Beyond Enrollment: Stewarding the Growth of Christian Education
Christian school enrollment is growing—now’s the time to live the mission.
This is the third post in a series on the rise of Christian education after COVID. If you missed the earlier entries:
Part 1 — Private and Christian School Enrollment Is Surging After COVID
Part 2 — Why Families Are Choosing Private and Christian Schools After COVID
Since 2020, private and Christian schools across the U.S. have experienced remarkable growth. According to the Cato Institute, 42% of private schools are now over-enrolled, with many others reporting waitlists and record applications.
This isn’t just a trend—it’s a test of stewardship.
God is bringing new families through our doors. But what we do next—how we scale, disciple, and stay anchored—will determine whether this moment produces lasting fruit that honors the Lord.
Growth vs. Mission Drift
As schools grow, one of the most pressing challenges is protecting the mission. Growth can be exciting—but also unsettling. Long-time families may feel uneasy about changes in size, culture, or programs. New families may come from diverse church backgrounds—or none at all.
So how do Christian schools embrace growth while holding fast to its mission and biblical truth?
I would recommend that we quickly eliminate either/or thinking—growth in enrollment and fulfilling the mission are not mutually exclusive.
It is the sacred responsibility of boards and leadership teams to ensure the school’s mission and vision are not just preserved—but practiced, taught, and celebrated.
Guarding the Mission: Five Anchors for Growth
Plan for it, teach it, expect it.
Mission doesn’t protect itself. Christian schools must regularly teach their theological vision, not just post it on a wall. Equip staff and families alike to understand the biblical worldview that drives every classroom and program.
Talk early and often with new families.
Don’t assume alignment—cultivate it. Our world is full of secular ideas and no doubt we can be influenced by them. Be clear about expectations around biblical worldview, conduct, and culture. Host welcome coffees, seminars, and breakfasts to share the "why" behind policies and philosophy. Create environments for parents to connect and grow together within the school’s culture.
Celebrate the mission through every program.
Let academics, athletics, fine arts, and student life all reflect the school’s biblical foundation. Recognize and reward behavior that embodies the mission—not just performance.
Hire and develop with conviction.
As enrollment grows, so does hiring. Do new hires truly understand the mission and ministry? Develop faculty with professional development tied to the mission. Prioritize spiritual formation and theological clarity alongside teaching credentials.
Be unapologetic.
Clarity is kindness. Christian schools should not dilute their vision to appeal to a broader audience. In fact, healthy and sustainable enrollment growth may come from doing just the opposite. The mission of forming students in Christ must be protected at all costs—and proclaimed with boldness.
Final Thoughts
This moment is less about chasing trends and more about how to steward what God is doing in our schools. Christian education has always been and will always be about forming disciples and leaders in Jesus Christ.
Let’s not just ask how big our schools can become. Let’s ask:
Are we growing deeper as we grow wider?
Are we inviting new and veteran families to be a part of the mission?
Are we creating a community of grace and truth that shapes both minds and hearts?
Whether it is a $500k or $50M budget, enrollment numbers will take care of themselves. Let’s stay focused on building schools that form people of conviction, compassion, and a biblical worldview—taught, lived, and modeled in Christ.