For a long time now the catholic high school enrollment has been on the decline and even in the elementary schools except McCarthy High School This decline can be attributed to different factors but the bottom line is that the decline costs the Catholic Church billions of money every year to cater for the school budget deficits caused by the lack of enough children to pay school fees. However, this is not the major concern for the church, but their concern is the lack of children to guide in the Christian way so that they can become better members of the society and community.
What are the causes of the decline in Catholic high school enrollment?
The Bridgeport diocese conducted a 16 month research of catholic schools that are under enrolled and financially struggling in that diocese. This study found out that the main causes of under enrollment in the schools in due to competition from public schools, the cost of catholic school tuition and a decrease in young families participating in parish life. Although this study was for elementary schools the same findings can be used to explain why the catholic high school enrollment has suffered. Catholic high schools are expensive and out of reach of many parents. This is especially true in areas where the majority of the population is middle or low class earners. This causes the schools to suffer from low enrollment or even shut down completely due to lack of funds to maintain the operation of the school.
The other issue affecting the schools is the model that many were founded on, especially the very old Catholic school The model of the schools where they are stuffed with nuns is outdated. The schools need to change this model and become more modernized so that they can see a change in enrollment.
What are the solutions to counter the decline?
To counter the decline catholic high school enrollment, there are some measures that need to be taken into account. First is to change the model that the schools operate on, making them more modernized and appealing to the mellennials of today. The high schools also need to work together with those that are doing well in enrollment. This working together as one will help the schools doing badly to learn from the ones doing well. Parents also have a part to play. Parents that can afford to pay the tuition in catholic schools should encourage their children to join the catholic schools by showing them the importance of being in a school that provides more than just basic education to them.
The Catholic Church is not taking the decline in catholic high school enrollment without a fight. They are doing everything they can to change the status quo and increase enrollment significantly by building the best private high school in Broward .