About Lutheran Schools
We Foster Education
Schools in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod serve children in early childhood programs through grade 12 in over 1,900 schools nationwide and 3 schools internationally. Additionally, 9 colleges and universities operate to serve post secondary and graduate students across the nation.
We Pursue Excellence
In a Christ-centered religiously integrated curriculum Lutheran schools meet or exceed state standards for high quality schools. Through National Lutheran Schools Accreditation (NLSA) schools complete a rigorous self-study, are reviewed by a team of peers and implement initiatives that provide a continuing program of excellence for students.
We Show the Love of Christ
Caring, Christian teachers share the Word of God daily with children and families. Strengthening a home, school and church partnership, through an education of the whole child, students are prepared and equipped for a life of Christian citizenship and discipleship.
We Innovate
Lutheran schools continually evolve to meet the needs of students and the communities they serve. Classical schools, academies, robotics, athletics, STEM, service learning, resource programs, drama, fine arts, blended classrooms and virtual schools are the many opportunities that students can explore and experience in reaching their full potential.
Why Lutheran Schools?
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Strengthening Congregations:
Lutheran schools equip children to become Christian leaders in the congregation. The school also involves young parents in congregation activities more than in congregations without schools. These young parents frequently become new leaders of the congregation. Students are encouraged to become future pastors and teachers, ensuring an ongoing supply of church workers.
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Nurturing Faith:
Faith is nurtured by daily proclamation of the Gospel, teaching children the Word of God and how to read and understand that Word on their own, and by modeling and challenging students to live the Christian faith.
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A Safe Place:
Unfortunately, in many communities children are not safe. Lutheran schools provide places where children don’t have to worry about being attacked verbally or physically. Loving teachers and other staff members daily demonstrate Christ’s love for them and their love for children.
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Strengthening Communities:
Every community needs students who are academically qualified and have learned to practice appropriate morality and respect. Since Lutheran schools accept students from all parts of the community, they can have a strong effect on the community itself.
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Children in God’s World:
As the Christian faith is integrated into their lives, Christian decision-making and problem solving are facilitated.
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Value by Congregations:
Lutheran schools require a considerable investment of prayers, energy, money and staff. Such an investment by a congregation clearly demonstrates to the community that it places a high value on children, God’s beloved little ones.
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Seeking the Lost:
Lutheran schools, which enroll children from all parts of the community, provide new and varied opportunities for evangelism by the congregation and its staff. These opportunities are not available in any other way. That’s why Lutheran schools are considered the most effective agencies in congregational evangelism and why pastors of growing congregations with schools in nearly every case, identify the school as the congregation’s most effective outreach agency. Eighty-five percent of the fastest growing congregations in the Synod operate schools.
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Congregational Responsibility for Christian Education:
When the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod was formed, it became a requirement of Synodical membership that congregations would provide Christian education for their children. This was before public schools were available and before Sunday schools were popular. Thus a congregation was expected to operate a Lutheran School if it was to become a member of the Synod. The Great Commission was not given only to parents, but to all members of the church. A current proverb, “It takes a village,” reminds congregations that it is their corporate responsibility to provide a Christian education for the children of the congregation.
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Congregations in the Community:
As the school reaches many segments of the community, the parents who come to the school begin to inquire about the sponsoring congregation. Members frequently ask each other, Does this congregation have a school? But non-member school parents frequently ask the school, “Does this school have a church?” The congregation becomes better known in the community because of the school parents, and the school’s marketing efforts.