Question for the non-Catholics

[mommyof4]

Wow. After all this time I’ve read your posts, I never knew you are a teacher.

I’m a speech language pathologist, to be exact. And at this time, I’m working in the school systems.

 

[lak611]

I’m a speech language pathologist, to be exact. And at this time, I’m working in the school systems.

That is wonderful. We need people like you in the schools. I have a friend who had a speech problem when she was in elementary school. She got help from a speech therapist. Now you would never know she ever had a problem. She has a Master’s degree in engineering and is a lector at her parish.

 

[mommyof4]

That is wonderful. We need people like you in the schools. I have a friend who had a speech problem when she was in elementary school. She got help from a speech therapist. Now you would never know she ever had a problem. She has a Master’s degree in engineering and is a lector at her parish.

I’m always glad to hear about success stories. I really enjoy my job, too.

 

[Suat]

Sure, I would send my future children to a religious school if that was the best option where we lived. My SO is also an atheist and agrees with this. Obviously, we would check out the school to make sure that the it was academically rigorous, just as we would do for a non-religious school.

 

[Syele]

If Homeschooling was somehow not an option and the Catholic School was the only non-public school available my child would attend there. I probably would not Choose Catholic school over other Christian schools though.

 

[O.S.Luke]

Catholic school are usually excellent. They are often cost-prohibitive to non-Catholics, tho.

 

[DixiesFinest]

There will be a poll, please wait for it. Scenario: your public schools are not great and an independent Catholic school opens amidst other private Christian (mostly Baptist) schools in your area. (Assume homeschooling is not an option.) The tuition is comparatively less than other Christian schools and Montessori’s. Would you consider a private Catholic school an option for your pre-k through 8th grader?

I ran out of options, so if your choice is ‘other’ or you;d like to comment further, please do so in a reply. Thank you verymuch for your (name removed by moderator)ut!!

I just viewed the poll results, and those are exactly as I predicted…Anglicans etc said yes, Baptists said no

 

[Atlanta_Jen]

I just viewed the poll results, and those are exactly as I predicted…Anglicans etc said yes, Baptists said no

Me too.

I am a board member for a new startup school and our enrollment is less than expected, so I am trying to figure out why. I personally believe we were too self-limiting in our marketing, targeting primarily Catholics. That opinion seems to fall on some deaf ears, I’m afraid.

 

[Atlanta_Jen]

What is the average tuition at Catholic schools for elementary, middle school, and high school?

Cat, I don’t have exact figures on the national average, but I can tell you that most schools in the Atlanta area charge tuition in the $4500-$8000/ yr range. I was raised in Western NY and when we compared the tuition at the parish school we lived near when we married, we found that we could have sent all three of our kids for $2900/yr. QUITE a difference!

Our mission at Saint Rose Academy is to provide an affordable Catholic education to the children on the west side of Atlanta. It will be the only school of its kind within 25 miles in any direction. Most other private schools in the area charge tuition ranging from $4200-$9000/yr per child.

 

[lak611]

Me too.

I am a board member for a new startup school and our enrollment is less than expected, so I am trying to figure out why. I personally believe we were too self-limiting in our marketing, targeting primarily Catholics. That opinion seems to fall on some deaf ears, I’m afraid.

Is the school affliliated with a parish? Are there any large parishes nearby?

 

[Atlanta_Jen]

Is the school affliliated with a parish? Are there any large parishes nearby?

No, unfortunately. There are 4 parishes whose populations we hope to serve. Long story short, there is currently a demographic study underway to determine the needs for new schools, new parishes, etc. throughout the Archdiocese. Until this study is completed, which won’t be for several years, the Archbishop does not give his blessing for any new schools, parochial or independent, though approximately a third of the schools on the website for the Archdiocese are independent and have the blessing of the Archbishop. The families involved in this process are all very dedicated, active members of our local parish. We fear that perhaps the lack of a blessing on the project is what is holding some Catholic families back. My personal theory is that non-Catholics probably wouldn’t give a flip about the semantics if we offer a great school and a great educational and spiritual opportunity for the kids.

