Post by title1parent on Aug 26, 2009 5:20:20 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1734295,6_1_NA26_SCHOOL_S1-090826.article
Parents say private schools are worth cost
Despite tight budgets, many parents still opting to send their kids to private schools
August 26, 2009
By DAVID SHAROS For The Sun
As some schools opened their doors this week for the new year, many parents found themselves examining the cost of sending their children to private high school.
Area school officials said despite high unemployment and an economy which refuses to significantly improve, enrollment at private high schools continues to climb.
The conclusion, then, is clear. Despite all obstacles, when it comes to religious education, parents are willing to put their money where their faith is.
Changing times
Tuition this year at St. Francis High School in Wheaton stands at $8,725, a fee that would compare favorably with some junior or state colleges not that long ago.
Board president and director of development Thomas Bednar said that despite the cost, enrollment this year is at 773 students, up a tick from 767 a year ago. About 20 percent of those taking the freshman entrance exam for this year were turned away, he noted.
But the constant rise in tuition has forced the school to raise more money for economic assistance.
"We've continued to have about a 4½ to 5½ percent increase in tuition, which is why we organized a campaign this spring to raise $65,000 as part of a special appeal," Bednar said. "There are some people that are having a tough time in these economic circumstances, including some seniors that wanted to finish here."
Parents are willing to sacrifice to send their children to private schools because, among other reasons, they want a religious aspect to their children's education and believe private schools offer greater discipline.
Bednar noted that students at St. Francis have a greater chance to be involved in school activities because they won't get swallowed up by the large numbers that go to an average public high school. St. Francis, with just under 800 students, has far fewer students than a typical suburban high school, with 2,500 to 3,000 students.
"Whether you're talking about participating on sports teams or just knowing everyone in the school community, there are more opportunities to participate here," he said. "These are the options people in the community want to have."
Benet Academy in Lisle has a similar profile to St. Francis. The school operated at capacity a year ago with 1,325 students, and while this year's figures are not final, Principal Steve Marth predicts the school will open with about five to 10 more students this year.
Tuition this year stands at $8,200, up from $7,800 a year ago. Tuition has increased an average of $300 to $500 a year.
Marth said there is no question that students and parents are sacrificing, and that those affected the most are upperclassmen, who already have put in one to three years at the school and are now experiencing a financial hardship.
"We've received a lot of support from current families and various philanthropic efforts, as well as support from alumni who realize the importance of what we offer here," Marth said. "This past spring, we began a 'Call for Cash' appeal in order to provide more financial assistance for students."
Marth said an increased number of parents is seeking financial aid and have become more open about disclosing financial information than they were in previous years.
"People once felt this was very personal or were embarrassed to admit they needed help, but today, that's changing," he said.
Working hard
Financial assistance, and even recycling efforts, are alive at Montini Catholic High School in Lombard, where enrollment this year is up from 665 to 715 students. Principal Maryann O'Neill said that while most are able to pay this year's tuition of $8,270 -- up $300 from last year -- the books, uniform costs and fees are being underwritten, in some cases, by other means.
"Our book distributor has offered scholarships for students in need, and this summer, we had a used uniform drive where kids who changed sizes or graduated donated their used clothing back so that everyone would have what they needed," O'Neill said. "Overall, the amount of financial aid we've given has doubled in the last three years."
Montini was a sister school of the now-closed Driscoll Catholic in Addison. O'Neill said her school has absorbed about 30 former Driscoll students. Immaculate Conception High School in Elmhurst took an additional 90 Driscoll students. O'Neill said Montini is working diligently to help those transfers with their assimilation.
"We made sure the athletes from there got into our summer camps, and we've had transfer meetings every week, assigned buddies to each new student, and our entire staff will walk through the cafeteria each day making sure no one is eating alone," she said. "We've asked these kids about their interests and tried to help them create a base of friends."
Wheaton Academy also has its mind on sports, because on Aug. 22 it dedicated $9 million worth of new athletic facilities in the form of the Heritage Field House, the Hanson-Lindop Memorial Atrium Building and a renovated Warrior Dome.
