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Catholic school enrollment at 7,256, an increase of 47 students

By MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)

The 2011-2012 enrollment figure for Catholic schools in the Diocese of Evansville is 7,256 students, according to Daryl Hagan, diocesan superintendent of schools. This figure compares with 7,209 students last year.

The 2010-2011 figure did not include the 13 students who were enrolled at John Paul the Great Catholic School in Jasper.

“Catholic schools in the diocese have formed active enrollment/marketing committees to articulate their message to prospective families who seek a Catholic school education,” Hagan said.

“In our elementary schools, quality pre-school and pre-kindergarten programs provide a successful transition into our kindergarten programs.

“One example where the kindergarten enrollment almost doubled from the previous year is at St. Joseph School in Princeton. The marketing/enrollment committee’s ability to showcase the value of a Catholic school education to the pre-kindergarten families translated into higher enrollment for kindergarten.”

Here is a report, on a school-by-school basis, gathered from information submitted by principals throughout the diocese to the Catholic Schools Office:

Evansville/Vanderburgh County

• Mater Dei High School has an enrollment of 501 students, a decrease of 19 students compared with last year. There are 113 freshmen, 121 sophomores, 127 juniors and 140 seniors.
• Memorial High School has an enrollment of 781, a decrease of nine students. There are 177 freshmen, 211 sophomores, 203 juniors and 190 seniors.
• There are 187 students enrolled at Christ the King School, Evansville. This includes 20 pre-kindergartners, 14 kindergartners and 18 first graders. This is a decrease of eight.
• Corpus Christi School, Evansville, has 252 students, including 19 first graders. There are 31 pre-kindergarten students and 25 kindergartners. This is decrease of 12 students.
• Good Shepherd School, Evansville, has a total enrollment of 333 students, three more than last year. There are 36 kindergarten students and 28 first graders.
• Holy Redeemer School, Evansville, has a total enrollment of 216, a decrease of 12 students. This includes 30 in the pre-kindergarten program, 18 kindergarten students and 23 first graders.
• There are 436 students at Holy Rosary School, Evansville, including 118 in the pre-kindergarten program. There are 32 kindergartners and 37 first gra-ders. Last year’ enrollment was 439.
• One-hundred ninety-three students are enrolled at Holy Spirit School, Evansville, an increase of 13 students. This includes 38 pre-kindergarten students, 12 kindergartners and 23 first graders.
• Resurrection School, Evansville, has 344 students, an increase of six students. This includes 59 pre-kindergarten students, 19 kindergartners and 21 first graders.
• St. Benedict Cathedral School, Evansville, has an enrollment of 433 students in the pre-kindergarten program through grade eight. There are 44 pre-kindergartners, 38 kindergarten students and 44 first graders.
• St. Joseph School, Vanderburgh County, has an enrollment of 214 students, an increase of two students this year. This includes 39 children in the pre-school program. There are 15 kindergartners and 21 first graders.
• St. Theresa School, Evansville, has 111 students, including 28 children in the pre-school. There are 5 kindergarten students and 6 first graders. This is an overall increase of 12 students.
• Westside Catholic Schools, Evansville, has an enrollment of 233. This includes 60 children in the pre-kindergarten program. There are 22 kindergarten students and 17 first graders. The overall increase is eight students.

Gibson County

• St. Joseph School, Princeton, has an enrollment of 163 students in the pre-k program through fifth grade. This is an increase of 10 students. Seventy-two children are in the pre-school program, and there are 23 kindergartners and 13 first graders.
• The enrollment at Sts. Peter and Paul School, Haubstadt, is 166 in grades pre-kindergarten through five. This is a decrease of two students. There are 56 children in the pre-kindergarten program, 20 in kindergarten and 14 first graders.
• There are 171 students en-rolled in grades pre-kindergarten through eight at St. James School, Haubstadt. This includes 19 children in the pre-kindergarten program, 19 in the kindergarten and 21 in first grade. This is an increase of two students.
• One-hundred fifty students are enrolled at Holy Cross School, Fort Branch, an increase of 12 students. This includes 57 children in the pre-kindergarten program, 17 kindergarten students and 13 first graders. The school contains grades pre-kindergarten through five.

Jasper

• Holy Family School has an enrollment of 214 in the pre-kindergarten program through grade eight; this is a decrease of 26 students. There are 45 children in the pre-kindergarten program, 12 in kindergarten and 20 first graders.
• Precious Blood School has 257 students enrolled in the pre-kindergarten through grade five. There are 67 pre-kindergarten students, 31 kindergartners and 25 first graders. This is an increase in enrollment of 19 students.

Newburgh

• St. John the Baptist School has an enrollment of 374, an in-crease of 16 students compared with last year. This includes a pre-school enrollment of 66, 41 kindergarten students and 31 first graders.

Posey County

• St. Philip School, Posey County, has an overall enrollment figure of 227, a decrease of five students. The pre-kindergarten program has 27 children. There are 28 kindergarten students and 29 first graders.
• Eighty-four students are enrolled at St. Matthew School, Mount Vernon, in grades pre-kindergarten through five. This includes 28 pre-kindergartners, 10 kindergarten students and 12 first graders; this is a decrease of 10 students overall.
• St. Wendel School, St. Wen-del, has an enrollment of 162, a decrease of 21 students. There are 26 pre-kindergartners, 14 kindergartners and 24 first graders.

Rockport

• St. Bernard School has 170 students, including 53 in the preschool program. There are 12 kindergarten students and 13 first graders. This year’s figure compares with 137 last year.

Vincennes

• Rivet Middle School and High School has an enrollment in grades six through 12 of 183 students. This is a decrease of 18 students. There are 24 freshmen, 40 sophomores, 21 juniors and 22 seniors.
• There are 239 students at Flaget Elementary School, Vincennes. This includes 79 children in the pre-kindergarten program. There are 36 kindergarten students and 22 first graders. This is an increase of six students.

Washington

• There are 129 students at Washington Catholic Middle and High School. This includes grades six through 12. There are 16 freshmen, 17 sophomores, 23 juniors and 16 seniors. This is a decrease of five students.
• Washington Catholic Elementary School has 317 students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through grade five. There are 165 pre-kindergarten students, 33 kindergarten students and 26 first graders. This is an increase of 45 students.

John Paul the Great Catholic H.S., Jasper

• John Paul the Great Catholic High School in Jasper has an enrollment of 16 students. There are three freshmen, six sophomores, six juniors and one senior. This compares to an enrollment figure of 13 last year. The high school is financially independent from local parishes and faithful to the authority of the bishop and his directives and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.