Utah's Catholic schools enrollment numbers buck national trends

Photo courtesy of St. Vincent de Paul School

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The number of Catholic school students in Utah rose slightly in the last school year but dropped again this year; school officials blame the economy.

The national news has been grim in recent years for Catholic schools, which saw 17.5 percent of schools close and a 17.4 percent decline in student enrollment between the 2000 and 2009 school years. Utah, however, bucked that trend: The number of high school students increased in that period by about 10.5 percent (172 students), while the total of elementary school students declined by less than 2 percent (64 students).

For the current school year, though, enrollment has decreased slightly almost across the board, which has local officials concerned but also considering the economy.

"We think it might be the tuition, but we're not really sure because we've always offered tuition assistance," said Holy Cross Sister Catherine Kamphaus, superintendent of Utah Catholic Schools. "But it gets to a point of pride in people to ask."

Of the 16 Catholic schools in Utah, Saint Joseph Elementary in Ogden has seen the most drastic decline in enrollment, from 553 students in the 2001-2002 school year to 423 last year. Saint Olaf School in Bountiful also has seen a sharp decline during the last decade, from 263 students to 163.

On the other side of the picture, enrollment during the same period rose by nearly 150 students at the Madeleine Choir School, Juan Diego Catholic High School gained almost 200 students and J.E. Cosgriff Memorial School, after declining in the first half of the decade, has grown by almost 100 students since Betsy Hunt became principal four years ago.

The growth at Cosgriff can be attributed to two factors: expanding the preschool to take children as young as 2, and an "incredible" literacy program, Sr. Catherine said.

When Hunt moved to Cosgriff, she took a number of steps to improve student literacy. She hired a literacy coach, provided additional training for teachers, strengthened the curriculum and raised funds for library materials that can track each child's reading ability, Hunt said. She also reduced class size in grades kindergarten through 2nd and in the middle school emphasized critical writing, higher mathematic skills and science in preparation for high school and college.

The efforts have paid off: 89 percent of Cosgriff students now are reading at or above grade level, an almost 15 percent increase. Hunt considers this a primary reason why enrollment at her school has risen.

"I really think parents are looking for a very meaningful Catholic schools instruction," she said. "They're also looking for excellent academic instruction. They want their kids to have a rigorous preparation in reading and mathematics for high school and college and also be grounded in the Christian values of our Church. So we have to offer both."

Other growth spots in the diocese schools are Saint Marguerite in Tooele, which plans a groundbreaking for an expansion in February; and Saint Francis Xavier in Kearns, which broke ground for its 12,000-square-foot expansion in December.

St. Francis' expansion was necessary for both the school and the parish, said Principal Patrick Reeder. For example, the Spanish and music teachers both go from classroom to classroom with their materials on a cart, the library isn't handicap accessible and there's only one set of restrooms for the entire facility - school and church both.

Enrollment at St. Francis is "probably down about 25 students from where we could be," Reeder said, but with the expansion "our hope is that we will provide a better atmosphere for our students and be more attractive to families and students on the west side."

Families outside the Salt Lake Valley also have shown interest in a Catholic education for their children. Six years ago, St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Park City undertook a feasibility study for a school, but determined that, to compete with the public school system, they would have had to charge about $65,000 tuition - almost twice what other Catholic schools ask, said Msgr. Robert Bussen, St. Mary's pastor.

"While other efforts have been made to expand private education in Summit County, St. Mary's at this time is not looking at building a school," Msgr. Bussen said, although he added that he thinks in many ways it would be a good place for a Catholic school.

St. George also conducted a feasibility study, Sr. Catherine said, and although no plans were made, "It's a growing area. I see it as a possibility in the future."

For now, the diocese is considering the development of a stewardship program that could help more families afford Catholic school tuition. The model for this program is St. Francis of Assisi School in Wichita, Kan., which provides tuition-free education to registered parish families.