Why should you 

consider a Lutheran education?

  • Enhancement of spiritual growth - As parents, it is your job to ensure your children are being grounded in their faith, a faith that will not leave them as they become adults. Your children may be attending Sunday school, but think of how much more their daily walk with God will be enriched as they are being taught Bible stories and Christian values five additional days per week.

  • An atmosphere of Christian love and support - In a world that is increasingly secular and anti-religious, we believe it is imperative to nurture a saving faith in children to prepare them for their lives as Christian adults, positively contributing to society. Bible stories, Christian values and memory work are taught every day. Students partner for daily all-school devotions and weekly chapel services where prayer, Christian concern, and support is shared.
  • Continuity - Children are learning the same Christian values at school that they learn in their Christian home and church.  The Christian values of their family are reinforced at school.

  • Christian peers for your children - In today's society, peer pressure to participate in unwholesome activities is strongly present at younger ages than ever before. LSUS provides your children with Christian friends who come from families that are dedicated to Christian education.


LSUS is a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

Q: How have LCMS schools grown since 1971?

There has been a steady growth in the total number of Lutheran schools, which peaked at 2,525 schools in 2006.  That includes a significant growth in the number of free-standing early childhood centers, which reached a high of 1,406 in 2009.  In addition, there has been growth in the number of Lutheran high schools, reaching a high of 108 in 2009.  During the last three years, the economy has had an impact on the number of elementary schools.  The Lutheran Church-Missori Synod has lost over 100 of those schools.

Q: How many students are currently enrolled?

The 2011-2012 school year saw 243,212 students enrolled in all Lutheran schools. That includes 128,351 in early childhood programs, 98,213 in grades K-8, and 16,648 in Lutheran high schools.

Q: How many schools are currently in existence?

There are currently 2382 Lutheran schools in the United States.  That number breaks down to 1,393 free-standing early childhood centers, 899 pre-K through Grade 8 schools, and 90 Lutheran high schools.

Q: How many teachers are there?

There are 16,000 teachers serving the 2,382 Lutheran schools.  That number includes both full-time and part-time teachers.

Q: What is the average teacher's salary?

For first-year teachers at the elementary level, the average salary is $28,800.  For an experienced teacher with a bachelor's degree serving at the elementary level, the average salary is $32,167.  The average starting salary for a Lutheran high school teacher in 2010 was $29,000 with the average for all high school teachers with a bachelor's degree being $37,855.

Q: What makes the LC-MS parochial school system unique?

The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod operates the largest, single-denomination, non-Catholic, Christian school system in the United States.  While those numbers have declined in the past decade due to demographic and financial issues, the Church has been able to maintain and enhance the quality of her school system.  The large schools are getting larger, and many are becoming the school of choice in their neighborhoods.

Q: What is the average cost per pupil?

Early childhood centers - $2,909
Elementary school - $6,024
High school - $9,960

Q: What is the average number of attendees?

Early childhood centers -  48
Elementary school -  110
High school -  187

Q: What is the ethnicity of students in all LCMS schools?

Caucasian - 82%
Black - 7%
Hispanic - 5%
Asian - 3%
Other - 3%

Q: What is the Student-Church affiliation?

LC-MS operating congregation - 39%
Non-Lutheran church - 36%
Un-churched - 17%
Other LC-MS congregation - 5%
Other Lutheran church - 3%

Q: Did you know?

Over 59% of LC-MS congregations operate schools and centers.
In the 2010-2011 school year, 36,556 students 
were enrolled in before-school or after-school care.