Parents weigh economy's effect on school choice
Public or private?
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| ROY SYKES PHOTO Emma Larkin, 4, enjoys play time Friday at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in St. Charles. Many local private schools have had lower enrollment this year and more people requesting financial aid as parents struggle to pay tuition fees. |
So not long ago the family decided to cut the commute by moving to St. Charles.
With gas and food costs having risen dramatically, Castiglione said spending less money on gas is part of the reason her two sons are able to continue attending the private school."I know we were going through hundreds in gas alone," she said.
With tuition rates that range from $4,000 to $12,000 annually, some private schools in St. Charles County are reporting lower enrollment numbers this year and more requests for financial assistance. Meanwhile, enrollment in at least one public school district is higher than expected.
The newest Catholic school in St. Charles County, Barat Academy, will have about 30 fewer students in its freshman class this fall. Last year, an anonymous donor paid for tuition for the inaugural class of 80 freshmen, which may have accounted for the larger number of students, said Principal Debby Watson.
This year, Barat Academy gave $500,000 in merit-based scholarships and financial aid to help families pay the $11,500 tuition. Watson said she's seen parents question the amount of gas it would take to get their children to the school in Dardenne Prairie.
"I think the economy has given people pause to really evaluate their priorities, and I think their children's education is a high priority," she said. "They are making sacrifices."
Lutheran High School in St. Peters gave $52,000 in financial aid this year, about $7,000 more than usual, said Executive Director David Schlesselman. Tuition at the school ranges from $6,000 to $8,000 each year. Schlesselman said he thinks the economy played a factor in enrollment.
"There was a noticeable increase (in requests for assistance), and we did find more people discussing, asking about ways in which they could somehow make this affordable," he said.
James Drury, principal of two Living Word Christian elementary schools, said he's seen the economy have the biggest impact on families that own their own business or work in the construction trades. Some who are not working are finding the $4,650 tuition bill too high to swing.
"A few families decided to withdraw because it was too hard," he said.
Some families chose to save money by sending their older children to public school and keeping the younger one at Living Word, he said. Others decided to home-school their children.
Drury thinks any slump will be temporary.
"The economy always goes up and down, and when people get dissatisfied with their other options, that's why people chose private education anyway," he said.
David Schaedler and his wife always knew they wanted to send their boys, 10 and 7, to a private school and decided on Sacred Heart Academy. But more than once, they've had to take a serious look at whether they could afford to send them there even with financial assistance.
"It's very pricey, and we make a lot of sacrifices to have our children come here," he said. "Our family has recognized the impact it's had on our children and have helped us out."
About 10 percent of the students who attend Sacred Heart, which enrolls students in prekindergarten through eighth grade, receive financial assistance, said Lisa Tebbe, admissions director. Overall, enrollment in the school is down about 2 percent, she said.
"I'm aware we did lose some families because of tuition," she said. "I know parents, when their child is here and they're experiencing a Sacred Heart education, if it does come down to finances it is a heartbreaking decision that parents have to make."
The Francis Howell School District has had more students enroll this year than were expected, said Superintendant Renee Schuster.
As of Friday, a total of 17,749 students were enrolled in Francis Howell schools, which is 26 more than last year. The district had anticipated a decline of 120 students because it had a large graduating class in 2008.
"There seems to be families that are moving here either to live with a relative who has a home or they were in private school and have decided to go to public school," Schuster said. "I hope it's because the public schools are getting better."
The Fort Zumwalt and St. Charles school districts reported essentially flat or declining enrollments.
