The following comes from an October 4 Inland Catholic Byte article:
SAN BERNARDINO—Enrollment in the Catholic schools of the Diocese for the 2016-17 year shows a slight increase, according to preliminary reports received early last month.
An overall gain of 10 students across the 24 elementary schools and three high schools in the Diocese was reported. A more official count will be taken early this month.
“We’re stable,” says Patricia Vesely, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese. “Some schools have new programs that account for their increase in students.”
Of the 24 elementary schools, ten reported increased enrollment while 13 reported a decrease. Several schools in the West End of the Diocese showed enrollment jumps, including Sacred Heart School in Rancho Cucamonga, which added 29 students over last year’s enrollment, and St. Peter and St. Paul School with a 24 student increase. Both Aquinas High School and Notre Dame High School reported double digit enrollment increases. High school enrollment is up by 27 students overall.
Enrollment challenges in the Catholic schools of the Diocese mirror those experienced around the nation. In the past six years, Catholic school enrollment has declined ten percent nationally.
Curious not a word on reasons for declines in enrollment. By advanced mathematics, there had to be at least one decline, since the grand total is break even, and the article mentions two gains.
How much did the Diocese population grow in the last year? Some portion of this would be elementary-high school students.
Curious, very curious.