and 21st century, state-of-the art classrooms for maximum utility.
Q – Are uniforms required?
A - Yes. CLSHS believes in a school culture that values personal professional appearance from its faculty and staff, and from its students. CLSHS has partnered with Uniforms4U, located in San Juan Capistrano, which offers a variety of uniform options and colors are made available for students’ individual tastes.
Q-Can CLSHS assist us with identifying rideshare opportunities from our area?
A – Absolutely. CLSHS maintains an updated rideshare directory to connect motivated families who wish to share this responsibility. To be placed on this list, a family simply needs to complete the rideshare directory form and return it to the front office. Additionally, Crean Lutheran will be operating bus service for the 2010-11 academic year. Two routes will run daily -- one north and one south. Please see our website or call the office for details.
Q – Can I access my student’s schedule of classes and grades online?
A - Each student may access h/her schedule of classes online through Focus, Crean Lutheran South’s school information system. Students and parents are each taught how to access this information as part of the 2-hour training class CLSHS provides its students when laptop computers are issued.
Q - Does the school have a food vendor that provides nutrition break and lunchtime fare?
A - Yes. Alegre Foods, a well respected vendor that provides food service to numerous schools around Southern California, provides service during nutrition break and during lunch. The “Student” link on the CLSHS web site features a Food Menu link that outlines daily offerings for families to consider. To learn more about Alegre, please visit: www.alegrefoods.com.
Q - What time does the Student Union open in the morning, and when does it close in the afternoon?
A - The CLSHS Student Union opens each at 7:00 a.m. and closes at 4:00 p.m. This area offers students dedicated space to congregate and study before and after school.
Q.How can I make sure that I’m receiving all the latest information from the school?
A - Crean Lutheran South is committed to making sure its families remain informed. To this end, CLSHS not only maintains a current web site, it also distributes a weekly e-news update, while also distributing a monthly newsletter, in both electronic and printed formats. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please contact the CLSHS Front Office, 949-387-1199, to make sure the school has a pathway to keep you informed.
Q – What is the cost of tuition, and are there other costs?
A – Tuition for the 2010-11 school year is $10,995. The cost of tuition covers the cost of instruction, a laptop computer for each student, SAT-ACT preparation services through Princeton Review, and college and career planning services, which are augmented by year-by-year college planning assessments. Additional expenses include uniforms (est. $250), books (est. $350), and participation fees for extracurricular
