Student Life

At Lake Tahoe Preparatory School, we like to say we offer the best of a big school, with all the benefits of a small one. Our cohesive community is built upon belonging, and we find students develop genuine relationships through our comprehensive student life and residential program.

Upon Arrival

At the start of each year, students partake in team building exercises  that provide hands-on challenges in teamwork, good judgment, communication skills, and real accomplishment. All students participate in week-long Outdoor Education trips in the autumn and spring.These excursions and events allow for students to get to know each other on an authentic level.

Students outside in snow

Students playing pool in lodge

Life on Campus

LTP boarding students gain a strong sense of family and community by living with usually one-two roommates in a shared room. Most rooms have a view of the surrounding Tahoe National Forest. The residential buildings have in-residence adult chaperones, free-of-charge laundry facilities, limited high-speed internet, and lounges.

Cell phones are allowed on campus, and use is generally limited to the hours after classes end. Use may also be restricted during study hall, athletic activities, and overnight. Students are expected to use cell phones only at appropriate times, and in locations which are not intrusive to other members of the community.

Dorm Parents

Our residential life faculty are known as dorm parents. Dorm parents provide essential leadership to foster a safe and comfortable home, a place where all members of the community can grow both socially and academically. Dorm parents provide help, compassion, and support along with guidance and supervision, ensuring dormitory rooms are neat and clean and that everyone is accounted for each evening.

Dorm parents outside dorm building

Students in their dorm room

Residential Life

Our Residential Life curriculum is an extension of the LTP mission to foster the importance of community service and involvement. To this end, students gather weekly for dormitory meetings in which they can express concerns or issues of general interest, and dormitory parents can relay feedback to students. Students also rotate on Kitchen Crew, where they work as a team for after-meal cleaning chores. Students serve on Dorm Crew to take out trash and ensure cleanliness of shared common areas.

2 students with counselor in lounge

Spiritual Support

LTP supports all religious beliefs and does not promote any one path of faith. Squaw Valley and Tahoe City provide spiritual ministry of many religions and denominations; transportation is available as needed.

Weekend Activities

Students enjoy weekend excursions to Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Reno, Sacramento, San Francisco, and other nearby towns and cities. Students and staff visit art and history museums, musicals, plays, shopping malls, and many other worthwhile sites. They also participate in fun activities such as movies, monthly formal dinners, disc golf, and outdoor activities.

Students walking on the beach with ice cream

A Typical Day

On a typical school day, students wake for classes at 7:00 AM, giving plenty of time to get dressed, tidy their rooms and make their beds, before heading to the dining hall for breakfast. Breakfast is from 7:30 to 7:55 a.m. While students attend their first classes of the day, room inspection is conducted. Classes are held from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily, with a half-hour lunch from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m.
 



All students enjoy daily athletics from 2:15  to 4:15 p.m. before dinner at 5:15 p.m. Several times throughout the year students enjoy a formal meal in our dining hall. Students are required to dress up and proper etiquette and conduct are expected.
 



Students have a mandatory evening study hall proctored by LTP teaching staff which runs for two hours. They work independently on homework assignments in a quiet and calm setting. Students who have earned a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher may have the opportunity to study in their dormitory rooms.
 



Often, a student’s day will include some measure of community service. Each student participates in community service over the course of the school year. Community service opportunities include the following volunteer opportunities: tree planting, trash clean up, participation in Project Mana food drive, community charity ski swap, volunteering at the retirement home, and volunteering at Far West Adaptive Ski School for disabled skiers.
 



On the weekends, a variety of activities and excursions are provided for our students. We plan all-school trips throughout the local area for recreation and cultural excursions. Students have the opportunity to sleep later on Saturday and Sunday and then enjoy  a weekend brunch from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. On weekend evenings we provide night time activities on and off campus rather than study halls. Curfew is extended to 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.