Christian School Comprehensive Survey - Prescriptive (CSCS - Rx)

Nationally-normed & laser focused on SATISFACTION, for Parents: Students: Teachers: EVERYONE: Includes analytical and prescriptive reports & videos for divisions, grades, K-5 classrooms, students, teachers, high/low incomes, 0-2 & 3+ years at your school.

Top 5% Solutions

Only Christian Schools

One Survey for ALL

Powerful: Prescriptive reports and videos for school, divisions, grades and individual classrooms. More than numbers – what to do! (See Sample)
Top 5% Solutions! Recommendations for improvements based on the top 5% of Christian schools for that division or grade and issue. (N = 696 Christian schools, 176,000+ respondents). Specific and valid.
Changed Focused: Positive and affirming reports and ~5 minute videos that encourage teachers and bring hope - even if the news is not good.
Statistically Robust yet Understandable. Controlling for 126 internal and external demographics variables and timing, Bayesian Credible Interval significance testing for individual classrooms, multiple regressions. (See Methodology FAQs)
Opportunity Scoring - A powerful NEW dimension. How much will improving the various program elements - even if currently strong - increase overall satisfaction and subsequent word of mouth.

New for ’25/’26: The CSCS – Rx is the same for all Christian schools – large or small.

We will score all individual classrooms (typically K-5) in large schools, with all the same statistical significance testing and outlier controls that we use for a combined classroom in a small school. The CSCS – Rx Includes ~20 custom questions, and all the debriefs you need to understand the results. About 250 questions have been normed, including nearly 100 for students.

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Surveys Conducted

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Responses exclusively from Christian school constituents

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years of experience and refinements

Key Benefits of the CSCS - Rx

Fastest Possible Way to Excellence

The strongest statistics to identify the correct problems, work them with the very best recommendations flowing from the best Christian schools and teachers in the country.

More New Students

The CSCS - Rx provides you lists of promoters, possible testimonials, as well as comprehensive lists of constituents willing to volunteer in both marketing (& fund development).

Alignment

In a deep, validated way (regression, effect size analysis) the CSCS - Rx determines what really matters to your parents, teachers, and students - essential for leadership & messaging.

Improved Retention

Millions and millions of dollars has been wasted on program improvements that did not improve satisfaction or retention even a little. The CSCS - Rx tells you exactly what to fix, & how.

Right-priced on Tuition

Understanding real parental satisfaction is the first step before major tuition increases can be considered. Our surveys have been used dozens of times to determine if parents will tolerate a large tuition increase. Breaking results down by income level, the CSCS - Rx answers both (1) "Will they?" (Are they satisfied enough to pay the higher rate - or apply for financial aid?) and (2) "Can they" (Can they really afford higher rates even if satisfied?)

A Survey You Can Trust

In providing marketing counseling and support to our 33 schools in Northern California, it has been invaluable to start the marketing process by using the Graceworks survey. The survey results combine rigorous statistical evaluation with an instantly understandable quadrant displaying actionable data. All this is normed to 950+ other Christian schools across the country. This combination gives you data that gets administrators, teachers and board members moving in the same direction –– celebrating their successes and improving their weak areas." -Carol Tilstra-Nash, Northern California SDA

How the CSCS - Rx is Unique

Prescriptive Reports and Videos. Teacher-friendly 2-page reports and a five-minute video both affirming and challenging for excellence. For individual classrooms (as needed, K-5), grades, divisions, and leadership reports to improve teacher, parent, and student satisfaction.
Validated Recommendations. Suggestions for improvement flow from the experiences of the top 5% Christian schools in North America - by grade and program element type. (Either by overall satisfaction and/or program element quality.)
Flexibility in Which Top 5% Recommendations to Use.
For example, some denominational schools may wish that the prescriptive reports contain recommendations based on the top schools of their denomination.
Strict Apples-to-Apples Comparisons. By grade, division, teachers only, students only, parents only, school as a whole with or without students. Every school adjusted according to the same national norming. All reported in percentiles, which educators know and understand.
Robust Comparisons by Year - or Between Schools. Comparisons year to year, again down to a classroom level (K-5) if needed. Denominational executives appreciate the ability to compare up to 13 schools side by side (or 4 schools over 3 years, etc.)
Precise Satisfaction Impact of Program Elements. This is far more than simply asking how important a program element like "Engaging Teaching" is. Impact scores include regression and effect size analysis as well. These are calculated separately for every division, parents, students, teachers, 0-2 vs. 3+ years at the school, and income above/below 100K. All reported side by side in a live Excel table.
Re-enrollment status. Includes enrollment information on eligible siblings or congregational members not enrolled at your school.

