Several area private schools see decline in student populations; others hold steady or even growing

Private school enrollment is higher for some institutions, while others are struggling to keep their numbers up.

As private schools start their year, the economy is influencing some parents' school choices.

"Things are tight and they're willing to try the public school system and work from there," said Bev Smart, principal of Cape Christian School.

The school started with 122 students this year compared to 145 at the beginning of last year, Smart said. She said the drop was more than she anticipated but hopes the school will add students throughout the year.

"It hasn't changed what we're offering," she said. "It just makes it a little bit quieter in the hallways."

Students walk to their next class Thursday at Notre Dame Regional High School. The school’s development director, Tony Buehrle, said there was an increase in requests for tuition assistance this year. The school provides about $50,000 in tuition assistance each year, he said.

Immaculate Conception in Jackson is seeing a similar trend with its enrollment. At 239 students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade, the school has 17 fewer students than it did at the end of school last year, said principal Tamara Nenninger.

If parents plan to send their children to public school for high school, they tend to stop attending Immaculate Conception around fifth or sixth grade to start transitioning, she said.

"I think probably this year the economics played a bigger role," she said.

The school has a scholarship program funded through some Sunday collections. She said 10 parents requested aid for this year, the most she can remember. The school also did not replace a teacher who quit.

At St. Vincent de Paul School in Cape Girardeau enrollment is higher, said Principal Kay Glastetter. The school started with 421 students, up from 393 at the end of the year.

She said there was an effort to keep tuition down this year. It increased by one percent, she said. The school also makes an effort to make sure finances are not the determining factor for parents. She said 35 families are receiving aid this year.

"If someone belongs to our parish, we offer tuition assistance and we're going to find a way for the families to come here," she said.

At Saxony Lutheran High School, the economy has not affected the growing student population. In April, the school broke ground for a 14,000-square-foot addition. The $1.1 million expansion extended both wings of the building.

Students are attending class in the southwest wing, said principal Craig Ernst-meyer. The other wing is expected to be complete by the end of September.

The freshman class has 52 students, a record number for the school. Overall enrollment is 193, compared to 174 at the end of the previous school year.

"We are able to talk about Jesus on a daily basis and for some parents that is a very high priority," he said.

Notre Dame Regional High School is holding steady with its numbers, said development director Tony Buehrle. Enrollment is just more than 500 students, the same as last year, he said.

"We do work with our Catholic population and provide and offer tuition assistance based on need," he said.

He said the school provides about $50,000 in tuition assistance each year. This year there was a slight increase in requests, he said.

He said the school increases tuition by a small amount every year in good and bad economic times to add stability for parents.

"I think the things we do, our mission we profess here, it's very important to us," he said. "I think that's what people are looking for."

abusch@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

300 S. Hope St. Jackson, MO

1913 Ritter Drive Cape Girardeau, MO

2004 Saxony Drive Jackson, MO

1855 Perryville Rd. Cape Girardeau, MO

265 Notre Dame Drive Cape Girardeau, MO