Despite downward economic trends in the last year, leading to layoffs and budget cuts industry wide, private school enrollment in Queen Anne and Magnolia is steady due to a triage of factors.
It seems parents are not defining private school tuition as an optional expense, families with bigger pocketbooks are giving more and the schools have opted for measures that ensure current students are able to stay.
Seattle Country Day School's enrollment dropped by three students, from 328 to 325 for grades K-8, not a significant decrease, according to development and communications director Joan Hudson. Enrollment at St. Anne School actually increased by a couple of students, and in the first week of school was at 265. Our Lady of Fatima School did not return phone calls before press deadline.
Though both schools have endowments that were negatively affected by the economy, the endowments themselves are not large enough to hinder the school's finances or operating budgets.
Increasing aid, steady donations
St. Anne School increased available financial aid money to $44,279 for the 2009-2010 school year, compared to $29,180 given in financial aid last year, according to St. Anne Principal Pat Durand. With no set amount in the budget allotted for financial aid, Durand said the school meets the financial needs of parishioners based on a family's income using a sliding scale, and so financial aid fluctuates each year. "Tuition can be lowered to what's affordable," she said.
For example, a family with an income of $30,000-34,999 pays $3,120 for one child, and $890 for a second child compared to a family who makes between $40,000-$44,999 and pays $4,010 for their first child and $1,780 for the second child enrolled.
But sliding scales and income aside, "We won't turn away anybody who's an active parishioner," Durand added.
Though Durand could not provide the total number of students receiving aid, or an average percentage for last year and this school year, the increased financial aid pool reflects an increased need among students for aid.
On average, 12 percent to 15 percent of Seattle Country Day students receive financial aid each year and Hudson said she noticed an uptick in families asking for aid this year.
But with last year's "Fund a Need" and foreword thinking by the Board of Trustees who voted to increase the financial aid pool before the financial crisis hit, the school's been able to answer financial aid demands. The financial aid pool is creeping toward $500,000, according to Hudson.
Seattle Country Day also chose to limit the tuition increase for this school year. Most private schools raise tuition ever year an average of 5-7 percent to reflect cost of living changes. But this year, Seattle Country Day raised tuition by less than 3 percent. This year's tuition for grades K-3 is $17,390. For grades 4-5 tuition costs $19,042 and for grades 6-8 the price increases to $20,333.
Tuition funds cover 90 percent to 93 percent of the school's operating budget, but making up the difference in the annual fundraisers hasn't been a problem either, Hudson said.
Steady donations
"The community has been incredibly supportive despite a tough year in terms of our fundraising," Hudson said.
Each year the school augments its operating budget with an annual fund and an auction. Every year's auction includes a bid for "Fund a Need," which allows participants to raise money for a particular cause or school need. Last year "Fund a Need" was financial aid and it raised $80,000.
"It raised more money than any 'Fund a Need' ever has at our school," Hudson said. "People are definitely aware of the economy and if we can all chip in we can help those that are not as fortunate."
Like Seattle Country Day, St. Anne also needs fundraising and donation money to operate. St. Anne has an annual fund and a school auction every year as well.
"The turnout last year was terrific. There were about 300 people at the auction which raised about $235,000," Durand said. "For donations we've been pretty steady the last couple of years. The downturn in the economy didn't hurt us in the auction and the annual funds remained pretty constant also."
Last year, the annual fund at St. Anne raised $130,000 and Durand is projecting $120,000 this school year.
Though the numbers are slightly different, Durand said she hasn't noticed any real effects of the economy with St. Anne attendees. And, the endowment's rising again.
"I think we are in general very optimistic. Barring the economy doing something more horrible than it's already done I don't see the coming years as very doom and gloom," Hudson said.[[In-content Ad]]
