<![CDATA[The declining number of school-age children due to demographic changes has intensified competition among private schools, making public trust an increasingly important strategic resource for maintaining institutional sustainability and competitiveness. Despite the growing body of research on school trust, previous studies have primarily examined its relationship with school effectiveness, leadership, and organizational climate, while limited attention has been given to its role in enhancing the competitiveness of private schools in the context of demographic decline. Therefore, this study aims to systematically map the development of research on school trust, identify dominant research themes and methodological trends, synthesize key findings, and reveal research gaps that can inform future studies. This research employed a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Literature was systematically retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, Dimensions, and Google Scholar, resulting in 34 peer-reviewed articles that met the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis. The findings reveal five major themes influencing school trust: school leadership, school governance and organizational culture, parent engagement, school reputation, and demographic change and school sustainability. The review further indicates that school trust functions as a strategic organizational asset that strengthens institutional credibility, enhances parental loyalty, improves school reputation, and ultimately increases the competitive advantage of private schools. This study contributes to the literature by proposing a conceptual model that integrates organizational antecedents of school trust with competitive advantage and school sustainability, providing a theoretical foundation for future empirical research and practical guidance for educational leaders in responding to demographic challenges.]]>
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