Latest numbers show a change in prep school enrollment
Filed Under: LPS, MLC, MLS, Prep Schools
The latest numbers from WELS’ two preparatory schools—Michigan Lutheran Seminary (MLS), Saginaw, Mich., and Luther Preparatory School (LPS), Watertown, Wis.—show a moderate decrease in enrollment from previous years. Two hundred thirty-four students are enrolled at MLS, down from 242 in 2006-07. LPS also experienced a decrease from 382 students in 2006-07 to this year’s 339.
“The enrollments in the prep system have decreased every year since 2001-02,” says Tim Dolan, director of recruitment at LPS. Much of this decline, he says, is a result of fewer available candidates and decreasing enrollments in WELS elementary schools.
Paul Prange, president of MLS, also cites tuition increases as a source of declining enrollment: “The trend is very clear. Since 2003, where we had the drastic lowering of subsidy and the significant increases in tuition, the enrollments of MLS, LPS, and Martin Luther College seem to be directly correlated to the tuition increases,” he says. “We’re all down.”
To combat these declining numbers, the prep schools are working to show families the value of a Christian education, as well as encouraging pastors and teachers at Lutheran elementary schools to “find their replacements” in the public ministry.
Peter Kruschel, administrator for WELS Ministerial Education, says that although prep school enrollment is down slightly, “I think that we’re probably at the low end and [enrollment numbers] should either remain stable or go up slightly.” Prange agrees: “We have a quality [ministerial education] system,” he says. “People are going to realize the value of it and say, ‘This is worthwhile . . . this is something I’m going to encourage my kids to do.’ That’s the kind of optimistic sense you get all around the synod, and that’s going to help enrollment.”
For more information about WELS’ ministerial education schools, including curriculum developments, faculty changes, and campus improvement projects, view the Four Schools Report online at www.wels.net/jump/fourschools.
