High schools full - Local K-8 Catholic school enrollments decline slightly
Enrollment in the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s elementary schools is down by 1.7 percent from last year, a slight improvement from the 1.8 percent drop in the previous year-to-year comparison, Schools Superintendent Maureen Huntington reported.
This year’s drop represents 304 students, in contrast to a decline of 346 students between 2006-07 and 2007-08.
On average, enrollment in the 62 archdiocesan K-8 schools has dropped by 458 students a year in the six years between 2002-03 and 2008-09, but the most severe declines by far were in the first two years of the period.
Total K-8 enrollment in Catholic schools in San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties is 17,456 this year, compared with 20,004 in 2002-03.
Allthough the downward trend has leveled off system-wide, the latest report shows that 40 schools have lost enrollment since last year. That includes half of the 32 schools in San Francisco and all but six of the 30 schools in Marin and San Mateo counties.
Huntington said the unprecedented falloff in the suburban schools is a factor of the crisis in the housing market.
“When the financial markets began to be troubled, parents were unable to meet their commitment to pay tuition,” she said. “A number of parents lost their jobs or took jobs in another part of the area, especially parents who were in the mortgage business.”
The latest enrollment survey comes at a time when Archbishop George Niederauer is reviewing the preliminary results of a school-by-school study by Catholic Educational Consulting Services. The study was requested by the archdiocesan Council of Priests.
The latest step in a strategic planning process that began in 2001, the study focuses on the needs of each school, especially parish schools. Each school will receive an individual report after the archbishop’s review and action on the consultant’s final recommendations.
“We’re not having conversations right now about closing schools, but we’re going to have to look at combining classes,” Huntington said.
The enrollment trend reflects changes in the overall school-age population as well as a shift in the population in urban parishes with elementary schools. The Archdiocese has been countering the trend by marketing Catholic education to a new generation of parents, and there are indications that strategy is showing some results.
For example, enrollment is up at four of the eight Alliance of Mission District Catholic Schools in San Francisco: Mission Dolores, St. James. St. Finn Barr and St. Philip. The four schools added a combined 49 students, or 6.1 percent. Among the other Alliance schools, Epiphany is relatively stable with 569 students, down eight from last year. However, St. Charles, St. Anthony-Immaculate Conception and St. Elizabeth lost a combined 90 students, or 14.3 percent, and Huntington noted that there are several schools in the Mission District that have a combination of low enrollment and low-income families who need tuition assistance.
Dennis Ruggiero, the newly appointed principal at St. Anthony-IC, said the school has a positive future.
“I was hired to make sure the school stays open,” he said. “We have been holding steady and picking up students. As time goes on, we have intense recruitment plans ready to go. We’re going to be targeting the Head Starts in early April. We’re going to recruitment fairs and school fairs to get as much of the good news our school has out into the public arena. I’m targeting fifth graders who will be transitioning to junior high school in the public school areas, letting them know that what we have here are strong academics in a safe environment and a very participatory school community. There’s plenty of financial aid available.”
Ruggiero said the faculty is down to six teachers from nine last year, providing financial relief to cope with a smaller student body. “That makes it financially feasible,” he said. “It’s not optimal, but it is working.”
In San Mateo County, overall enrollment dropped by 189 students, or 2.8 percent – numerically the largest decline since 2003-04. All but four of the county’s 22 schools declined in enrollment.
Of the eight K-8 schools in Marin, only St. Raphael added students. Enrollment in the group fell by 56 students, or 2.8 percent – numerically the largest drop in four years.
The archdiocesan high schools are faring well, with an enrollment drop of one half of 1 percent since last year, Huntington said. “Marin Catholic and Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep are up from last year,” she said. “Junipero Serra is down slightly but still above the limits set by San Mateo County. Archbishop Riordan is rebounding with a freshman class of 174 students.”
(By Rick DelVecchio)
