Second-grader Ben Sloan is one of the reasons enrollment in the Lawrence public school district has continued to decline for three consecutive years.

The youngster gets his schooling at the new Corpus Christi campus of Lawrence Catholic School. His mother, Polly Sloan, was a teacher in Lawrence public schools for 12 years. But she considered the church school a better choice for her son.

Mary Mattern, a teacher at Corpus Christi campus of Lawrence Catholic School, addresses a question from second-grader Patrick Friedrichsen. Some say a surge in popularity of private schools has led to a decline in the public school district's enrollment.

“A lot is based on academics,” Polly Sloan said as she waited to pick up Ben from school one day last week. “A lot of it is based on the reputation of St. John.”

The Catholic School operates the St. John and Corpus Christi campuses.

Polly Sloan said the Catholic school was appealing because it offered more opportunities for family involvement, a low teacher-to-student ratio and better communication among school staff and parents.

Such attractions apparently are influencing many families to choose education for their children outside Lawrence public schools. Some families turn to home schooling or religious schools. Others head for public schools in smaller nearby towns, many of which are seeing enrollment growth.

Pat Newton, principal of the Lawrence Catholic School campuses, said she had always been a fan of public schools. But, she said, parents now crave alternatives.

“I do know that our parents in Lawrence are very picky, very choosy. They know what they want, and it’s not all the same thing.”

Lawrence dip

On the first full day of classes in the Lawrence school district, school officials said enrollment was down 182 students from last year. In that preliminary headcount, the biggest chunk of the shortfall was in elementary schools.

The official count required by the state will be conducted Sept. 20. But Supt. Randy Weseman said he expected the follow-up survey to show enrollment down considerably in the district. If his prediction is correct, the district would lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in per-pupil financial aid from the state.

Based on his 25 years of experience in Lawrence schools, Weseman linked the district’s shrinking enrollment to four factors:

Surge in popularity of private schools.

Increasing interest in home schooling.

Desire to move out of Lawrence to nearby cities with more affordable housing.

Sluggish economy.

Weseman said it was hard to come up with proof for his four-pronged theory, but anecdotal evidence exists.

For example, he’s been hit with a series of telephone calls from parents inquiring about state requirements for setting up a home school.

“This week, he said, “I’ve had three calls on home schooling. That’s a record. That’s a sign, but it’s not very scientific.”

Private schools growing

While public school enrollment continued to slip, four of the city’s largest private schools experienced enrollment increases this year.

Newton said there were 373 students enrolled at the two Catholic elementary schools. That’s up from 360 last year.

The Corpus Christi campus opened three years ago, and this year added second grade. Corpus Christi has 81 children in kindergarten, first and second grades. There are only a few vacancies at the Corpus Christi and St. John campuses.

“I don’t see a huge surge in our enrollment,” Newton said, “but the trend in enrollment is up.”

Century School, 815 Ky., made a big push this year to reach its goal of 100 students. A year ago, the nonreligious school had 38 students. Teachers now have their hands full with 62, ranging from preschool to 12 years of age.

Joe Garcia, who has taught at Century School for two years, said the school’s learn-at-your-own-pace approach was attractive to students and parents.

“At public school, they teach to the average,” he said. “Our environment is the best for children to learn.”

At Veritas Christian School, 256 N. Mich., enrollment increased slightly, said Dan Herriage, the school’s administrator. Veritas enrolled 121 students from kindergarten through ninth grade. That’s up two students from last year, and will probably increase even more in 2003.

“Next year,” he said, “we’re adding 10th grade, and possibly add one grade a year.”

Adding grades, campuses

It’s also likely the elementary school will spin off in the future to a new location near the Veritas campus, Herriage said.

Again, he said strong academics played a role in parents’ decision to send their children to the school. He also said religious values and a more strict disciplinary climate were important.

“There are a lot of families who want their children growing up in a spiritual atmosphere,” he said. “It’s discipline. It’s academics. It’s social interaction with peers of the same values.”

Bishop Seabury Academy, which plans to move next year from east of Lawrence into renovated space at the Alvamar Racquet & Swim Club on Clinton Parkway, enrolled 106 junior high and high school students.

Chris Carter, headmaster at Bishop Seabury, said he had anticipated having about 115 students. He now thinks enrollment will grow less than 10 percent over last year’s total of 101.

After the move to a more accessible location, though, he expects enrollment to increase rapidly. An increase of 20 or 25 students annually won’t be out of line, Carter said.

“Our ability to offer an outstanding curriculum with careful personal attention to the student is attractive to parents,” he said.

He said Bishop Seabury’s goal was to acknowledge the spiritual dimension in students’ lives without trying to enforce a specific religious belief.

“Developing awareness is part of our mission statement,” he said.

Area school districts

It’s unclear how substantial an influence family flight from Lawrence to smaller nearby cities is having on the Lawrence public school district’s enrollment.

Some districts experienced enrollment gains. Others didn’t.

In Tonganoxie, Supt. Richard Erickson said the district would be up about 40 students. There’s now the equivalent of 1,470 full-time students.

“There’s a lot of building in the community,” he said. “We see a lot of new construction.”

He said this was the district’s second consecutive year of enrollment growth after five years of decline. The district lost 120 students over that five-year period.

“It’s a good sign,” he said.

In Wellsville, enrollment is up about 50 students to 815. A new elementary school and proximity to Interstate 35 is a big draw for new homeowners, said Supt. Denise O’Dea.

Baldwin Supt. Jim White said the district would be “just about dead even where we were last year.” That’s a full-time equivalent enrollment of 1,305.

He had anticipated a slight increase of no more than 10 students.

“I’m still hopeful we’ll see an increase,” he said.

Steve Johnston, superintendent of the Perry-Lecompton district, said enrollment had declined 20 students to about 1,000.

“We’re going to be down, mostly at the lower grades,” he said. “We have fewer children being born into our community.”