Wheaton Academy broke ground on the Heritage Field House in May 2008. The new building includes more than 38,000 square feet and houses practice courts, locker rooms for both interscholastic sports and physical education classes, a fitness facility, classrooms and offices. The Hanson-Lindop Memorial Atrium Building and the renovation of the Warrior Dome, the academy's pre-existing gymnasium built in 1948, were completed this summer.
Founded in 1853, Wheaton Academy is one of the nation's oldest Christian high schools.
Getting support
Aurora Central Catholic High School represents a good tuition deal -- $4,600 year -- thanks to the support it receives from churches within the Rockford Diocese.
The school's principal, the Rev. F. Etheredge, said enrollment is up just under 10 percent this year and has averaged at least a 6 to 7 percent jump per year for some time.
"We're up about 40 students, with an enrollment over 500 students," Etheredge said. "Our tuition has increased moderately this year by just $125, or about $10 a month. Our board has worked hard to keep costs down and make things as affordable as possible."
Not every student will complete the journey at a private high school, said Paul House, superintendent of Aurora Christian School.
"It's the ones that are forced to leave that are hit the hardest," he said.
"We've had a least a handful that have told us this summer they won't be able to come back because a parent has lost a job and can't afford it," House said. "There's no question the economy has affected us, but we've been able to weather the storm fairly well."
Aurora Christian had 938 students last year and House expects to reach that number again. Tuition went up only $100.
Regardless of the relative cost of tuition and increased economic assistance, school administrators say there is clear evidence that families are making sacrifices. Etheredge said one mother told him this summer that she plans to take on another part-time job in order to meet tuition costs, and that even students are taking on the responsibility themselves.
"One of the girls attending here this year said she was going to get a job in a local hospital in order to pay the tuition cost herself," he said. "She told me she was going to do whatever she had to in order to 'make this work.'
"We've seen the impact this economy has had on people, and we've been pleasantly surprised to see that people still value a faith-based education and that people want to be a part of that."
Parents say private schools are worth cost
Despite tight budgets, many parents still opting to send their kids to private schools
August 26, 2009
By DAVID SHAROS For The Sun
As some schools opened their doors this week for the new year, many parents found themselves examining the cost of sending their children to private high school.
Area school officials said despite high unemployment and an economy which refuses to significantly improve, enrollment at private high schools continues to climb.
The conclusion, then, is clear. Despite all obstacles, when it comes to religious education, parents are willing to put their money where their faith is.
Changing times
Tuition this year at St. Francis High School in Wheaton stands at $8,725, a fee that would compare favorably with some junior or state colleges not that long ago.
Board president and director of development Thomas Bednar said that despite the cost, enrollment this year is at 773 students, up a tick from 767 a year ago. About 20 percent of those taking the freshman entrance exam for this year were turned away, he noted.
But the constant rise in tuition has forced the school to raise more money for economic assistance.
"We've continued to have about a 4½ to 5½ percent increase in tuition, which is why we organized a campaign this spring to raise $65,000 as part of a special appeal," Bednar said. "There are some people that are having a tough time in these economic circumstances, including some seniors that wanted to finish here."
Parents are willing to sacrifice to send their children to private schools because, among other reasons, they want a religious aspect to their children's education and believe private schools offer greater discipline.
Bednar noted that students at St. Francis have a greater chance to be involved in school activities because they won't get swallowed up by the large numbers that go to an average public high school. St. Francis, with just under 800 students, has far fewer students than a typical suburban high school, with 2,500 to 3,000 students.
"Whether you're talking about participating on sports teams or just knowing everyone in the school community, there are more opportunities to participate here," he said. "These are the options people in the community want to have."
Benet Academy in Lisle has a similar profile to St. Francis. The school operated at capacity a year ago with 1,325 students, and while this year's figures are not final, Principal Steve Marth predicts the school will open with about five to 10 more students this year.
