Enrollment numbers stay strong

By ROB HERBST
The Catholic Week
The numbers are in and they indicate enrollment at Catholic schools throughout the Archdiocese of Mobile remains strong.
Overall, enrollment is up about 3 percent when comparing numbers from the final day of the 2022-23 school year to enrollment numbers taken around Labor Day. According to Lauren Alvarez, principal of St. Pius X Catholic School in Mobile, that’s a testament to what families receive when they send children to Catholic schools – an excellent education and formation.
“With everything going on in the world today, I think parents certainly see the value of a good Catholic education.”
Enrollment growth is most evident at St. Pius X which has seen a nearly 15 percent increase in enrollment since the end of 2022-23. Alvarez said “obviously we’re delighted with the increased enrollment” and attributed the increase to several factors. 
“Whether it is changing neighborhood demographics as more and more younger families are moving near the parish and the school, whether it is a concerted effort to reach younger as well as Spanish-speaking families, or whether it’s word-of-mouth,” she said. “Our families at the school share with other families about their experience at St. Pius X and they become interested.”
While St. Pius X is growing, it hasn’t lost one aspect that makes it appealing to some. 
With 126 students as of Labor Day, Alvarez said St. Pius X is appreciated by families who might prefer a more intimate setting. 
“Parents appreciate that we provide a quality, Catholic education in a smaller school setting. Many children thrive in this type of environment when a larger school may be overwhelming to them,” she said.
St. Pius X isn’t the exception when it comes to growth. 
New St. Michael Catholic School in Auburn is only in its second school year, but is already ministering to children from preK-3 to fourth grade as it plans to add an additional grade each year. With the addition of a grade this year, enrollment is up about 23 percent. 
Enrollment is up about 9 percent at St. Benedict Catholic School in Elberta and more than 8 percent at Little Flower Catholic School in Mobile.
One reason enrollment may be up at Catholic schools throughout the Archdiocese of Mobile and beyond is how they fared during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
In an Oct. 27, 2022, column printed in the “Wall Street Journal,” Partnership Schools Superintendent Kathleen Porter-Magee said “more than 92 percent of Catholic schools across the country re-opened for in-person learning (in fall 2020),” including those in the Archdiocese of Mobile.
Only 43 percent of traditional public schools and 34 percent of charters offered in-person learning.
A result? The 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress showed a decline in Math and Reading scores throughout the country. In math, the average eighth-grade score dropped to its lowest level in several decades.
However that wasn’t the case at Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Mobile. The Iowa Test of Basic Skills is given to students in second through eighth grade at schools in the Archdiocese of Mobile. Content areas assessed include Reading, English Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies. 
Comparisons of the 2019 test scores to those in 2022 show composite scores were at least one year above grade level and some grade levels more than two.
“Catholic schools stayed open as long as possible in spring 2020 and parents appreciated the fact that we were open in the fall. We were able to provide their children with a quality education, while they were able to go to work,” Alvarez said. “Doing so is likely impacting Catholic schools’ enrollment long-term.”
Catholic schools are also doing more to reach Hispanic students. The Archdiocese of Mobile Office of Catholic Schools will have specific numbers later this month in regard to the number of Hispanic students at Catholic schools throughout the archdiocese, but Alvarez said there has been an emphasis to reach out.
“We’ve reached out to the Spanish-speaking community at St. Catherine of Siena Parish. We’re also increasing our staff training so we can better minister to Spanish-speaking families. 
“But it’s not just Spanish-speaking families we’re trying to reach. For example, our parish is dedicated to offering ministries to younger families and that in turn can impact school enrollment. We’re a school for families of varying backgrounds.”