One of the most exciting possibilities of the new federal Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC) isn’t simply that more families may be able to afford Christian education. It’s that an entire community of faith can help make it possible.
Through the new federal Education Freedom Tax Credit, Andrew Eickstead, Head of School at Lutheran High School of San Antonio, sees tremendous potential for congregations, grandparents, alumni, extended family members and other supporters to come alongside families who want a Christian education for their children but may struggle with the cost.
“Sending 2 or 3 kids to a private school is a worthy investment for an individual family,” he said, “but it can also be daunting. Having help from your faith community—what a blessing.”
That community approach could change the conversation for families who have never seriously considered a private Christian education. “There are people who would love to have their kids in a private school,” Eickstead said, “but many don’t consider it because they assume it’s too expensive.”
Connecting Congregations with Christian Education
Lutheran High School of San Antonio has long benefited from relationships with area Lutheran congregations. Eickstead believes new scholarship opportunities through the EFTC could give individual church members another tangible way to participate in the ministry.
He recently spoke with a pastor whose congregation has 5 or 6 students attending Lutheran High School. “He was excited for us to come in and talk about the EFTC,” Eickstead said. “We’re encouraging people to begin asking the question, ‘If we gave this much, how many more of our kids could access to this education?’”
For Eickstead, that’s an important shift. Supporting Christian education becomes more than giving to an institution. It becomes helping families within the broader faith community. “This opportunity is one more way congregations can recognize that we are part of their ministry,” he said. “And even more importantly, it’s one more way they can help grow the Kingdom.”
A New Way for Families and Supporters to Help
The EFTC also allows people to think more broadly about whom their generosity could help. For Eickstead, his own family comes to mind.
“My brother has two little ones,” he said. “If we could make a tax-credit donation and direct that money toward a school where his kids attend, that would be a wonderful gift.”
The same principle can extend to grandparents, alumni, and others who want to support a Christian school that has made an impact on their family. “It’s an amazing way for people to bless a school that has impacted them, their children, or their grandchildren,” Eickstead said. “It can help those schools continue doing the work the Lord has called us to do.”
For a smaller school, even modest participation can create substantial impact. “We have about 100 families at Lutheran High School,” Eickstead said. “If everyone wrote a $1,000 check, which is coming out for taxes anyway, and shifts those resources toward a Scholarship Granting Organization to benefit our school, that’s a huge deal.”
Christian Education Is Personal for Andrew Eickstead
The desire to make Lutheran education available to more students is deeply personal for Eickstead. Not only is he the Head of School at Lutheran High School of San Antonio; he’s also a graduate. He returned to the school in 2004 and has served as an English and technology teacher, baseball and robotics coach, and now Head of School.
The connection continues with his family. His daughter graduated from Lutheran High School in 2025, and his son is preparing for his senior year. These experiences give Eickstead a firsthand appreciation for what a Lutheran high school can provide during a formative time in a student’s life.
“When I talk with families, I tell them that our goal is for students to leave here with a firm foundation—in faith, in character and in knowledge—for whatever comes next,” he said.
Building a Foundation During the High School Years
Lutheran High School of San Antonio currently serves approximately 126 to 130 students.
Students participate in chapel, faith classes, and small-group devotionals while being encouraged to dig more deeply into God’s Word.
“Those high school years, from 14 to 18, are critical,” Eickstead said. “We want students digging into the Word so that when they go out into the world, they have that base for their faith.”
But for many families, tuition remains a practical obstacle. Financial assistance already plays an important role at the school, with approximately 60 percent of students receiving some form of aid or tuition discount. Eickstead believes the expanded scholarship opportunities through the EFTC could help the school provide more meaningful assistance.
“For us, it means the opportunity to provide real financial aid instead of simply offering a tuition discount,” he said. Even modest support can make a difference.
Why Lutheran High School Plans to Work with Legacy Deo SGO
As Lutheran High School of San Antonio prepares for the new scholarship opportunity, Eickstead says the school plans to work with Legacy Deo SGO. The relationship is a natural fit because the organizations have worked together before, and Eickstead values Legacy Deo’s shared values with Christian schools.
“They understand our situation and can answer our questions,” he said. “They also understand our needs and can help shape this opportunity to meet the needs of a small Christian private high school.”
Strengthening Christian Schools for the Future
Ultimately, the EFTC opportunity is about strengthening Christian education for the future and encouraging others to take part. For Lutheran High School of San Antonio, that means congregations, families, alumni, and supporters working together to help more young people receive a Christian education—and strengthen the schools that serve them.