Enrollment in Lutheran schools, as well as in Catholic and other Christian schools, is increasing. Only 24 percent of the students in ELCA congregations are members of that church body. Many ELCA schools represent a racial and ethnic diversity not commonly found in other settings in our church. Financial support from government sources is minimal. The supporting congregations usually provide the facilities.
Tuition accounts for the vast majority of school income.
Because the schools are small, administrative overhead is comparatively low. Lutheran school teachers are college graduates and are usually certified by the state. However, some states certify only public school teachers. The Roman Catholic school system is by far the largest church-related school system. While the number of schools has declined significantly during the past three decades, Catholic schools have seen a slight increase in enrollment in more recent years.