Enrollment Down at Arlington Catholic Elementary Schools

By Mary McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 2/27/03)

With the population in Arlington County changing daily, the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools feels that it needs to become more aggressive in embracing its neighbors and exploring the challenges that keep them from considering Catholic education; particularly, language barriers and tuition assistance.

Dr. Timothy McNiff, diocesan superintendent of schools, met recently with the principals -of seven Arlington-area parochial schools who have experienced declines in enrollment in recent years, including the Cathedral of St. Thomas More School, St. Agnes School, St. Charles Borromeo School and St. Ann School in Arlington, St. Rita School and Queen of Apostles School in Alexandria and Corpus Christi School in Falls Church. A representative from the National Catholic Education Association, Sisters for Christian Community Sister Kathleen Collins, also attended to help facilitate the meetings and inform the group of what other dioceses around the country have experienced.

Through these meetings, the group highlighted five areas where recruitment should focus. These groups should be made more aware of Catholic schools and the benefits of the schools, and they should also be informed of the Diocese of Arlington Tuition Assistance Program.

Kathy Swinehart, principal of the Cathedral of St. Thomas More School, said the enrollment situation has been addressed for the last couple years, but through the recent meetings the schools have been able to brainstorm together. She said that the objective of the recruitment activities is "to make sure everyone who might be interested knows we’re here and knows we have space."

At the parish level, the principals plan to recruit students involved in parish-based religious education, and also the children of families new to the parish. The principals also want to recruit at the numerous local preschools and day care centers for children who will be entering school soon. They will also begin welcoming newborns to the parish on their baptism, and sending congratulations to the family every year until the children are of school age.

For families who feel that they cannot afford to send their children to Catholic schools, McNiff said the newly organized Diocese of Arlington Tuition Assistance Program is "a big step" for increasing enrollment.

The program will be instituted for the first time in the 2003-04 school year and will award families assistance based on their financial need in relation to the needs of other families who apply for assistance.

Grants will be awarded based on where help is most needed; there will be no specific geographic restrictions or school quotas. McNiff told the HERALD in a December interview, "All we’re looking at is family need, not schools, not zip codes."

To be eligible for tuition assistance, students must be baptized Catholics or converts officially received into the Church, their family must reside within diocesan boundaries, they must be registered with and an active member of a parish and must attend or be accepted by a Catholic school within the diocese.

Low enrollment rates have not been a problem across the diocese. In general, enrollment has been increasing. The three diocesan high schools and three private Catholic high schools in the diocese have experienced rising enrollment recently, and the schools have had to employ waiting lists almost every year.

In diocesan elementary schools, 21 out of 35 have either seen higher enrollments in the last five years, or they have maintained a steady enrollment and have had to institute waiting lists for prospective students.

Recently, many schools have built additions to their schools and next fall St. Mark School will open its doors to up to 400 students in Vienna.

After building an addition, St. Theresa School in Ashburn was able to accept more students. Enrollment has almost doubled since 1998.

As Holy Family School in Dale City has grown one grade per year, enrollment has grown from 78 preschool students in 1998 to 174 students in preschool through eighth grade.

As the metro area has grown and the suburbs have moved outward, several schools outside the beltway have also experienced growth.

Sacred Heart Academy in Winchester has seen a significant increase with 77 more students today than in 1998. The school is hoping to raise funds to be able to expand the school, which was built in 1950. The closest Catholic elementary school to Sacred Heart is St. John the Evangelist in Warrenton, 42 miles away. St. John the Evangelist has also been experiencing high enrollment.

Based on the five-year enrollment history information collected by the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools, most of the schools seeing an increase in enrollment are those that do not have another Catholic school nearby. The schools affected by low enrollment are located in the more densely populated Northern Virginia area. There is not a lack of children in this area, but perhaps these children and their families do not know of the possibilities and opportunities available to them at the numerous Catholic elementary schools. Through the newly implemented Arlington Area Student Recruitment Plan, the schools office and the principals of the seven schools involved hope to inform more families of the rewards of Catholic education, and of the simple fact that there are empty chairs that their children could fill.

There will be a kindergarten information night held on March 10 at the Arlington Central Library on Quincy Street from 6:30-8:30 p.m. for any parent whose child will be entering school next year. For more information contact Kathy Swinehart, principal of the Cathedral of St. Thomas More School, at 703/528-1547.

The initial deadline for the Diocese of Arlington Tuition Assistance applications has been extended to March 1. Applications are available at diocesan schools. Late applications will be accepted through May 1.

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