While Catholic school enrollment for the upcoming academic year has yet to be finalized, preliminary input from principals indicates enrollment trends are holding steady for the upcoming 2004-05 school year. Last year, Catholic secondary schools within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles had an upswing in enrollment, while local elementary schools experienced a 2.03 percent decline. National and state enrollments in Catholic elementary schools last year showed a decrease of 2.7 percent and 3 percent, respectively.

Attendance at 50 area Catholic high schools increased by 165 students last year, bringing the total number of students to 30,225. According to Nancy Coonis, Superintendent for Secondary Schools for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the number of students taking the Catholic high school entrance exam in January was also "up slightly" from 2003. Enrollment at 227 Catholic elementary schools last year totaled 64,422, representing a decline of 1,336 students from the previous year.

According to Superintendent for Elementary Schools, Pat Livingston, there are a number of reasons for the decline in elementary enrollment. "School principals say the main reason for families leaving Catholic school is finances," said Livingston. For families on a tight budget, especially those saving to become first-time homeowners in Southern California's inflated housing market, paying for elementary school tuition can be difficult.

Another reason for decreases in enrollment is a lower birth rate combined with the "aging out" of populations in established neighborhoods. At Our Lady of the Valley School in Canoga Park, for example, 18 students are registered so far to attend kindergarten, which only a few years ago had an average of 30 students. Located in a mixed residential area of homes and apartments, the school has had a number of families move out of the area for more affordable housing in growing regions such as the Antelope Valley.

Still another reason for the decrease in Catholic schools may be the improved image of public schools due to mandated smaller class sizes in grades K-3. Interestingly enough, some local Catholic schools intentionally decided to also decrease their enrollment from the usual 30+ students per class to maximize learning,

Across the nation last year, 123 Catholic schools were closed or consolidated in areas of declining enrollment while 34 new schools opened, according to statistics from the National Catholic Educational Association. Except for the closure of Queen of Angels Academy in Compton in 2002, all schools remain open in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. While many schools are located in low-income areas in the archdiocese, especially in the inner city, they remain open with financial support from the annual Together in Mission campaign as well as tuition assistance from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles' Catholic Education Foundation.

Founded by Cardinal Roger Mahony in 1988, the Education Foundation recently announced funding of $5.3 million for tuition awards to 4,697 elementary school children and 1,179 high school students for the upcoming school year. All of the children receiving a scholarship are living at or below the Federal Poverty Guidelines and depend on CEF for tuition support.

Population explosion

As the numbers of area Catholic school-age children continue to rise, increasing from 974,000 in 2000 to an estimated 1,168,000 in 2020, Catholic schools have not been able to retain their market share. Whereas in 1980, local Catholic schools served 25 percent of Catholic students in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, today they only serve 10 percent according to a 2003 archdiocesan report, "Strategic Plan for Catholic Schools."

"We are 10 to 15 years behind where we should be," said Deacon Richard Medina, assistant to San Fernando Region Auxiliary Bishop Gerald Wilkerson. Deacon Medina is the regional liaison to developers in the Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys who are planning new housing developments and drawing many Catholic families to the area.

"We're pursuing developers now so we don't get left out," said Deacon Medina. He is currently working with a Stevenson Ranch developer to acquire a site within the next year for the location of a new Catholic parish and school. According to Medina, schools -- many with double-grades -- will eventually be built to accommodate the demand in the following high-growth parishes: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Santa Clarita, Sacred Heart Church in Lancaster, and Blessed Junipero Serra Church in Lancaster.

"The majority of families moving into these areas are families with young children," said Deacon Medina. "They want Catholic schools."