Although Hollister’s private schools face many of the same
challenges as their public counterparts, including declining
enrollment due to the city’s sewer moratorium, they continue to
lure parents with high academic standards and religion-oriented
curricula.
Hollister – Although Hollister’s private schools face many of the same challenges as their public counterparts, including declining enrollment due to the city’s sewer moratorium, they continue to lure parents with high academic standards and religion-oriented curricula.
San Benito County’s private schools can be expensive – tuition ranges from about $2,900 for half-day kindergarten at Calvary Christian to $4,100 per year – but many parents believe private education is worth the expense.
Mary White and her husband chose Sacred Heart Parish School for their children because they liked the school’s academic program and wanted their children to attend a Catholic school which promoted the values they teach at home.
“We chose Sacred Heart so that what (our children) heard and saw at home was what they heard and saw at school,” White said. “(Paying for tuition) is a sacrifice we have to make, but it is well worth it.”
White’s children are just two of 455 students at Sacred Heart Parish School, which is the largest non-public school in San Benito County. Sacred Heart Principal Kathy O’Donnell believes private schools have many advantageous over public school.
For example, private schools usually have fewer discipline problems and smaller class sizes, she said. However, many of Hollister’s schools – public and private – have to worry about declining enrollment. Enrollment at Sacred Heart school is down about 10 students this year, from about 465 to about 455.
“The sewer moratorium and the whole housing thing has really impacted enrollment,” O’Donnell said. “But we try to keep tuition low and supplement it with fundraising so we can attract as many students as possible.”
Declining enrollment isn’t a problem for all of Hollister’s private schools. Calvary Christian School Administrator Walt Lindquist said enrollment is up this year at his school to 174 students, about 15 more than last year. Lindquist, who has worked in both public and private schools, believes private schools continue to attract parents seeking an alternative to public education.
“We feel that we have the advantage in all subject areas,” he said. “We have excellent textbooks and great teachers. Our teachers look at this as a ministry more than a job – they have a real concern for each student.”
Calvary first grade teacher Heather Stockton agreed. Stockton knows that she could make more money teaching at a public school, but made a choice to work at Calvary.
“I just really felt that it was the Lord’s leading,” she said. “The best part of my job is seeing the children grow in the Lord and academically.”
Brett Rowland covers education for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or br******@fr***********.com
