Immanuel Lutheran School, Alexandria

VENI PUNIA _{on Google}

Mar 6th, 2017

Great school

Costello W. _{on Yelp}

Feb 16th, 2023

Immanuel Lutheran School (ILS) suspended a Black 6th greater after exposing he was a victim of a hate crime by an 8th grader at ILS on school project TextGoogle.We had to file a police report in relation to this matter. We deemed it necessary to inform everyone that ILS treated my family inhumanely and did not address a crime against the vulnerable.The main reason is that ILS has not stated that it is safe for my kids to return to school since my first request was sent on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at 7:14:00 PM stating "After further review of attached text messages, revisiting the video, and talking with our kids, we feel that it's in our best interest to keep all of our kids at home until we receive information on how you're going to address or resolve this hate crime that was motivated by bias against race, color, sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity."Our Kids have been out of school with no response to the question above that I requested in over five different emails in the course for days.I was informed by my attorney that ILS refused to allow my children to come back to ILS without any good reason why. Please beware if you are a minority family,

Nick M. _{on Yelp}

Dec 31st, 2022

Overall, we have been very happy with ILS. Yes, it is a rather conservative Christian school and theology is part of the curriculum, as is chapel attendance once each week. But the politics do not filter into the teaching from what we have observed. What we loved most about ILS was the care and concern the teachers' have for their students, and a genuine passion and love for teaching. The lack of technology is a blessing too-kids need to learn how to think critically, read, and write which you can't substitute with an ipad or Chromebook. Also, I don't know of any other schools around here where kids begin learning Latin and cursive writing, as well as European History in the third grade. ILS is a great school, but if progressive politics are more important than the quality your child's education, it might not be for you.

Sandy A. _{on Yelp}

Oct 30th, 2021

As an ILS Mom, I'd like to respond to the review below with a few facts:(1) Communion in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) -- which runs Immanuel Lutheran School -- is closed to non LCMS members. This practice has a long pedigree.  In the early church, those who were not members were brought out of the divine service even before the supper was celebrated. The doors were closed and they were catechized in the teachings of Christ. Because the Bible teaches that the sacrament of the Lord's Supper may also be spiritually harmful if misused, and that participation in the Lord's Supper is an act of confession of faith, the LCMS communes only those who have been instructed in the teachings of our church and who have confessed their faith in these teachings. In the Immanuel church bulletin every Sunday morning, the closed (to non-LCMS members) communion policy is displayed prominently. Since Sylvie G. is not a member of the LCMS, she is not able to receive communion; however, she is entitled to receive a blessing at the altar. As a side note, it's worth noting that navigating communion is hands' down one of the most challenging parts of a pastor's Sunday morning because they are required to identify LCMS members vs. LCMS visitors vs. visiting non-members when it comes to communion.(2) Re: the accusations of racism, it is perhaps worth noting that Immanuel's senior pastor and his wife have a black child. ILS's headmaster has a biracial child. And the president of the congregation is himself a black man. Beyond that, Immanuel has many non-white members. These are hardly the hallmarks of a racist congregation. (3) It is always unfortunate and sad when a child struggles in school. Yet as a parent of school-age children at ILS, I do not want -- nor do I expect -- my children's teachers to be persistently distracted from their primary mission of teaching. It is wholly unfair to the rest of the class to have one or two children who are struggling with emotional or disciplinary problems distract the teacher, who then has to stop what they're doing and deal with those distractions in real time. I do not know the particulars of Sylvie's son's situation, but the fact that he was not doing anything "illegal, immoral or unethical" is irrelevant. If he was disrupting the classroom, distracting his fellow classmates, disrespecting his teachers, then that had to be dealt with. People send their children to private school (and pay a lot of money to do so) for a reason -- and one of those is almost always to get a better education. Educating kids becomes extraordinarily challenging, if not impossible, when one or more children are repeatedly and consistently allowed to misbehave, have outbursts, etc. In our family's experience, ILS has been an incredibly kind, loving, and supportive environment for all children. We are thankful each and every day that our children have the opportunity to go there and get a top-notch education that also happens to be Christ-focused. Furthermore, ILS is always transparent about the fact that it is not for everyone. Indeed, at the open houses (where prospective parents can take a tour of the school and talk to the administrators), The headmaster and assistant had master our very open that it's approach to education is not for everyone. I pray that Sylvie's boy has found a school that better suits his particular needs.

Silvie G. _{on Yelp}

Jun 29th, 2021

If there was negative stars, this school should get negative 5.  This school claims to be a loving and Christian school; however, if your child (6yrs) has behavior outbursts, they are quick to send your child home versus trying to help sort the issues that are causing the behavior.  Many other parents have even questioned why sending their respective child home,  when the reality is they do not have the resources nor the counseling to help your child.  With a pastor in the building and similar assistants, they will not intervene, nor try.  We took immediate action to help our son with counseling, positive emotional books, lessons learned, and change our priorities to help our son deal with his emotions.  He did not do anything illegal, immoral, or unethical.  He didn't hurt any other students.  Things that are egregious enough to put him on the home school option. In his nightly prayer, our son prayed to "be a good boy,  given another chance, and prayed to have the school Also, if you attend the church, and have extra melanin in your skin the pastor embarrasses you at the altar during communion and asks if you're a member of the church. Pastor Esget will give you a lesson, barrage you with this accusatory inquisition while people are behind you waiting their turn to accept communion.  This happened to me three times at the church.  When my mother in law from out of town wasn't asked nor my husband who is white.  Another time, myself and my mother were asked at the altar, when my husband wasn't. I watched from the front row, and he did not ask other people.  Then I looked around and noticed, there are very little people of color attending that church.   I realize later, why.  The church is not inviting or welcoming and that comes from the top.