By Alfonso Aguilar
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 4/21/05)

Arlington Diocesan schools have a significant number of minorities. Some individual schools have students from more than 50 countries that speak dozens of languages.

However, under the direction of Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde, a new initiative seeks a larger and better representation of minorities in at least seven elementary schools located in areas where there is a growing number of immigrant families.

"The main goal is to increase the number of minority students from the current 22 percent to 30 or 35 percent in the next three years," said Michael F. Vargo, assistant superintendent of diocesan schools and coordinator of the new project.

"The bishop’s initiative targets minorities. Though it does not exclude American students, it certainly has a clear focus on Hispanics given that the selected schools belong to parishes with large number of Hispanics," said Vargo in fluent Spanish.

The Metro School Project includes seven K-8 elementary schools in the downtown Arlington/Alexandria area. The selected schools are St. Rita and Queen of Apostles schools in Alexandria; Cathedral of St. Thomas More, St. Agnes, St. Ann and St. Charles Borromeo schools in Arlington, and Corpus Christi School in Falls Church, part of St. Anthony of Padua Parish. This parish has the largest number of Hispanics with two Spanish Masses on weekends.

Families interested in enrolling children in those schools may receive financial aid, explained Vargo during a visit he made last weekend to St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Arlington to speak with Hispanic parents.
"They need to fill out a socio-economic questionnaire, whose answers will be analyzed by an independent company that will make recommendations as to who is qualified and regarding the amount of funds needed in each case," said Vargo.
"There are thousands of Hispanics in parishes, but there are not many Hispanic students in our schools," Vargo said. "With this special financial fund we can dramatically increase their representation in the Metro Schools region."

"The scholarship project is a revolution inside the diocese, so to speak," said Onofre Gutiérrez, a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Alexandria who said that in past years some Hispanics have asked Bishop Loverde to launch a program to help Hispanic students.

In addition to the new project, the Diocesan Tuition Assistance Program offers a financial aid program for eligible families. The average annual tuition per child in Catholic schools is $4,000.

An interactive CD-ROM, containing video information on the seven Metro Schools, is available in the selected parishes and schools, along with brochures and flyers.

"I distributed more that 40 videos last Sunday," said Vargo of his visit to St. Charles Borromeo where he attended the Spanish Mass.

For further information or a tour to the selected schools contact Michael F. Vargo at 703/841-2519.