Report: Catholic schools enrollment improving

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Updated: January 16, 2012 1:23PM

Catholic schools enrollment has stabilized in suburban Cook and Lake counties and has increased in Chicago for a second year in a row, the Archdiocese of Chicago’s schools office reported Friday.

Enrollment was steady or increased in more than half of the 216 elementary schools run by the archdiocese, according to the annual Office of Catholic Schools survey. Preschool, kindergarten and first-grade enrollment was up 8 percent, or 1,150 students, compared with two years ago.

In Chicago, an increase of 650 students over the past two years is the best showing since 1965, the schools office said.

“We have seen extraordinary efforts in the last two years on the part of families, parishes and donors that have contributed to these results, which are also made possible by the commitment of our school administrators, teachers and volunteers working with our students and families,” said Sister M. Paul McCaughey, superintendent of Catholic Schools.

The schools office said students are re-enrolling at a rate of 97.7 percent, up from 95.4 percent two years ago.

More than 86,000 students attend archdiocese schools.