 

[Atlanta_Jen]

No, unfortunately. There are 4 parishes whose populations we hope to serve. Long story short, there is currently a demographic study underway to determine the needs for new schools, new parishes, etc. throughout the Archdiocese. Until this study is completed, which won’t be for several years, the Archbishop does not give his blessing for any new schools, parochial or independent, though approximately a third of the schools on the website for the Archdiocese are independent and have the blessing of the Archbishop. The families involved in this process are all very dedicated, active members of our local parish. We fear that perhaps the lack of a blessing on the project is what is holding some Catholic families back. My personal theory is that non-Catholics probably wouldn’t give a flip about the semantics if we offer a great school and a great educational and spiritual opportunity for the kids.

I should add that it is our hope to someday have the blessing of the Archbishop and we will always be open to working with them.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

Catholic school are usually excellent. They are often cost-prohibitive to non-Catholics, tho.

Do non-catholic students get charged more then catholic students?

 

[Atlanta_Jen]

Do non-catholic students get charged more then catholic students?

It really depends on the school. Often, Catholics get a lower tuition, but our school will charge any student $3500. The only discount is if you pay in full before Aug 1-and you save 4% that way.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

It really depends on the school. Often, Catholics get a lower tuition, but our school will charge any student $3500. The only discount is if you pay in full before Aug 1-and you save 4% that way.

Now is it any catholic or specifically the catholics who belong to the church that has the school?

I know my former baptist church gave me a cut for my son because we were members of that particular church. I actually left the church in Jan((4 years ago). but I was able to keep him there until June(4 years ago) and still got my discount.

 

[Atlanta_Jen]

Now is it any catholic or specifically the catholics who belong to the church that has the school?

I know my former baptist church gave me a cut for my son because we were members of that particular church. I actually left the church in Jan((4 years ago). but I was able to keep him there until June(4 years ago) and still got my discount.

I honestly don’t know the answer to that question. I’m sorry.

 

[MaryD7]

Our mission at Saint Rose Academy is to provide an affordable Catholic education to the children on the west side of Atlanta. It will be the only school of its kind within 25 miles in any direction. Most other private schools in the area charge tuition ranging from $4200-$9000/yr per child.

My sister lives in Kennesaw (I’m not sure where that is located … I just know it’s near Atlanta) and she sends her daughter to Mount Paran. Have you ever heard of it?

She paid upwards of $8,000 to send her there for elementary school but now that she is to enter the sixth grade, which is considered middle school, the tuition skyrocketed to $14,000!!! Yikes! Who can afford that?!?

 

[MaryD7]

Now is it any catholic or specifically the catholics who belong to the church that has the school?

At our parish school, those who are members of this particular parish receive the discount. It’s really not that much of a cut though. Maybe a couple of hundred dollars.

 

[Atlanta_Jen]

My sister lives in Kennesaw (I’m not sure where that is located … I just know it’s near Atlanta) and she sends her daughter to Mount Paran. Have you ever heard of it?

She paid upwards of $8,000 to send her there for elementary school but now that she is to enter the sixth grade, which is considered middle school, the tuition skyrocketed to $14,000!!! Yikes! Who can afford that?!?

Exactly!!

Mount Paran is not a Catholic school though, correct? I believe a coworker of mine (who actually is Catholic) sends her children there and she commented that she enjoys how her children are learning more scripture than she felt they’d get in a Catholic school. Kennesaw is about 40 miles from me. I am about 20 miles west of Atlanta.

 

[KarenNC]

I just viewed the poll results, and those are exactly as I predicted…Anglicans etc said yes, Baptists said no

Well, there wasn’t an option for me in the poll (Neopagan UU), so I wasn’t represented in the poll, but answered that a Catholic school with solid academics would not automatically be out of the running and might be preferable to many of the other (less expensive) Christian schools in our area.