St. Paul Lutheran School and Preschool has been educating children in downtown Royal Oak for over 100 years, welcoming both church families and families with no prior connection to our congregation. Our enrollment process is built to be personal rather than bureaucratic, beginning with a single phone call and a conversation about your child.
Parents want to know how big the classes are, what tuition looks like, whether financial aid exists, when applications are due, and what happens after they submit paperwork. This page walks through each of those pieces so you can move forward with confidence.
What Open Enrollment Looks Like at St. Paul
Christian school admissions here are handled by real people who know every student in the building. Because St. Paul is a small school serving preschool through eighth grade, our admissions team can evaluate each application individually rather than processing families through a lottery or a rigid application window.
Availability does vary by grade level, and some classrooms fill before others. The most reliable way to learn what is open right now is to call the school office at 248-546-6555 and ask directly about your child's grade. A brief conversation often saves families weeks of guessing.
Programs Available for Enrollment
Preschool
St. Paul Lutheran Preschool partners with parents to teach the Christian faith in accordance with Holy Scripture and the Confessions of the Lutheran Church, alongside secular subjects that follow the Early Childhood Standards of the State of Michigan. Our child-centered, play-based curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning, and our program develops the whole child across social, emotional, physical, language, cognitive, and spiritual growth.
Staffing ratios are intentionally low:
- Three-year-old classroom: one teacher for every eight children
- Four-year-old classroom: one teacher for every ten children
You can learn more about daily life in our early childhood classrooms on our preschool page.
Kindergarten Through Grade 8
Our elementary and middle school curriculum meets the requirements of the State of Michigan and covers religion, language arts, social studies, science, mathematics, fine arts, and physical education. Science instruction devotes significant time to hands-on learning and experimentation. Students in kindergarten through fourth grade receive specific instruction in using devices such as Chromebooks, and students in fifth through eighth grade use Chromebooks as tools for research and document production.
Class sizes are genuinely small. Grades above kindergarten are combined, with most combined classrooms falling in the ten to twelve student range. That structure means teachers know exactly where each child is academically and can adjust accordingly. Our K-8 program page covers the academic sequence in more detail.
The Enrollment Process: Three Steps
School enrollment in Royal Oak, MI does not need to be complicated. Our admission process has three steps:
- Schedule a meeting. Call the school office at 248-546-6555 to set up a time to visit. This is your opportunity to tour the building, meet our principal, and ask the questions that matter most to your family.
- Submit the application materials. Complete a New Student Application, schedule new student placement testing, and submit your child's last two report cards. Placement testing helps us understand where your child is academically so we can support them well from the first week.
- Finalize registration. Provide your completed enrollment forms and registration fees, then enroll in our tuition management system.
New student forms are available for download on our website, and our admissions team is glad to walk you through any form that raises a question.
Planning Your Enrollment Timeline
Timing matters, particularly if financial aid will factor into your decision. Here is how families typically sequence their year:
- Visit early. Tours can be scheduled throughout the school year. Visiting while school is in session lets you observe classrooms in motion rather than an empty building.
- Apply once you have visited. Submitting the application and completing placement testing moves your child from inquiry to candidate.
- Watch the spring window for financial aid. Our financial aid application process takes place in mid-spring.
- Expect aid decisions in late spring. Financial aid allocations are communicated to families in late May or early June.
- Complete registration. Enrollment forms, registration fees, and tuition management enrollment finish the process.
Families exploring a mid-year transfer should still start with a phone call. We will tell you honestly whether space exists in your child's grade.
Tuition, Financial Aid, and Family Discounts
Affordability is one of the most common concerns we hear during admissions conversations, and we would rather discuss it openly than let cost quietly end a family's search.
Several forms of support are available:
- Financial aid. Aid is available for families who qualify, with applications submitted in mid-spring and allocations awarded in late May or early June.
- Multi-child discounts. Tuition discounts apply for families enrolling more than one child.
- Flexible payment schedules. Families choose from several different time periods over which to pay tuition.
- Referral discounts. Current families who refer a new family receive a $500 discount, and the new family receives the same $500 discount.
- High school support for church members. St. Paul church member families are eligible to have a portion of their child's tuition at Lutheran High Northwest, roughly a twenty-five minute drive away, paid by the congregation.
Our current rate schedule is available for download on the tuition and fees page. Once you have reviewed it, contact the office and we will talk through what your actual cost would look like.
What Enrollment Includes Beyond the Classroom
Families comparing schools should understand what a St. Paul education includes once the academic day ends.
Music. Our music program operates under the direction of our Minister of Music. Kindergarten through fourth grade students study general music weekly. Beginning in fifth grade, students may join the St. Paul Beginning Band and later the Advanced Band, which perform in worship services and a spring concert. A Handbell Choir meets after school and plays for worship services and special occasions, and an auditioned select choir emphasizes reading music, part singing, and choral festival participation. All students take part in the St. Paul School Choir, which practices twice weekly during the school day.
Clubs and enrichment. Our club offerings give students room to explore interests and build friendships. Options have included Running Club, which prepares grades five and up for the Michigan Lutheran State Cross Country Meet, Girls' Volleyball Club, Drama Club, Coding Club, Art Club led by a local artist, and Crochet Club, in which fourth grade and older students are mentored by members of our church congregation.
Athletics. We partner with St. Mary Catholic School to offer additional athletic opportunities during the fall and spring seasons, including basketball, volleyball, track, baseball, and softball.
Extended care. Morning care begins at 7:00 AM and after-school care runs until 6:00 PM, which gives working families a workable day.
Safety. Over the past two years, our entire school staff has completed two dedicated training sessions on best practices for student and staff safety across a range of situations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grades can my child enroll in?
St. Paul serves students from preschool through eighth grade. Preschool classrooms are organized by age for three-year-olds and four-year-olds, and grades above kindergarten are taught in combined classrooms.
Do we need to be members of the church to enroll?
No. St. Paul has served both church families and non-member families throughout its history, and non-member families are a welcome and established part of our school community.
How large are the classes?
Most combined classrooms enroll roughly ten to twelve students. Individual grade levels within those classrooms are often smaller, which allows for a high degree of individual attention.
Is placement testing something my child needs to prepare for?
No preparation is necessary. Placement testing exists to help our teachers understand your child's current academic standing so instruction can be matched appropriately from the start.
Does St. Paul have a dress code?
Yes. Our dress code helps students focus on learning throughout the school day.
Are summer programs available?
We do not operate summer programs or camps, because the school building is not air conditioned.
How do I start the process?
Call 248-546-6555 to schedule a meeting and tour, or reach out through our contact page. You can also review admissions details on our learn more page.
Schedule Your Visit
Choosing a school is one of the more consequential decisions a family makes, and it deserves more than a website visit. We would rather show you our classrooms, introduce you to our teachers, and let you see how students treat one another.
Call 248-546-6555 to schedule a tour, or send us a message through our contact page and we will follow up to find a time that works for your family. We look forward to getting to know you.