Tuition this year stands at $8,200, up from $7,800 a year ago. Tuition has increased an average of $300 to $500 a year.
Marth said there is no question that students and parents are sacrificing, and that those affected the most are upperclassmen, who already have put in one to three years at the school and are now experiencing a financial hardship.
"We've received a lot of support from current families and various philanthropic efforts, as well as support from alumni who realize the importance of what we offer here," Marth said. "This past spring, we began a 'Call for Cash' appeal in order to provide more financial assistance for students."
Marth said an increased number of parents is seeking financial aid and have become more open about disclosing financial information than they were in previous years.
"People once felt this was very personal or were embarrassed to admit they needed help, but today, that's changing," he said.
Working hard
Financial assistance, and even recycling efforts, are alive at Montini Catholic High School in Lombard, where enrollment this year is up from 665 to 715 students. Principal Maryann O'Neill said that while most are able to pay this year's tuition of $8,270 -- up $300 from last year -- the books, uniform costs and fees are being underwritten, in some cases, by other means.
"Our book distributor has offered scholarships for students in need, and this summer, we had a used uniform drive where kids who changed sizes or graduated donated their used clothing back so that everyone would have what they needed," O'Neill said. "Overall, the amount of financial aid we've given has doubled in the last three years."
Montini was a sister school of the now-closed Driscoll Catholic in Addison. O'Neill said her school has absorbed about 30 former Driscoll students. Immaculate Conception High School in Elmhurst took an additional 90 Driscoll students. O'Neill said Montini is working diligently to help those transfers with their assimilation.
"We made sure the athletes from there got into our summer camps, and we've had transfer meetings every week, assigned buddies to each new student, and our entire staff will walk through the cafeteria each day making sure no one is eating alone," she said. "We've asked these kids about their interests and tried to help them create a base of friends."
Wheaton Academy also has its mind on sports, because on Aug. 22 it dedicated $9 million worth of new athletic facilities in the form of the Heritage Field House, the Hanson-Lindop Memorial Atrium Building and a renovated Warrior Dome.
Wheaton Academy broke ground on the Heritage Field House in May 2008. The new building includes more than 38,000 square feet and houses practice courts, locker rooms for both interscholastic sports and physical education classes, a fitness facility, classrooms and offices. The Hanson-Lindop Memorial Atrium Building and the renovation of the Warrior Dome, the academy's pre-existing gymnasium built in 1948, were completed this summer.
Founded in 1853, Wheaton Academy is one of the nation's oldest Christian high schools.
Getting support
Aurora Central Catholic High School represents a good tuition deal -- $4,600 year -- thanks to the support it receives from churches within the Rockford Diocese.
The school's principal, the Rev. F. Etheredge, said enrollment is up just under 10 percent this year and has averaged at least a 6 to 7 percent jump per year for some time.
"We're up about 40 students, with an enrollment over 500 students," Etheredge said. "Our tuition has increased moderately this year by just $125, or about $10 a month. Our board has worked hard to keep costs down and make things as affordable as possible."
Not every student will complete the journey at a private high school, said Paul House, superintendent of Aurora Christian School.
"It's the ones that are forced to leave that are hit the hardest," he said.
"We've had a least a handful that have told us this summer they won't be able to come back because a parent has lost a job and can't afford it," House said. "There's no question the economy has affected us, but we've been able to weather the storm fairly well."
Aurora Christian had 938 students last year and House expects to reach that number again. Tuition went up only $100.
Regardless of the relative cost of tuition and increased economic assistance, school administrators say there is clear evidence that families are making sacrifices. Etheredge said one mother told him this summer that she plans to take on another part-time job in order to meet tuition costs, and that even students are taking on the responsibility themselves.
"One of the girls attending here this year said she was going to get a job in a local hospital in order to pay the tuition cost herself," he said. "She told me she was going to do whatever she had to in order to 'make this work.'
"We've seen the impact this economy has had on people, and we've been pleasantly surprised to see that people still value a faith-based education and that people want to be a part of that."
