HISTORY OF ST JOHN'S LUTHERAN SCHOOL

St. John’s Lutheran School opened its doors for school year 1951-52, beginning with a half-day kindergarten program, enrollment 18 students. The facility was located, with the church, at the intersection of Queen and Westwood Streets (approximate location of where the Baptist Hospital helicopter lands, if it could reach the ground). Over the years, grades one through three were added, having combination grades and a total enrollment of 100 for school year 1954-55. St. John’s Lutheran Church and School relocated to its current property, on Silas Creek Parkway, in 1959, prompted by the expansion plans of Baptist Hospital. The 1961 enrollment was 132. 

            1964 was an expansion year for the school, as pertains to enrollment and programs offered. Grade four was added and one additional kindergarten session was taught. The school consisted of three kindergartens, grade one, and a combination grade of grades two, three, and four. This program continued until enrollment numbers required the deletion of grade four. 

            Construction of two classrooms in 1971 enabled a beginning of the progressive addition of one grade per year.  Additional construction in 1973 of two more classrooms and a library finished the plan at that time and the school consisted of two morning kindergartens and separate classrooms for grades one through six. Enrollment in 1976 was 204 pupils. 

            In 1979, one kindergarten was deleted and a morning only program for 3-year old and 4-year old students was begun. This morning only program became a full-fledged day care in 1982, continuing to serve those 3-year old and 4-year old students. 

            In 1984, offices for the church and school were added. Anticipating the addition of grades seven and eight for the middle school program, double-wide trailers were put in the church parking lot in 1985. Grade eight was added with school year 1987-88. At that time, St. John’s was serving students 3-year old through grade eight, enrolling 184 students. The computer lab was built in 1992, as technology became more important in the educational process.