CHARLOTTE — With public schools closed to in-person learning for most of the past year, the Douglass family has turned to Catholic schools to keep their children’s education on track and in-person during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hundreds of families across the diocese, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, have made the same choice – boosting enrollment in diocesan schools by 4.4 percent this year and increasing the demand for next school year. Some schools already have waiting lists and are evaluating whether and how many classes they can add.
“We’re doing everything we can to accommodate the demand and still keep our class sizes capped at an appropriate number of students to ensure the best possible learning environment,” says Superintendent Dr. Greg Monroe. “Although most of our schools offer online instruction for those who prefer that, we have prioritized in-person instruction since last August and parents are making clear that’s what they want for their children.”
Like many parents, Anne and Scott Douglass struggled to decide what was best for their children when the school year began last fall. Their youngest daughter, a third-grader, had previously been enrolled – and was doing well – in a special needs program at Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro, which offered in-person instruction. But with three daughters in public school, the Douglasses had to rely on remote learning for them and found it less effective than they’d hoped for. So the family, which is Methodist, moved one daughter to OLG in November, and another starts in March. Their eldest, a high schooler, will remain in public school.
“Both Lucy and Elizabeth have adapted well to OLG,” says Anne Douglass. “They wake up ready to put on their uniforms, and come home with smiles and stories from the day. Most importantly, I can see how a positive learning environment that also focuses on character development and community engagement encourages their love for the school.”
Enrollment overall is the highest it’s been in five years, with more than 7,200 students – up from 6,896 students last school year. Thirteen out of 19 schools are seeing increases year over year.
Scott and Anne Douglass are pictured with their four daughters: Sarah, Katherine, Elizabeth and Lucy. The family has chosen to send the three younger girls to Our Lady of Grace School because the quality in-person learning meets their needs. (Photo provided by Anne Douglass)
According to the National Catholic Educational Association, out of 174 dioceses nationally, the Diocese of Charlotte is one of only eight seeing an increase in enrollment this year.
St. Gabriel School in Charlotte even took the step of adding an extra kindergarten class to accommodate demand – the first time the school has offered five kindergarten classes.
Principals including Asheville Catholic School’s Mike Miller have been receiving more inquiries and interest as word has spread about the successful in-person learning environment.
“Parents have held out as long as they can…but they’ve got to get back to a more standard working schedule – and schools are crucial to that effort,” Miller says. “With our schools being open for all students, Monday through Friday, we provide for that need.”
Despite increasing demand, class sizes at all schools in the diocese remain capped to keep student-teacher ratios low. School officials in April will decide whether and how many additional sections of high-demand grades to open at particular schools to accommodate the influx of students.
And as with the Douglass family, more non-Catholic students are enrolling in the diocese’s schools. Typically, non-Catholics account for 15 to 20 percent of enrollment, but this year school officials say that number is up to 25 to 30 percent.
“Rarely a week goes by where we do not greet a new student to our campus,” says St. Matthew School’s principal, Kevin O’Herron. “Families have not left us as the public schools have opened for face-to-face instruction. We are getting close to our capacity because of this.”
Crystal Carney, a learning support teacher at St. Mark School in Huntersville, creatively engages with second-grade students in a small group literacy session. (Photo provided by Travis Burton)O’Herron says interest for next school year is high and their tour schedule remains full.
“The consensus from our new families is that they plan to return next year,” he says. “Many of them came to avoid remote instruction. They are choosing to stay because of the positive impact St. Matthew School has had on their family.”
Monroe notes retention is “excellent” in the diocese’s schools. “If families come to us, they tend to stay. Parents like what they are building in partnership with us. Whether they’re Catholic or not, they recognize the quality of our faith-based education and the values, discipline and virtues we help instill in their children.”
Miller has an eternal perspective on the increase in enrollment, believing that God, “as He always does, will take something as awful as this pandemic and use it for the ultimate good of our world. I have faith that part of that good is increasing the number of souls that our Catholic schools can bring closer to Him.”
The Douglasses are relieved with their school choice and they more fully appreciate the value of in-person instruction. They say communication and management of COVID-19 protocols have been excellent at OLG, and they expect all three daughters to return next year.
“Pre-COVID,” says Anne Douglass, “we did not realize how these simple daily experiences impacted the overall well-being of our children.”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
Pictured above: Colin McLaren, librarian at St. Matthew School in Charlotte, guides first-grade students during their visit to the school library as part of their research for a class project. (Photo provided by Travis Burton)
Fall enrollment underway
All 19 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Charlotte are accepting applications for the 2021-’22 year. Deadlines vary. The nine Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools have a March 31 deadline. Applications received after March 31 will be reviewed on a rolling basis. For enrollment information and to find a school near you, go online to www.charlottediocese.org/schools-office. Questions? Contact the Catholic Schools Office at 704-370-3271.