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Catholic News Herald

Serving Christ and Connecting Catholics in Western North Carolina

Catholic schools near capacity as enrollment deadlines approach

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011924 Schools graphicCHARLOTTE — With half the Diocese of Charlotte’s 20 schools at or near capacity, now is the time to apply for the 2024-25 school year.

Continuing demand and a new automatic re-enrollment system for students already in the system mean schools are filling up fast. Enrollment deadlines for new students begin Feb. 1, as the diocese continues to manage record enrollment of more than 8,000 students.

School leaders are already planning additional expansions and new school construction but say for now, it’s important for families to secure a place at their chosen Catholic school.

“Catholic Schools excel in forming well-rounded students grounded in faith – and families are increasingly recognizing that,” says Superintendent Greg Monroe. “We support parents as the primary educators of their children by offering strong academics, a clear Catholic identity and culture, and unparalleled opportunities in arts, athletics, and other passions.”

Enrollment at every school is on the rise as more families discover the value and benefit of a Catholic education, Monroe says. Across the diocese, enrollment is up 12 percent from a decade ago – and almost 18 percent since the pandemic began in 2020. Students already attending Catholic schools receive priority for securing a spot next year, and inquiries, tours, and open-house visits from new families have been steady.

The deadline for new families to apply for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten in Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools (MACS) is Thursday, Feb. 1. The deadline to apply for grades 1-12 is Friday, March 1. Deadlines for schools outside the Charlotte area vary but are also approaching; check your desired school’s website (listed below) for specific deadlines.

Applications are accepted on a rolling, space-available basis – with priority given to siblings of current and former students, children of alumni and employees, and registered parishioners. Some classes fill up quickly, so new families are encouraged to register early and get on a waiting list if their preferred school’s classes are full.

Additional interest and applications are expected this year thanks to the North Carolina Legislature’s expansion of the N.C. Opportunity Scholarship.

The school choice program is now open to all North Carolina students, kindergarten through 12th grade, who wish to attend a participating “direct payment” school, which includes each of the Diocese of Charlotte’s 20 schools. The state-funded scholarship had been reserved for students in low-income brackets based on family size.

Other requirements such as attending a public school the prior academic year were also in effect. Now all students, including those who already attend “direct payment” schools, are eligible. Current recipients who wish to renew their scholarships still get priority status. After that, scholarships will be awarded starting with the lowest income tier until funds are exhausted.

Like many schools across the diocese, St. Pius X School in Greensboro has seen steady growth over the past five years, and Principal Chris Kloesz credits a variety of factors. He expects some of this year’s growth to come from the expansion of the Opportunity Scholarship, noting that the program has enabled the school to have a broader outreach, encouraging more families in the area to consider St. Pius X.
We’ve had touring families tell us the Opportunity Scholarship made it more possible – or turned the possibility into a reality – to consider a Catholic education for their children,” he says.

Many schools also cite the pandemic as a factor in their growth, Kloesz says.

“Although the pandemic brought a few families our way, we were already growing,” he says. “We retained the vast majority of students who joined us during the pandemic. That is very special and a testament to our staff and school community. The students who enrolled during the pandemic had the opportunity to experience how amazing St. Pius X Catholic School is – and they wanted to stay.”

That “discovery” played out across the diocese, says Sissie Kilby, director of admission for MACS. She tells the story of one father from St. Matthew Catholic School who called to let her know that he applied to MACS simply because they had in-person learning, but he also said he stayed because his child was finally on grade level for the first time ever.

“The same father also mentioned his family had become involved with the school community, which led him and his wife to take RCIA classes,” Kilby says. “He said because MACS put a child’s education first, the dynamics of his entire family has changed for the better. He called just to say thank you!”

Tuition for registered Catholic families ranges from less than $5,000 to about $13,000 per year, depending on the school and grade level. For many, the Opportunity Scholarship would cover all or a significant portion of the tuition, as funding ranges from about $3,000 to $7,000 per student. Applications for the N.C. Opportunity Scholarship open Feb. 1 and close March 1; families can learn more and apply online at www.ncseaa.edu/k12/opportunity.

Additional assistance comes in the form of tuition discounts for multiple children enrollment, and every school offers need-based financial aid for qualifying families. In addition to the Opportunity Scholarship, all of the diocese’s schools participate in the N.C. Disability Scholarship program.

“I believe we will set a new record enrollment in the new school year based on the number of people who have already applied, coupled with the Opportunity Scholarship and the general growth of the area,” Monroe says.

The schools have already been expanding classes to accommodate growth, and school leaders continue to evaluate further expansion plans. This year marks the first full academic year using the new gym at Christ the King High School in Huntersville, the fine arts center at Charlotte Catholic High School, and the STEM lab expansions at Immaculata School in Hendersonville and Our Lady of the Assumption in Charlotte.

