By Matthew H. Lee and Eric W. Price

The past several years have been riddled with challenges thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, political divisiveness, and other social and cultural forces. In the education sector, news stories and research articles have consistently reported record levels of teachers' stress and burnout throughout the pandemic, extending into the current school year. Through all the uncertainty and confusion, faith has helped Christian schools thrive—and they continue to see rising enrollments as they continue to grow post-pandemic.

Amidst the uncertainty of March 2020, 85 percent of Christian schools transitioned to a primarily virtual mode of instruction, according to a new report from the Association of Christian Schools International. ACSI is the largest evangelical Protestant school association in the world, with close to 25,000 Christian schools served worldwide. The report shows that by Fall 2020, over four-fifths of ACSI member schools in the U.S. had returned for primarily in-person instruction, with the vast majority of school leaders reporting they had done so "much sooner" than their local district public schools. The ACSI report also finds that Christian schools experienced about 35 percent enrollment growth since the start of the pandemic.

Although Christian schools adapted quickly to the challenges of virtual education at the onset of the pandemic, school leaders and their teams stressed the importance of returning to in-person instruction. For Christian schools, this transition was both a work of necessity and a ministry of mercy.

"For the sake of Christian education, we wanted to deliver a high-quality education," explains Dr. Jason Rachels, President and Head of School at Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "We saw distance learning was not a good way to learn, not good for social skills, not good for mental health, and so we made the adjustments and investments necessary to get back in person." Calvary Christian Academy has added nearly 400 students to its two campuses since the beginning of the pandemic.

Their faith was the primary reason why many leaders of private Christian schools chose to stand and deliver on their missions, despite the challenges. "We had no choice but to deliver on our pledge to be innovative and exemplary," reflects Dan Steinfield, Head of School at Delaware County Christian School in Newtown Square, Pa. The school, which grew from 580 students before COVID to 820 students today, is located in a suburb of Philadelphia and has as its mission is to provide an "innovative and exemplary education rooted in Christ." "It was an opportunity to show what makes a small private Christian school distinct," he continues. The school now has waiting lists for several grades and has had to convert office and other types of spaces into new classrooms to serve the growing student body.

Elisa Carlson, head of school at Central Christian School, which serves over 400 students in central Oregon, cites Proverbs 22:6: "Philosophically, we believe our mission is to assist parents in their biblical responsibilities to train up their children." It was this belief that motivated school leadership to overcome the challenges from state and local governance, as guidance shifted throughout the pandemic. For example, as was true in many states, Oregon limited the number of students allowed back on campus in the fall of 2020 as well as the number of students in each classroom. Further, state guidance suggested prioritizing having the youngest students return for in-person instruction, with older students continuing in a virtual mode of learning.

For comprehensive PK-12 schools like Central Christian, such a mandate would present additional challenges for their families, many of whom have both younger and older students who would be affected by those guidelines. "When state guidance was to limit the number of students on campus and to prioritize our youngest students, we felt that that went against our mission," continues Carlson.

Ultimately, Central Christian decided to invite all students back to campus in the fall of 2020. "It was a Proverbs 3:5-6 moment for us to trust in the Lord, knowing that He does not prioritize one child over another," recalls Carlson. "The Lord really provided for us when the state abruptly shifted their guidance and recommended that all students return to school after Christmas vacation."

Carlson's school grew by over 150 students since the pandemic. To accommodate rapid growth, the school relied on modular classrooms this past fall. Central Christian plans to open a new facility in the near future.

The ACSI report found that the desire for in-person instruction (78 percent) was among the top three reasons reported by school leaders for this enrollment growth, but interestingly, parental concerns over social issues in public schools (82 percent) and the desire for faith-based education (78 percent) also played a significant role, and may serve as key drivers of the continued growth experienced by Christian schools post-pandemic

Christian schools are not only welcoming new families, but also are working hard to integrate them into their school communities. "Many families came to us because of COVID and culture, but COVID and culture are not strategic plans," says Steinfield, the head of school in Pennsylvania. "We've doubled down on our mission to prepare students for a life of impact. Families are staying because they see the value of being in a Christian school."

Recent enrollment growth has given Christian school leaders an occasion to reflect on God's faithfulness during the pandemic, thank God for His present provision, and look forward with even greater hopefulness. "I think about the students we are serving, how they are not only learning the Gospel and being introduced to Christ, but having the opportunity to know Him, love Him, and choose to serve Him with their lives," shares Carlson, the school leader from Oregon. "Looking back, I can see how God prepared us for this difficult season, and how He used this season to advance His kingdom."

About the Authors
Matthew H. Lee is Director of Research at the Association of Christian Schools International, where Eric W. Price serves as Research Associate.