FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
As a ministry of St. Stephens Lutheran Church, St. Stephens Lutheran School responds to God’s command in the Scriptures to bring up children in the training and instruction of the Lord so they can model the Christian lifestyle and strive for academic excellence. The school, student, home, church, and community partner to carry out the God-given responsibility to “feed My lambs.” John 21:15
The school opened in 1943. Lutheran schools have been offering excellence in Christian education in the United States since 1847.
St. Stephens Lutheran Church belongs to the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
No, you do not have to be a member of St. Stephens Lutheran Church; however, worship attendance is encouraged either at St. Stephens Lutheran or your own church.
SSLS offers 3-year-old preschool through Grade 8. Children must be three years old by the program starting date to enter preschool and five years old by August 31 to enter kindergarten.
School begins each day at 8:15am and dismissal is at 3:10pm.
SSLS is fully accredited by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the National Lutheran School Accreditation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and AdvancED program.
State approved textbooks are used for subjects other than religion; the curriculum is reviewed and updated on a regular basis. Integrating the Faith, a curriculum guide for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod schools, is used at all levels.
Computer education is part of the weekly curriculum at SSLS for all students, K-8, and we offer Spanish to all K-8 students each week, too.
Our preschool classes are limited to 18-20 students depending on the age of the children. To ensure a quality school program, our normal class size is 20 students per class, K-8. A teacher assistant is available in the primary classrooms and in larger classes at the discretion of the administration and School Board.
Each year the national Stanford 10 testing program is administered to students in Grades 1-8; classes at SSLS consistently score above the national average. Graduates of SSLS enter high school well prepared to take grade level, accelerated, or honors classes.
Appropriate field trips are offered for all students at various grade levels. Students in Grades 6-8 participate in multi-day trips to Washington, DC; Williamsburg, VA; and the Outer Banks.
Yes, SSLS has a written dress code; all students are expected to follow the dress code with parental support.
Formal parent-teacher conferences are held at the end of the first quarter of the school year; additional conferences are scheduled as needed.
After school sports are offered to students in Grades 5-8. There are also a wide variety of other curricular activities including choir, programs, concerts, and drama.
Hot lunches are available on a daily and optional basis; we comply with the National School Lunch Program guidelines.
SSLS offers before school care starting at 7:00am on school days, and after school care is from 3:15-6:00pm. Contact the school office for information and fees.
Parents desiring to enroll their child are requested to make an appointment with the Admissions Corrdinator. The purpose of this meeting is to get to know each other and to acquaint new parents with the purpose and goals of our school, and we can answer any additional questions in regard to the school or its program. The Admissions Coordinator will assist the family with the enrollment process.
St. Stephens Lutheran School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, enrollment policies, athletic policies, and other school-administered programs.