“We’ve hosted outside organizations in these facilities, which have become community-building hubs,” Monroe says. “We’ve also seen an increase in faculty and staff joining us from other states, and an increase in the number of families moving from other states to the Charlotte diocese.”

Select schools in Charlotte and Greensboro offer special learning programs to better meet the needs of diverse learners. In many instances, parents can provide their special-needs child with a Catholic education from pre-kindergarten through high school.

All of the diocese’s Catholic schools are accredited through Cognia (www.cognia.org), the largest accreditation system for primary and secondary schools in the U.S. Cognia has local and global networks, giving schools access to successful practices implemented by educators around the world.

— Annie Ferguson

More online

At www.charlottediocese.org/schools: Learn more about the Diocese of Charlotte’s 20 Catholic schools, their mission and their leadership.

Opportunities: Join us!

The schools are always looking for good people to join their mission and teach, volunteer or be a teacher’s assistant. If you’re interested, go to www.charlottediocese.org/schools/join-us or contact to your local school.

MECKLENBURG AREA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

The nine Catholic schools in the Charlotte area are grouped together as the Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools system: St. Ann (PK, TK-5), St. Gabriel (K-5), St. Matthew (TK-5), St. Patrick (K-5), Our Lady of the Assumption (PK-8), St. Mark (K-8), Holy Trinity Middle (6-8), and Charlotte Catholic and Christ the King high schools (9-12).

Visit each school’s website or contact the school directly to schedule a visit:

For more information, including MACS application forms and financial aid opportunities, please go online to www.discovermacs.org.

Prospective families may also contact MACS Admissions Director Sissie Kilby at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 704-370-3273.
MACS tuition rates for the 2024-25 year for participating Catholic families are: $4,839 for half-day pre-kindergarten or $7,564 for full-day pre-kindergarten; $7,915 for elementary school (transitional kindergarten through fifth grade); $8,882 for middle school, and $12,651 for high school.
There are additional graduation, technology and activity fees.

PARISH-BASED SCHOOLS

Outside Charlotte, the diocese has nine parish-based elementary and middle schools and one diocesan high school.

Each has its own admissions process, tuition rates and financial aid programs.

Visit each school’s website or contact the school directly for registration information or to arrange a visit:

  • Asheville Catholic School: PK-8th grade; 12 Culvern St., Asheville; 828-252-7896; www.ashevillecatholic.org
  • Bishop McGuinness High School: 9-12th grade; 1725 N.C. Hwy. 66 South, Kernersville; 336-564-1010; www.bmhs.us
  • Immaculata School: PK-8th grade; 711 Buncombe St., Hendersonville; 828-693–3277; www.immac.org
  • Immaculate Heart of Mary School: PK-8th grade; 4145 Johnson St., High Point; 336-887-2613; www.ihm-school.com
  • Our Lady of Grace School: PK-8th grade; 201 South Chapman St., Greensboro; 336-275-1522; www.olgsch.org
  • Our Lady of Mercy School: PK-8th grade; 1730 Link Road, Winston-Salem; 336-722-7204; www.ourladyofmercyschool.org
  • Sacred Heart School: PK-8th grade; 385 Lumen Christi Lane, Salisbury; 704-633-2841; www.salisburycatholicschool.org
  • St. Leo School: PK-8th grade; 333 Springdale Ave., Winston-Salem; 336-748-8252; www.stleocatholic.com
  • St. Michael School: PK-8th grade; 704 St. Michael’s Lane, Gastonia; 704-865-4382; www.stmichaelcs.com
  • St. Pius X School: K-8th grade; 2200 North Elm St., Greensboro; 336-273-9865; www.spxschool.com

AFFILIATE SCHOOL

The newest member of the diocese’s schools is Canongate Catholic High School, an independent school in the Asheville area that features a classical curriculum.

Learn more online at www.canongatecatholic.org.

SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAMS

MACS offers special needs programs at various locations, including:

  • PACE (Providing an Appropriate Academic Catholic Education),
  • MAP (Modified Academic Program),
  • MMP (Matthew Morgan Program),

n Options Program, which creates an elementary through 12th-grade path for students in the MAP and MMP programs to continue to flourish in school and beyond.

The Options Program, based at Charlotte Catholic High School, is specifically designed to bring the MAP and MMP together, creating a “certificate” path enabling students to explore options on college/university campuses after high school.

Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro also offers PACE as well as Quest, the school’s autism-inclusion program.

To learn more about these special programs and tuition rates, go online to www.charlottediocese.org/schools/about/special-learning.