Concordia School To Shut Down After 68 Years
Final day of class to be held on June 8, according to school.
After 68 years educating area children, the Concordia Lutheran School in Hyattsville will be shutting down at the end of this school year.
The last day of classes will be June 8, capped by a 2 p.m. closing service at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, according to a message posted on the school's website.
The school was founded in 1944, and served about 200 students from preschool through the eighth grade on its two campuses, one on East West Highway and the other on Longfellow Street. The church was managed as a joint ministry by the two congregations of Redeemer Lutheran Church and Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mount Rainier.
A message dated May 17, posted to the school's website earlier today, mourned the loss of the institution.
"Concordia wasn't perfect but we count the many blessings and memories and say, "Thank you God, for Concordia Lutheran School," read the message, signed by former Concordia teacher and current church member Eleanor Droege. "Have you heard it said that when God closes one door, he opens another?"
Among the "blessings and memories" which Droege recalled were the opportunity for local Lutheran instruction, the Christmas pageants, the packed lunches and field trips.
"If you were a teacher or had multiple children with a big age span, or were children of former students, Concordia was a big chunk of your life," wrote Droege. "Especially in the early years, many children were members of Trinity or Redeemer. Because of Concordia, many wonderful families became members of either of these two churches."
Details on the reason behind the decision to close the school were not immediately available. Phone calls to the school were not answered at the time of this writing.
In This article
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Concordia Lutheran School
3799 E West Hwy, Hyattsville, MD -
Redeemer Lutheran Church
3799 E West Hwy, Hyattsville, MD
I. Stutely
4:23 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
I graduated from CLS in 2003. I attended the school from K-8th grade and graduated as the valedictorian of my class. I learned not only academic lessons at Concordia, but many leadership and civic lessons that I continue to hold to this day as a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University. CLS was not only a school to me, but it was also extended family. I am saddened by the news of its closing.
Michael Theis
4:33 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
I too am saddened by this news. A number of my schoolboy friends were students at CLS.
Michael Theis
4:34 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Also, their concrete tube playground was perhaps my favorite one in town, second only to the wooden splinter machine which used to grace Hyattsville Elementary School.
Rick Hudson
5:38 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Mrs. Droege was my Kindergarten teacher 33 years ago. Thanks to her I know how to tie my shoes and sing the alphabet song and "This Light of Mine"!!! As the years went by the lessons got more complex. I thank Concordia for laying the foundation for me to become the man I am today.
Judy Frfiel
7:33 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Concordia is so much a part of our family. I went there many many years ago, as did my brother, and my children and grandchildren also went there. It has been a wonderful school, and the teachers were wonderful.
Paul Rogers
9:16 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
So sad to see it close! I lived down the street from the one on 37th Avenue.
Many friends went to school there. wonder what will happen to the school
building? So many changes....
Jeff Burkee
10:02 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012
Concordia had 75 students this academic year and based on enrollment projections for the coming year 2012-2013, it was not financially feasible to open the school for another year. Concordia had already consolidated to one campus - the Redeemer site - and taken many other cost saving measures. Directed advertising was used along with re-branding but to no avail. It is indeed a sad day for this community and for Christians in general when a school like Concordia has to close its doors. The community can rejoice; however, for the many blessings God has bestowed through Concordia to the community over these many years through its staff and graduates. To God Be the Glory!
Robin Miller
5:44 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012
Concordia Lutheran was literally in my backyard, growing up on Kennedy Street in the 50s and 60s. Though I was not a student, I have many fond memories of the campus, playing on the playground, sledding down the hill onto 38th Street, roller skating on the sidewalk by the ball field and learning to ride my 2-wheeler bike on the playground ... oh, and wax papering the slide. It has been years since I was last in my old neighborhood but certainly many changes have taken place. So very sorry for this positive loss to the Hyattsville community.
Carrie
12:39 am on Friday, May 25, 2012
I attended Concordia K-8, class of 1990. And I too had Mrs. Droege for Kindergarten. To this day she remains one of my favorite and most memorable teachers. My mother also worked for the school for many years, primarily as an aide for the first grade. I even worked at Concordia one summer as a counselor in their day camp. I wish the best to all the staff and hope the remaining students will still be able to have the fond memories of Concordia I have had.