One Survey for All Constituent Groups. The CSCS - Rx is currently normed for parents (n=110,000+), teachers (n=20,000+) and students (n=30,000+). Results can be compared side by side for these groups (and others.)
Alumni Questions. About two dozen faith and life outcome indicator questions are included in the CSCS - RX.
Daily response coupons and weekly progress reports. High -touch reward systems to consistently obtain survey response rates of 40 to 60%.
Leadership Review of Prescriptive Reports & Videos. Prescriptive reports and videos are changed as needed after leadership review. Everyone on the same team!
Bayesian Credible Interval Testing for statistical significance at all levels. Priors come from the 30-60 grades, divisions, or schools that are closest to your school demographically. This is the strongest possible way to test statistical significance, especially for smaller groups of respondents, such as from individual classrooms. Translation: The predictive reports are grounded on statistical bedrock, not "It could be ...." Statistical Rationale
Extensive, yet Easy-to-Use Lists. The Excel Companion Report contains a hyperlinked table of contents with over 40 tabs of data and various constituent lists of volunteers and promoters, all name matched while respecting confidentiality.
Actual Leads with Referring Source. GraceWorks surveys have provided Christian schools with over 3,200 leads!
Ample testimonial material. Dozens up to hundreds of remarks for your website, social media, print material, etc.
Explanation of Detractor and Passive Problems. Understand why unsatisfied parents feel that way.
Close Correlates. What program elements are closely related together in your parent's mental maps.

You Have Questions ...

1. We have answers.

Call GraceWorks President, Dan Krause, at (719) 278-9600, ext. 100. After hours fill out the inquiry form.

2. Price: $4,000 – with up to $2,500 per school scholarship

Starting with ’25/’26 we are going with our very best survey for all schools. Click here for the exact amount you’ll pay based on your school’s K-12 enrollment (NOT preschool).

3. Being Servant of All

Pricing and scholarships reflect GraceWorks desire to be the best possible servant to all. Every Christian school should get our best service and effort, regardless of their ability to pay.

In my 34 years working in public and private education, I have never seen a survey with the detailed analysis like that of the GraceWorks Ministries. The one feature that goes above and beyond anything that I have seen is the analysis which breaks the data into 4 quadrants: thrill, frill, annoy, and fix. This kind of analysis is much better than any regression or other data analysis can display. The quadrants clearly and easily identify specific things that a school needs to improve on and things they are doing well. To distinguish between an “annoy” and a “fix” is also most helpful. Even though items that show up as “annoy” are not going well, they are not a priority for fixing. Working in a PreK-12 school, GraceWorks analysis lets me analyze my school from the perspective of elementary, middle, and high school and also on a grade by grade basis. Weaknesses and strengths can be clearly seen from any level at which we wish to look. The survey allows a school to analyze itself from a variety of program elements: leadership, teachers, Christian aspect, skills, curriculum, standards, appeal, etc. Using such data can help a school transform itself into the school it is striving to become.

Dr. Lonnie Laney (Ed.), Rose Hills Christian School, Ashland, KY (Dr. Laney has earned degrees in math, physics, and educational leadership.)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the entire process take?

Typically six weeks from engagement to reports. Slightly longer for large (1000+) schools with many custom questions. The more customized the survey, the more difficult setup and scoring becomes. We will alert you if there is a delay for any reason.

Can I trust the results?

This is the most important question you can ask before conducting a survey. Bad data leads to bad decisions. That’s why we have nationally normed the survey 3 times. For ’25/’26 we made the decision to add Bayesian Credible Interval (BCI) testing for all grades, groups, and divisions – down to individual classrooms (10+ respondents required).

Programming-wise, this is very difficult. However, the usual confidence interval approach is widely misunderstood and misused. (See this article.) BCI statistical significance testing is the only way to know is strengths and weaknesses noted are truly valid.

What is a good response rate?

The very best statistics cannot overcome low response rates. Period.

Every GraceWorks survey in ’24/’25 obtained a 40 – 60% response rate (or 300+ for large schools). Every single one.

We use a daily coupon program and insist on proper incentives. Typically, the best ones are free.

With less than 40% response (or <300 for large schools) you really can’t trust the data.

How is it that the CSCS is for all Christian school constituents - Parents, Teachers, Students, Alum, and others?

The survey will work well with all constituent groups of a Christian school – teachers, board members, alumni, leaders, volunteers, donors, congregational members, and yes, even students.

For alumni, we have developed a set of questions asking them how they are doing in life. This can be a source of pride, but more practically – a source of more stories, testimonies, donations, and volunteer help.

Since the survey is electronic, questions are turned on or off depending on how the respondent relates to the school. For example, we do not ask past parents how engaging the teachers are – they don’t know.

