Diocese of Lansing Catholic Schools have recorded their largest year-on-year increase in enrollment for 20 years with diocesan schools witnessing an overall 6% rise in student numbers this past year.
“As we begin Catholic Schools Week, these latest enrollment numbers are a testimony to all those who pray, sacrifice and work so hard across the year to make our 35 schools boldly Catholic and academically rigorous,” says Tom Maloney, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Lansing, January 31, Feast of Saint John Bosco.
“That’s particularly true of our staff, our families and our students – thank you to all of you, for all that you do, and may God continue to bless your endeavors in the year to come.”
The Diocese of Lansing contains 35 Catholic schools spread across 10 counties including four regional high schools. In total, diocesan schools educate over 8,000 students.
The largest annual increase in enrollment is to be found in early years with a 21% rise in Pre-kindergarten student numbers while classes at the Kindergarten, 2nd and 3rd grade levels are the biggest they’ve been for 5-6 years. Overall, 23 out of 27 elementary schools have increased enrollment.
In terms of percentage growth, top of the list is Saint Joseph in Howell with a 33% increase in student numbers followed by Saint Martha in Okemos with 31% and Saint Paul in Owosso with a 29% increase. Meanwhile, Church of the Resurrection School in Lansing recorded the largest increase in terms of overall headcount with 33 new students, a 20% increase.
There is also a positive trend in student numbers at those elementary schools which have embraced a classical curriculum in recent years with Saint Mary in Williamston up by 11% and Saint Thomas in Ann Arbor up by 26%.
In terms of making Catholic schools more affordable, this year’s increase in student numbers has also been matched by increased tuition assistance. Overall, there has been an 18% increase in the number of students who have benefited from over $600,000 of tuition assistance from the Diocese of Lansing.
“Over the next year our aim is to ensure our schools are ever more faithful, excellent, available and affordable to all who desire to give their children the life-changing gift that is a Catholic education,” says Tom Maloney.
