Lutheran Schools Tops in the Nation on
"The Nation's Report Card"
By Dr. Bill Hinz, Director of School Ministry,
Texas District, Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
Accountability! Results - what difference does it make? We are becoming
a data-driven nation in regard to our schools. Whether you agree with
that direction or not, it is where we are at this moment in our nation's
history. Parents want to know if their child is receiving a quality education.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as "The
Nation's Report Card," is the only nationally representative and
continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various
subject areas. The report is in and the news is GREAT for our Lutheran
schools. In five of the eight categories we finished in first place among
nine other categorizations. In the other three we finished second. The
groups included the following: public, other religious, nonsectarian,
Catholic, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Dept. of Defense, State Department
of Education, Lutheran, and Conservative Christian.
Lutheran schools finished first in science in the 4th, 8th and 12th grades
(grades where data was gathered). In reading we finished 1st in 4th and
8th grade (data was not gathered for the 12th grade). In math we finished
2nd in 4th, 8th and 12th grades.
In 4th grade science the average Lutheran student score was 166; Catholic
school students scored at 162; conservative Christian at 159; and public
school students at 149. In 8th grade science: Lutheran - 170, Catholic
- 166, Conservative Christian - 162, and public - 149. In 4th grade reading
(2002) Lutheran - 236, Catholic - 234, Conservative Christian - 229,
and public - 217. In 8th grade math Other private students - 298, Lutheran
- 296, Catholic - 289, Conservative Christian - 286, and public - 276.
Some might argue that Lutheran schools have parents who are more involved.
Some might say that attending a Lutheran school is a choice. Some would
say that it is not fair to compare students from different types of schools
because each school type is unique. To each of these statements there
is truth. Students attending Lutheran schools are blessed to have parents
who are very concerned about the education their children receive. Students
attending a Lutheran school do so by choice. Those who do not want to
take advantage of those blessings are excused from that choice. Each
school and each school type is unique.
In Lutheran schools, in addition to teaching math, reading, science and
all the other subjects, we have the unique privilege of sharing with
students and families the most important truth of all: God has won the
victory over sin and death for eternity through the death and resurrection
of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Lutheran schools are great places to grow. We thank God for the students and families who have the privilege of attending Lutheran schools. Lutheran schools, like any schools, are not perfect. In Lutheran schools students learn that they are forgiven and that they also can forgive others because of Jesus Christ. And yes, we do thank God for great test scores. And we thank God for teachers, parents, administrators, boards and congregations who continue to strive for excellence to serve our God who gave us our gifts and talents and to serve our fellow man. Praise God for His blessings!