Education

LCMS School Ministry

Education that is Christ-Centered


The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s School Ministry assists, equips and uplifts school educators, district staff, and especially education executives and congregational leaders so that through them children may be equipped as disciples of Jesus Christ.


Why send your child to a Lutheran school?

Here is why you should send your child to a Lutheran elementary school. Lutheran schools:

  • Are driven by a commitment to the Gospel and focused on a mission of bringing hope and healing to students and families.
  • Are governed by board members who clearly understand their roles and focus on the vision and board policies that effectively govern the operation of the school.
  • Meet or exceed state and national academic standards at all grade levels.
  • Have educators who model visionary leadership. They practice stewardship of resources, build up others and empathize with others.
  • Have educators who model servant leadership. Do those served grow as persons; do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? (Robert Greenleaf)
  • Have educators who model spiritual leadership. They study God’s Word, share their personal faith story, apply Law and Gospel appropriately, exhibit a passion for ministry, act courageously, equip God’s people for service, care for others, demonstrate integrity, and pray.

 

Lutheran School Statistics — 2020-21 School Year

This report is a summary of 2020-21 school year data submitted by early childhood centers, elementary schools and high schools operated by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod along with information obtained from the LCMS School Ministry office, LCMS districts, and the LCMS Office of Rosters and Statistics.

 

Lutheran Early Childhood Centers and Elementary Schools

Congregations and Christian day schools of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod operate more than 1,600 early childhood centers and preschools, and they serve more than 100,000 children ranging from infants and toddlers to 5-year-olds.

LCMS congregations operate more than 800 elementary schools with approximately 78,000 students. More than 650 early childhood centers and elementary schools are accredited under the National Lutheran School Accreditation program.

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Lutheran High Schools

Information for more than 130 domestic and international Lutheran high schools can be found on the LCMS Locator at locator.lcms.org/school.

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International Schools

Today, the LCMS operates three international schools, and there are nearly 200 Lutheran schools operated by our partner churches worldwide.

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LuthEd.org

LuthEd.org provides Lutheran teachers with spiritual, academic and communication support. The website offers a growing array of resources, devotions and discounted services. Additional resources are being produced for the site.

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Protect My Ministry

Protect My Ministry is an employment and volunteer background screening company established to assist churches, schools and other faith-based organizations in implementing and maintaining a thorough background screening process.

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Stories



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Dr. Alan Freeman
Director

Dr. Alan Freeman, LCMS School Ministry

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Contact the LCMS

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Ministry Overview


Learn more about LCMS School Ministry by downloading this information sheet. You are welcome to download and print copies to share with your congregation, school, Bible study groups, and friends and family.

Download information sheet

 

How to Help

The LCMS Office of National Mission works within the borders of the United States to support the programs and resources available to congregations, districts, schools, Recognized Service Organizations and other Lutheran organizations.

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Mission and Vision

Seven Mission Priorities

The Lutheran Witness Magazine

Lutheran Witness February 2024

MDFL Resource Center

Making Disciples for Life - Resource Center

Million Dollar Life Match

Ready to expland your congrgation's pro-life ministry? Apply now for the Million Dollar Life Match.

Church Work Recruitment Initiative

Set Apart to Serve

Caring for Ukraine

Ukraine Support

Contact Us
 

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  Staff Switchboard: 800-248-1930
  Donor Care Line: 888-930-4438
 

 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122-7226

 

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The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Inc., including Mission Central (in Mapleton, Iowa), is an IRS registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity.

A contribution designated (restricted) for a specific purpose, when accepted, will be used only to fund expenses related to that purpose. Occasionally, we may receive more in contributions for a particular purpose than can be wisely applied to it in the foreseeable future or the purpose may cease to be feasible. In these situations, the LCMS will make reasonable attempts to contact contributors to apply their contribution toward another aspect of ministry that aligns closely the contributor’s goals and values. If a contributor cannot be contacted, the LCMS will use the gift to meet a similar pressing need that most closely matches the contributor's original intent.

Consistent with Synod Board policy and in recognition of a more challenging economic and philanthropic/fundraising environment due to inflationary pressure, not more than 12.5 percent of any charitable contribution will be allocated to administering gifts and communicating with contributors (compared to a not-more-than ceiling of 10.5 percent the previous fiscal year). Contributions received and accepted by the LCMS are deemed to be in agreement with this statement.

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