Is there a paper version of the survey?

No! (We have tried…) The biggest problem with a paper survey is that respondents don’t take the time to deal with conditions. They answer questions they shouldn’t. More problematically, they don’t answer questions they should. The last school that tried a paper survey ended up throwing over 50 paper surveys into the trash.

What about other languages?

Yes – the survey can be done in other languages, although often we do not recommend it. When it comes to surveys, “lost in translation” is a significant problem to overcome. Keep in mind that our survey hosting company, Lime, has translated their question instructions to multiple languages.

However, we will still need a translator for your questions. With difficultly we can find one, (an additional fee applies) but typically it’s better if one of your own translates the questions.

What are the best times of the year to administer a survey?

Generally from late October to early April. An earlier administration gives you time to fix problems during the school year, and can help you head off retention problems. A later administration gives a better read on what happened in the school year as a whole, allowing you the summer to fix problems.

Every year we do summer surveys. Incentives need to be carefully thought through to get the proper response rate.

Note that timing matters a little for overall response, and we adjust all surveys accordingly. The most important thing to know is that internal and external demographics give you at least four times more bias than timing.

What’s wrong with doing our own survey instead?

Broadly speaking, the issues are: (1) Do I trust the data, (2) What is the data telling me, (3) Do I trust that implementing my parents or students suggestions for improvement will get me a satisfying, high quality Christian school?

Technically, the three biggest problems with home grown surveys are (1) False positives – assuming the answers are acceptable or positive when in fact they are problematic, (2) Mechanics of how to write good, non-redundant survey questions, and (3) How to score results in a meaningful and actionable way.

GraceWorks has over 3,200 hours of programming in our survey scoring software- and we are still programming. Neither Survey Monkey nor anything else comes remotely close to our scoring and analytical capabilities.

What about survey frequency?

GraceWorks recommends a thorough annual survey with high response rates. Here are three overall considerations on survey frequency:

1. Response Rates and Survey Validity
GraceWorks has conducted some form of parent satisfaction survey over 950 times, with nearly 180,000 respondents. From this, we know that who responds matters as much as how many respond.

The hardest group to reach is the “Apathetic” or “Passive” middle—families who are most price-sensitive and influenceable for retention, but also the quickest to burn out on repeated surveys. These families require meaningful incentives to participate.
To trust the results, response rates must be solid. Two widely cited meta-analyses in education and social science report average response rates of 44% (2007-2014) and 68% (2020) respectively for scholarly articles accepted for publication—and these rates are increasing over time.

2. Capacity of Teachers and Leaders to Act
Survey data only has value if schools can act on it. A major limitation is how much teachers and leaders can realistically take on at one time. Sean Covey (The Four Disciplines of Execution) reminds us: the more priorities you have, the less you actually accomplish.

The CSCS-Rx process is designed to narrow the issues down to no more than three priorities—ideally one or two.
This requires both a deep understanding of the data and wisdom to choose strategies most likely to succeed long-term.
Without that focus, schools risk chasing “flavor-of-the-month” fixes—initiatives that fade quickly, increase cynicism, and fail to build lasting improvement.

3. The Slow Pace of Change in Satisfaction and Quality Perceptions
Overall satisfaction and perceptions of program quality do change, but typically at a much slower pace than leaders expect or desire. The impact of leadership transitions, for example, often takes a full year to show up in survey results.

That’s why schools must build a reservoir of good will and consistent quality to withstand inevitable challenges. Families leave both public and private schools for surprisingly similar reasons, and one “storm” alone is rarely enough to undo a healthy institution.
Most importantly, the key to real progress is knowing—accurately and precisely—where you stand on satisfaction, and why. Only by identifying the true drivers of satisfaction can leaders focus on the strategies that will matter most in the long run.

👉 Taken together, these three considerations shape a balanced survey strategy: ensure trustworthy participation, focus leadership energy on a few high-leverage priorities, and track satisfaction with precision so progress is both realistic and sustainable.

How can we see what you ask on the survey?

Two items on the CSCS-Rx are proprietary – the survey itself, and how we score it. Call or email us (719-278-9600, ext. 100, or dan@gwmin.com), and we will send you a detailed description of both. Or we will be happy to show you the survey via an interactive webinar for 30 minutes.

Once you purchase the survey, we are happy to send you a PDF, along with test tokens (numbers) which allow you to take the survey. We send you multiple tokens because the survey asks different questions depending on how you relate to the school.

How do I order?

Best is to contact GraceWorks President Dan Krause at (719)278-9600, ext. 100. (dan@gwmin.com)

We want you to fully understand the power of the CSCS – Rx, and what you get at the end. We can invoice you for the investment in the survey after the scholarship is applied.