Wisconsin Lutheran High School Contact Magazine November 2011

Can you guess which
students attend WLHS
on a state-paid voucher?
The answer might surprise you since students
who participate in Milwaukee Parental Choice
Program (MPCP) are from every racial group
in the city. Most of those at WLHS attended
a WELS grade school and some are even
the children of those who are WELS called
workers living in the city. With the program’s
new eligibility expansion, many middle-class
families are now included in Choice.
6 CONTACT November 2011
Seats are Limited
Since WLHS entered the program in 2003, enrollment in MPCP at
WLHS has grown from 34 students in the 2002-2003 school year to 278
students this year. Seats are limited and each year more students apply
than can be accommodated. As a result, there is a random selection
process mandated by law. Due to the increased interest and growth in
enrollment at our WELS grade schools participating in Choice, there has
been increasing pressure for seats at WLHS because few quality MPCP
seats exist on the high school level.
“As a WELS parish pastor with a grade school, I want to see that our
kids get the wonderful Christian education that Wisconsin Lutheran
High School offers,” says Pastor Jeremy Mattek from Garden Homes
Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. “I understand the pressure the high
school is feeling as students who graduated from our Milwaukee WELS
grade schools can’t enter the high school because of limited seats.”
Because the program is now expanding again, the pressure is only likely
to increase. This year, the Wisconsin state legislature and Governor
Walker lifted the cap on expansion and raised the threshold for family
income. This means that more teens from more families will have this
option available to them. The pressure for seats can only increase as
the enrollment at the WELS grade schools that are participating in
MPCP also continues to swell. Parents’ calls for their students to be
able to enter WLHS will only grow louder. The administration and board
continues to work to address these concerns.
“Although not all of the teens come from
WElS congregations, the majority have come
through our grade schools. This is offering our
WElS kids a safe laboratory for evangelism.
This is helping us impact the future of the
church and positively influence the whole city.”
- Rev. Mark Henrich
Do you know how much parents can
earn and still participate in Milwaukee
Parental Choice Program?
It might surprise you that a family of four that earns $73,747 a year now
qualifies for this program if they live in the City of Milwaukee. For a
family of six, income may be as high as $96,391. If you have detailed
questions about eligibility, contact Kirk DeNoyer, our Director of
Admissions, at 414-453-4567, ext. 2303 or kirk.denoyer@wlhs.org.