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• The ELCA has 1,530 early childhood education centers, 257 elementary schools and 14 high schools. Schools and early childhood education centers are found in each of the 65 synods of the ELCA. Find a school or early childhood education center in your area.
  
• ELCA students are taught by 15,000 educators serving the needs of more than 150,000 children and youth each year.
  
• ELCA early childhood educations centers: 100% provide preschool education, 31% provide toddler age care and age appropriate education and 14% provide infant care and age appropriate education.
  
• Average class size in ELCA schools is 20 students. ELCA early childhood education centers class size is based on state ratios for centers and preschools.
  
• 62% of ELCA elementary schools provide before school care and 70% provide after school care.
  
• 20% of all students in ELCA schools and early childhood education centers are children of color.
  
• 72% of students attending ELCA schools and early childhood education centers are not Lutheran. Of that total 20% are unchurch. In the 2006-2007 school year 2,391 new members joined ELCA congregations through school or early childhood center ministries.
  
• Average ELCA tuition is:
       Early Childhood Education Centers Full Time — $3,491
       Half-Day Kindergarten — $2,082
       Full-Day Kindergarten — $3,135
       Grades 1-8 — $3,750
       Grade 9-12 — $4,846
  Lutheran schools work hard to make tuition affordable for families interested in sending their children to a Christian school. Many schools offer tuition assistance and scholarship programs.
  
• During the 2005-2006 and the 2006-2007 school years the ELCA opened 49 new schools and early childhood education centers. More than 100 congregations during that time frame expressed a desire to study opening a school or center ministry program.
  
• For more information about ELCA schools and early childhood education centers visit our Annual School Survey.
  

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