It seems that St. Elizabeth’s has lost a number of students to St. Raphael’s.
Now, the loss in students at St. E’s is not due to poor teachers, a bad pastor, etc. St. E’s is a very good school by all indications (ie, my conversations with some of the parents). But due to the fact that St. Raphael’s is only a couple of miles up the road, why should parents drive from their parish to another for the parish school.
Now, as you may not know, St. R's is a new school -- dedicated in 2006 by Cardinal McCarrick. However, as St. R’s adds a grade every year, this draws more children away from St. E’s.
We have been told that a reduction of Catholic school students in Mont. Co. is due to increased tuition and a change in demographics (this is a multi-year trend). However, did the Archdiocese not consider these things before opening up St. R’s?
Or maybe (as one buddy of mine suggests), it is because St. R’s is in North Potomac and that area is considered to be a more affluent parish?
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4 comments:
Look at the land that each school resides on, St. E's and St. R. Which site is more valuable for real estate developers and you will see which school will get the nod from the Archdiocese and which will eventually get the axe. The school closings and consolidations are all part of a major real estate grab. Why else where the 7 Catholic paraocial schools in the city converted to Charters (yet to even announce if they will even open this Fall) and then given to two real estate developers, Jack Griffin and Mr. Bruno. These men are not educators, but DEVELOPERS. Our punishment for the Priest Abuse scandals and subsequent payment to victims is to close and sell our schools. Do not believe the myth of low enrollment.Once these beloved schools and churches are closed , they will be gone forever. Our Archdiocese can not be trusted in this area. The ball is in the Archdiocese court to convince the parishoners that this is not their game plan.
It's not likely that St. E's is going to demolish and redevelop anytime soon and it's very naive of you to suggest it. That community is strong. Besides, the site is too compact for any real windfall development to happen. Parking alone uses up a good bit of the land and that will be required for the church regardless of school's future.
I would never imply that St. E's would fold and be demolished within the next few years. Yes, they are a parish with a very strong sense of Catholic community. Look at their Christmas tree lot -- look at all of the work that goes into working it. Not an insignificant operation.
They also have a new gym floor, which cost almost a six figure amount.
Extremely unlikely for St. Elizabeth School to close, since Msgr. Macfarlane is well on his way to setting aside $1 million for an endowment to benefit the school.
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