This is my search section here

HopeSeattleLutheran

April 22nd, 2022.

Dear Members and Friends of Hope -

Yesterday, the Seattle Lutheran High School Board of Directors announced that they have made the decision to close the school after this school year concludes. Please read their official announcement below for more detail.

As many Hope members have participated in the life of SLHS for 46 years, this is tough news for many in the Hope community as well. I encourage you to please pray for God’s comfort, strength, and hope for all those who are directly and indirectly impacted by this decision, especially current SLHS staff, students, families, and board members.

The letter from the SLHS board indicates that the SLHS board will continue to collaborate with Hope in discerning how to continue to use the SLHS building for Christian education ministry. While the closure of SLHS is a sad loss, we are optimistic about what God will yet do in the future.

I also want to extend my deep thanks to the members of our Hope Board of Directors who have worked many, many hours for the last year and a half on our partnership with SLHS. I also want to give thanks for Hope staff Kristen Okabayashi, Sally Heit, Tjaden Pals, Roger Davenport, and Jonathan Kopecky who have joined me in all making significant investments of time and energy in the ministry of SLHS for the last year and half.

If you have questions, please contact me at or Hope Board Chair, Jason Grotelueschen at

Life is often unpredictable, and too often difficult - the good news is that God is faithful to His people and His love endures forever! (Lamentations 3:22-23, Psalm 136) I encourage you to our your hope in Him, now and always!

In His Strength and Peace,

Pastor Peter

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After forty-five years of service to the West Seattle community and educating countless local students, it is with a heavy heart that the Board of Directors of Seattle Lutheran High School has decided to close the high school, effective after the conclusion of the current 2021 / 2022 academic year.

The Board of Directors reached this decision at the end of a two-year effort with Hope Lutheran Church and School, focused on creating a viable pathway forward for the high school – a pathway leading to sustainable enrollment levels, appropriate compensation for faculty and staff, and the kind of educational experience that our students so much deserved. After considering all available information for the 2022 / 2023 academic year, including enrollment, financing, and recruitment and retention of key faculty and staff, we did not see a way forward that could safely and responsibly accomplish these objectives. And so, over the next year, the Board will consider how the school facilities can best be utilized to further Christian education, to include continued collaboration with Hope Lutheran Church and School to explore a new vision for the future.

Our immediate priority, however, is to our students and families – to finish off this year like any other, to graduate the 2022 senior class, and to assist the underclass students in transitioning to other schools. Some staff will remain employed over the next year to facilitate an orderly and thoughtful closure process.

We are grateful to the Lutheran Church Extension Fund for providing the financial assistance needed to support our mission over the years. We also would like to thank the staff and Board of Hope Lutheran Church and School for their relentless efforts, support, and belief that we could see the high school succeed into the future. While our goals were not reached, we could not have made it this far without their support.

Seattle Lutheran High School was chartered in 1976 by an association of over 30 Lutheran churches in greater Seattle and opened its doors on September 17, 1978. Hope member Bob Christian was the founding principal/executive director of Seattle Lutheran High School, and Hope Pastor Clem Pera was the founding chairperson of the Seattle Lutheran High School Board of Directors. We are grateful to all the association churches who have supported the ministry of the high school through their prayers and their tithes.

The Board also recognizes the gravity of this decision and that many people will experience a range of emotions related to it. The good news is that even when times are difficult, God is faithful to His people. The prophet Jeremiah prayed these words that may be of encouragement to you as well in this time: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!” – Lamentations 3:22-23

In His Strength and Peace,

Hamilton Gardiner, President

Seattle Lutheran High School Board of Directors