Catholic school enrollment figures for the current school year—significantly impacted by the pandemic—dropped 6.4% or more than 111,000 students from the previous school year, which is the largest single year decline in almost 50 years.
The Covid-19 pandemic is adding to the financial woes of Catholic schools in inner cities. But better management and creative fundraising may save them, writes Lance L. Lee, a parent of two children in Catholic schools.
With many public schools still in virtual mode, parents are taking a new look at Catholic education. But Michael O’Loughlin reports that the reprieve from declining enrollment may be temporary.