Grace Lutheran to open new high school

Plans to build a new high school in Pocatello are underway, and by fall of 2016, the city could see the first freshmen class walking through the doors for the first time.

Grace Lutheran School wants to extend education past eighth grade and allow students to attend a private high school.

Grace Lutheran executive director Robert Raschke said there are already between 20 and 25 students lined up and ready to enroll and said he has been hearing a community-wide need for the private high school.

“We were approached by others in the community who said they would really like to have a private option,” Raschke said. “‘We feel like your graduates that leave the school do well in the community. They’re community leaders, and we’d like to see that transition forward into a high school.'”

Raschke also said the school will start with ninth grade only and will add a new grade each year thereafter.

He said the school is expected to break ground by June 2015 and should be completed by August or September 2016.