Lutheran Schools Tops in the Nation on 'the Nations Report Card.' 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, Department 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.

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!

(Author’s note: This article is in no way meant to belittle public schools or other private non-public schools. I thank God for the Christian teachers we do have in our public schools. There are many Christian students giving witness to their friends and teachers in public schools.)