By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 1/31/02)
Not all the students who took the exam can count on getting into one of three diocesan high schools — Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Bishop Denis J. O’Connell High School in Arlington or Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax. "The diocesan high schools are turning away hundreds of kids," St. Rita Principal Mary Pat Schlickenmaier said.
According to Pete Hamer, of Bishop Ireton’s admissions office, about 500 students applied for admission there this year. "More than 200" will be accepted for the 2002 freshman class of "just under 200 students." Ultimately, some students will choose to go elsewhere, Hamer explained.
In evaluating each applicant, the admissions committee first considers: "Can this student be successful at Bishop Ireton?" Hamer said. Other factors considered are a student’s elementary school, whether or not they are Catholic, a strong student record, placement test score, recommendations and having relatives who are Ireton alumni.
Hamer noted students have come from as far as Lake of the Woods near Fredericksburg or Warrenton by train to attend Bishop Ireton. "There is certainly a need," for new high schools, said Hamer.
Almost 700 students applied for approximately 400 spaces in this fall’s freshman class at Bishop O’Connell, according to Peggy Kirk, director of admissions. "A new high school would be a great idea for Catholic education," Kirk said.
About 300 students applied to Paul VI, but the number of students in the fall freshman class will be determined closer to registration, according to the school’s admissions office.
Because the diocese has experienced significant growth in recent years, building new high schools in Loudon and Prince William counties has been considered. The diocese owns parcels of land at Cherry Hill near Dumfries in Prince William and in the South Riding and Ashburn sections of Loudon.
In spring 2001, Dr. Timothy McNiff, diocesan superintendent of Catholic Schools, initiated a study "for the purposes of gauging suitability of constructing new high schools in localities which are more outlying than our existing schools and where a growing Catholic population seems to indicate a growing demand for Catholic secondary education," according to Father Daniel Maher, diocesan episcopal vicar for finance.
Meitler Consultants, Inc. conducted a survey in Loudon County to determine support for a Catholic high school. Decision Demographics conducted a similar survey for the diocese in Prince William County in fall 1999. Meitler used demographic data derived by Decision Demographics, as well as a mail survey of nearly 3,000 parents of first- through sixth-grade Catholic school students and parents of CCD students. Meitler Consultants "termed the interest in participating in the survey unprecedented in their work nationally. They also commended the survey respondents for manifesting a degree of religious practice and interest which far exceeds the national average," Father Maher said.
Decision Demographics determined that 88 percent of Catholic school families and 64 percent of parents of CCD students surveyed in Prince William County believe a Catholic high school is needed in the county. Potential Catholic high school enrollment in the region is projected to be 779 students by 2007-08 and 926-1,430 students by 2008-09. Eighty-two percent of parents said they would be willing to have their children travel up to a half-hour to attend Catholic high school, which would include Springfield, Manassas and Aquia Harbor. Decision Demographics projected a Catholic high school freshman class of 224 is possible in the region by 2007-08.
In Loudon County, 91 percent of parents of Catholic school students and 71 percent of families with children in CCD believe a Catholic high school is needed in the county. Eighty-seven percent of parents responding said they would let their children travel up to a half-hour to attend Catholic high school, which would include Leesburg, Reston and Chantilly. A potential Catholic high school freshman class of 226 is possible in the region by 2007-08, according to the study.
The study results, as well as increases in Catholic population in both counties, favor construction of two new Catholic high schools. Parish populations have increased by 21 percent since 1996 in Prince William County and by 19 percent in Loudon County.
While the Arlington Diocese, with more than 350,000 Catholics, has three diocesan high schools and three private high schools, comparably sized dioceses have more Catholic secondary schools. For example, Scranton, Pa., with 337,000 Catholics, has 12 high schools, and Richmond, with 200,000 Catholics, has nine.
To meet the clearly expressed need, the diocese expects to open the first new Catholic high school "around 2006" in Prince William County, according to McNiff. "We presently do not have specific date(s) for the openings of the new diocesan high schools; much is contingent on the success of the capital campaign," he said. The new high school will accommodate 1,000 students. The second high school, also for 1,000 students, is expected to open the following year in Loudon County.
"The architect’s estimate for the ‘construction’ cost for a new 1,000-student high school will be approximately $25 million," McNiff said. "The financing of a new diocesan high school will result in part from monies received from the capital campaign. The remainder of the cost will need to be financed; the diocese is presently exploring the possibility of using tax-exempt bonds for this purpose," McNiff said.
Copyright ©2002 Arlington Catholic Herald. All rights reserved.
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