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Lutheran Elementary Education in the St. Louis Community

Explore the history, enrollment trends, challenges, and support for Lutheran elementary education in the St. Louis community. Discover how Lutheran schools integrate faith and academics to serve students from diverse backgrounds. Learn how you can support and promote Lutheran education for the next generation.

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Lutheran Elementary Education in the St. Louis Community

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  1. Lutheran Elementary Education in the St. Louis Community Lutheran Elementary School Association (LESA)

  2. Lutheran Education: Where are we today? • Elementary Schools: • Enrollment appears to have steadied following decline from 1970s through early 2000s • Schools are an outreach ministry, given the number of non-Lutheran and unchurched students they serve • Schools continue to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all students; LESA curriculum guides integrate Lutheran doctrine with state (MO & IL) and national educational standards • Collective school assessment measured through nationally-recognized testing instrument reflects an average of 77% of students score in top 50th percentile, and an average of 43% scoring in top 25th percentile 1

  3. Lutheran Education: Where are headed? • Elementary Schools: • Continuing to see move towards an outreach ministry, attracting more students from non-Lutheran families • More families requiring financial aid to afford the cost of Lutheran schools • Struggle with calling/hiring & retaining faculty • Cost of Concordia University tuition • Cost of offering competitive salary and benefit packages • Schools struggling to offer innovative programing due to cost • Schools needing more support from the Lutheran community • Schools will need to increase collaboration to support Lutheran education as a ministry in whole 2

  4. Historical View of Lutheran Elementary Schools 3

  5. Historical View of Lutheran Elementary SchoolsEnrollment 4

  6. Enrollment in Lutheran Schools K-82008/2009 – 2018/2019 Academic Years 5

  7. Lutheran Elementary Student Demographics 2012-2013 – 2018/2019 6

  8. LESA Tuition-Assistance Award HistoryBuilding Blocks Scholarship Fund (BBSF) 7

  9. LESA Tuition-AssistanceApplications and Awards 8

  10. LESA Tuition-AssistanceDemographics of Recipient Students 9

  11. Challenges for Lutheran Education • Tuition costs • Declining urban residency (flight) that began in 1970s resulting in school closures • Changing socio-economic demographics in the STL region • Declining Lutheran/Christian faith membership & number of children in these families • Quality public school districts and access to support services & extra-curricular activities • Societal view of liturgical denominations • Perception of quality of/programs offered at faith-based schools • Competition with other faith-based and private schools 10

  12. How Can You Help? • Pray for your/all Lutheran schools • Recognize the impact of Lutheran school ministry – often one of the largest supported by the congregation & one that directly impacts our future • Encourage members to consider Lutheran education for their children • Be visible in the school building during the school day & during family events • Speak about Lutheran education – word of mouth is best • Encourage financial support of your church and/or Lutheran school and/or LESA (dollars, facilities, etc.) • Develop need-based tuition-assistance programs • Know the “elevator speech” about your school/Lutheran education • Encourage & demonstrate congregational & school collaboration • Support marketing/outreach efforts of your/neighboring Lutheran school and LESA • Support school, church and LESA development efforts 11

  13. How LESA Serves… • Need-based tuition-assistance through its Building Blocks Scholarship Fund • Professional development for school principals & teachers in areas of educational leadership, school & classroom management, curriculum, data analysis, educational innovations & best practices, admissions & marketing, instructional methodology • Curriculum guides on 5-year rotation which meet MO & IL state and national educational standards which integrate Lutheran doctrine into each subject area • Educational & other resources including Colonial Williamsburg Summer Teacher Institute, move to updated, uniform student assessment instrument with financial assistance to mitigate impact of change, aggregation program to save schools & congregations dollars on natural gas costs, grant resources, and various other programs • Lutheran education marketing through LESA messaging and provides forums for principals and marketing & admissions staff to learn & share best practices in school marketing & admissions • STEM program to elementary schools: launched K – 4th grade in 2018, anticipated 4th – 8th grade program launch August 2019 utilizing shared-resources and virtual learning environment for educators to share school-day instructional experiences • LESA is an RSO of the LCMS and has been granted 501(c)3 status as a public charity with the IRS. • LESA programs and services are supported by individual & business donations, foundation grants, special events. 13

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