History of TLS
| Educating and inspiring Houston children for over 130 Years | |
| Trinity Lutheran School dates back to the founding of Trinity Lutheran Church Downtown in 1879. Lutheran schools pre-date public school in America by 200 years. The first Lutheran school opened in 1640. By the time of the Revolutionary War, there were approximately 70 Lutheran schools in the colonies. By 1820 there were at least 400 Lutheran schools in America. Our congregation and school is a member The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, organized in 1847. We are proud of our heritage, and our staff has been and will continue to be committed to strengthening the whole child spiritually, scholastically, physically, emotionally, and socially. | |
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| Abbreviated history of our growth and development, mirroring the expansion of downtown Houston: | |
| 1879: | Trinity Lutheran School was founded on the same day Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized, November 9, 1879. Classes were first held on the second floor of Mr. F. Schnaucke home, where initial church services were also conducted. |
| 1881: | Our first school building was constructed in back of the church on the West side of Louisiana Street (presently the 400 block) between Preston Avenue and Prairie Avenue in downtown Houston and served until 1903. |
| 1903: | TLS erected a white frame schoolhouse on Youngs Avenue, the first building on the street, which served until 1933. |
| 1933: | A modern brick school building was erected on the Riesner property, complete with a library and auditorium/gymnasium, classrooms, and basement with kitchen, dining area, and bowling lanes. Total cost: $35,000. |
| 1946: | TLS initiated a Kindergarten class. |
| 1970: | Trinity Lutheran School and Messiah Lutheran School joined their Christian Day Schools, becoming Trinity-Messiah Lutheran School. Kindergarten classes were held at the Messiah location at Roy and Rose Streets, off Washington Avenue. |
| 1985: | An Extended Care Program was initiated for day school students on the Trinity campus. |
| 1989: | The Lottman Building at the corner of Washington and Houston Avenues was acquired, remodeled, and renamed the Trinity Annex. The two-story addition housed the Seventh and Eighth Grade classrooms and Extended Care. |
| 1994: | Trinity Lutheran Children's Center, across the street at 1316 Washington Avenue, was dedicated and the early childhood program opened its doors in 1996. |
| 1996: | Trinity's Christian Life Center was dedicated on September 29, 1996, providing new facilities for Trinity-Messiah Lutheran School including Kindergarten, gymnasium, computer room, library, Extended Care, school offices, and conference rooms. |
| 1999: | Trinity-Messiah Lutheran School celebrated its 120th Anniversary on November 9, 1999. |
| 2001: | Trinity-Messiah Lutheran School was accredited by the State of Texas and the National Lutheran School Accreditation office. |
| 2002: | TLS was awarded an "excellent" rating for its 2001-02 Accreditation Action Plan in July 2002. In August 2002 the 30-year partnership between Messiah Lutheran Church and Trinity Lutheran Church was dissolved and the name of our school was changed back to Trinity Lutheran School. |
