September 24, 2021

Enrollment increases in Catholic schools in the Springfield Diocese

REGIONAL
Staff report

Young students and their teacher are pictured at St. Mary School in Lee. (iObserve photo/Carolee McGrath)

SPRINGFIELD – Enrollment has risen in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Springfield, with a 13% increase over last year’s first day of school numbers.

The total enrollment on the first day for the 2021-2022 school year was 3,161 students, 364 more than last year.

In the fall of 2020, Catholic schools made the decision to return to in-person instruction, while most school districts remained remote or hybrid through the spring of 2021.

Daniel Baillargeon, superintendent of diocesan Catholic schools, thinks there are three reasons for this increase.

“First, many families appreciate all of the effort we placed in reopening our schools last year and keeping the students learning in-person throughout the year,” he said. “Families also know that we had no learning loss due to the pandemic and as a result our students have progressed on or above grade level which has not been the case in many school systems.

“And finally, with an influx of new students, families who did not know what makes our schools different or maybe had misconceptions of what happens in a Catholic school, found communities that were engaging and very supportive of the needs of their families. They are more willing to share this good news,” Baillargeon stated.

The independently run Pope Francis Preparatory School in Springfield has 391 students enrolled, a 6% increase over last year. St. Mary High School in Westfield has 104 students enrolled, a 35% increase over the first day of school last year.

“When I took over as principal four years ago, we had 67 students,” said Matt Collins, the principal of St. Mary’s High School. “So we have seen an amazing increase in enrollment over the past four years.”

In addition to an increase in enrollment, many schools have waiting lists. Each school is following all of the necessary health precautions and is equipped with medical-grade air purifiers. Baillargeon said the teaching model of the Catholic schools also is attracting more and more families, as the Catholic Schools Office continues to follow the plan Bishop William D. Byrne laid out in his pastoral letter, “Getting Back to Better.”

“Our schools are centered on the person of Jesus Christ. He is our model, our head teacher, and our inspiration. The closer our schools align to the mission of sharing Jesus Christ in the Church, the more authentically they can do everything well. We offer our students the hope that comes through the cross,” Baillargeon said.

“We offer them an opportunity to believe in the God who made them,” he said. “We offer loving environments that help them grow to the fullness of who God wants them to be. That’s why our motto is ‘Become Who You Are.’ Our academics, our communities, our individualized plans are all excellent because of our desire to help students reach their fullest potential in mind, body, and spirit.”