We never want money to be the reason a family cannot choose Martin Luther School. Most families are surprised by how far the help goes once they sit down with us.
or schedule a visit and see the school first
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 (ESV)
The order we work in
There are two kinds of help. Money from outside our school, and money from inside it. We always start with the outside money.
Outside scholarships come from the state and from partner organizations. Our own aid comes from the people in the pews at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Using outside dollars first keeps our own funds available for families who do not qualify for anything else.
There is a practical reason too. If our aid is applied first, your family can look like it needs less, and that can reduce what an outside program awards you.
First: help from outside our school
MOScholars
A Missouri scholarship that can cover a large share of tuition. For some families it covers all of it. The income limit is far higher than most people assume, and children with an IEP qualify with no income test at all.
Ask us how it works. We sit down with families and go through the application together. Read the full MOScholars guide →
LESA scholarships
The Lutheran Elementary School Association is based in St. Louis, and our students can apply even though we are not. It is a resource many Joplin families have never heard of.
Ask us and we will point you to the current application.
Outside scholarships are not guaranteed. Qualifying does not ensure an award, and amounts depend on the funds available each year. Apply anyway. Many families do receive one, and we will look at what else we can do either way.
Then: help from us
Once your outside results are known, we sit down and look at what is left. Our awards are “up to” amounts. They depend on need and on the funds available that year.
Kindle and Grow Scholarship
Families earn this one by coming to a parent seminar here at the school. We usually offer it in the winter and spring, as enrollment opens.
Come to the seminar, learn how the whole system works, and leave with a scholarship. Watch the school calendar for dates, or ask us to tell you when the next one is set.
Estella Fritz Scholarship
Estella Fritz was the first teacher at Martin Luther School. She walked into the first classroom in 1953. She also started Joplin’s very first kindergarten.
At her death she left her estate to this church and this school. The fund that carries her name has grown since then. Others have given to it too.
The scholarship is need-based. It exists to put this education within reach of a family who needs help getting here.
If cost is what stands between your child and this school, ask for the Estella Fritz Scholarship by name.
Time, talent, treasure. She gave all three, and she is still paying tuition for children she never met.
And the everyday things
- Need-based tuition assistance for qualifying families
- Multi-child support when you enroll more than one student
- Monthly payment plans spread across the school year
- Early payment incentives
Behind all of it stands our congregation. Roughly 40 cents of every dollar it takes to educate a child here comes from the members of Immanuel Lutheran Church, not from tuition.
That is not a discount applied to your bill. It is an investment the congregation makes before tuition is ever set, and it holds for every family here, whatever church you belong to or none at all. It is one of the clearest signs of what this congregation thinks Christian education is worth.
What your tuition includes
Tuition covers far more than classroom hours. Every student gets:
- Core academics that often exceed Missouri Learning Standards
- Daily religion class and weekly chapel
- Music, art, and physical education
- Technology access
- After-school care availability
- Classes that average fifteen students or fewer
There are no hidden fees for textbooks or standard supplies.
Questions families ask
Can we actually afford private school?
Many families are surprised. Between outside scholarships, our own assistance, and payment plans, Martin Luther School is more within reach than most people assume. The only way to know your family’s number is to sit down with us. That conversation costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
Why do you ask us to apply for outside scholarships first?
So that outside money does the work first and our congregation’s money stays available for families who cannot get help anywhere else. It also protects your award. Applying for our aid first can make your family look like it needs less, which can reduce an outside offer.
Does asking for help change how you see our family?
No. Nearly every family here receives help of some kind, starting with the congregational support that lowers tuition for all of them. Asking is normal. It is how this school has worked since 1953.
Do you accept transfers mid-year?
Yes. We accept students on a rolling basis throughout the school year. It is never too late.
Is Early Childhood tuition different?
Yes. Our Early Childhood program for ages 3 through 5 offers half-day and full-day options, priced to compete with other preschools in Joplin. Note that MOScholars does not begin until kindergarten.
What about the free preschool in Joplin?
Free options exist, and we respect any family who chooses one. What we offer alongside a Christ-centered classroom is a start at age 3 rather than 4, small classes, tornado-safe rooms, after-school care, and a straight path from preschool through 8th grade. There is no lottery. Your child has a guaranteed seat when you choose us.
Let’s Find Your Family’s Number
Come see the school. Then we will sit down and walk through every form of help that applies to you. No pressure, and no obligation.
You do not need to be Lutheran to attend. Our school family includes families from many church backgrounds, and families with no church home at all, who all want their children educated well in a safe, Christ-centered place.
Learn more about why families choose Martin Luther School, our accreditation, and what we believe on our Faith & Values page.
Scholarship and assistance amounts vary by year and by family, and no award is guaranteed. Martin Luther School is affiliated with the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and accredited through National Lutheran School Accreditation.