The Lutheran Elementary School Association (LESA) is proud to celebrate two member schools for receiving national recognition from ParentPulse during the 2025–26 school year. St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Des Peres earned the Parent Choice Award, and Lutheran High School South received the Student Choice Award. ParentPulse is a third-party survey provider that partners with private and independent schools nationwide to measure satisfaction and engagement among school communities.
St. Paul’s has received the Parent Choice Award in previous years, but this year’s recognition is especially noteworthy because the school once again achieved a World Class ranking. Lutheran South also earned World Class distinction through its exceptional Student Net Promoter Score, reflecting outstanding student satisfaction and loyalty.
ParentPulse uses the Net Promoter Score (NPS) system, which measures overall satisfaction by asking one simple question: “How likely are you to refer us to a friend or colleague?” Scores range from -100 to 100, with scores between 30 and 50 considered good, 50 to 70 considered excellent, and scores above 70 recognized as world class. Schools receiving these awards must maintain exceptional scores throughout a nine-month evaluation period.
These recognitions reflect each school’s commitment to listening to its community, fostering meaningful relationships, and continually enhancing the educational experience for students and families.
When asked about St. Paul’s Parent Choice Award, Principal Dawn Walker shared: “Receiving this recognition is truly humbling. What makes St. Paul’s special isn’t a building or a program—it’s the people. We are blessed with families who value Christian education and partner with us each day to nurture their children’s faith and learning. I am incredibly grateful to our dedicated teachers, supportive church family, and parents for making St. Paul’s such a wonderful place for children to grow.”
Dr. Jonathan Butterfield, principal of Lutheran South had this to say about the Student Choice award, “One of our strong partners in ministry is ParentPulse who provides us with a drip survey that gives us continuous feedback from students, parents, and staff members all year round. While we take all of the comments we receive seriously, one number that has been a focus for two years has been the Student Net Promoter Score (NPS). The student NPS measures student loyalty and satisfaction by asking how likely they are to recommend their institution to others, on a scale of 0–10. The student promoter
score is especially important for Christian high schools because more and more students – not their parents!- are making the decision about where they will attend high school.
We believe that the best fit teenagers for Lutheran South are students who both take their academics seriously and seek to get involved outside of the classroom. We know that if we can create an environment where kids actually love to come to school, those students will thrive. Our recent enrollment growth has been largely because our teachers, coaches, and staff members have created a great experience for our students. The ParentPulse recognition solidifies what our school community already knows to be true about Lutheran South.”
These awards highlight the dedication of LESA schools to providing Christ-centered education while cultivating school communities where students and families feel supported, engaged, and inspired.
About St. Paul’s Lutheran School
St. Paul’s Lutheran School exists to assist parents in carrying out their responsibility of teaching, equipping, and nurturing their children. The school will serve in ministry by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the students, school families, the congregation and the community, in accord with its core values. St. Paul’s Lutheran School will develop and extend programs that nurture students, inform parents, and support families.
About Lutheran South
Lutheran South is a co-educational, private, Christian school serving 600 students in grades 9 through 12 who live in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and the surrounding areas. At Lutheran South, we blend a strong college prep curriculum with opportunities for co-curricular, service, and athletic activities to help you mature and grow as a young Christian. We’re large enough to provide many different opportunities for you to explore, yet small enough for you to find your niche. Together with your church and family, we help you grow in your faith, develop your strengths and meet the challenge of new opportunities
About LESA
More than 9,800 children attend LESA-member Lutheran schools in the St. Louis metro area, making Lutheran schools the second-largest private school system in the bi-state region. A Recognized Service Organization of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, LESA represents 38 elementary and high schools and five related agencies.
