<![CDATA[Public elementary schools are increasingly challenged by shifting parental preferences toward religion-based schools, requiring them to develop distinctive institutional strategies that enhance both educational quality and public trust. This study aims to describe the implementation of practical worship education, analyze its contribution to strengthening school competitiveness, and identify the challenges encountered in its implementation at SD Negeri 1 Wonoketro, Jetis District, Ponorogo Regency. A qualitative case study approach was employed. Data were collected through observations, semi-structured interviews with the principal, Islamic Education teachers, homeroom teachers, parents, and students, as well as document analysis. The findings indicate that practical worship education, implemented through the systematic habituation of congregational Dhuha prayer, Dhuhr prayer, Qur'anic recitation, and memorization activities, contributes to strengthening students' character, spiritual competence, parental trust, the school's religious identity, and a conducive learning environment. These outcomes position practical worship not merely as a religious educational activity but also as an institutional strategy that differentiates the school from other public elementary schools and strengthens its competitiveness. The study also identified several implementation challenges, including limited worship facilities, uneven teacher supervision during peak periods, scheduling differences across grade levels, and the need for stronger continuity between school- and home-based worship practices through parental involvement. This study contributes to the literature by demonstrating that practical worship can function as an institutional strategy for enhancing school competitiveness through the integration of character formation, parental trust, institutional reputation, and educational quality.]]>
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