Catholic schools enjoy expanded state support
Educators recognize student success, growing community during annual celebration week
The celebration of Catholic Schools Week at Valparaiso’s St. Paul Catholic School is taking on a blue hue as students and teachers recognize their 2022 National Blue Ribbon award.
Each day the students receive blue-themed treats, including T-shirts, blue wristbands, flags and school bags.
St. Paul was one of three Northwest Indiana schools and among 10 statewide and 297 across the country to receive the national honor from the U.S. Department of Education based on high achievement on assessment scores. St. Paul was joined by Eads Elementary in Munster and Central Elementary in Valparaiso.
The accolade comes as local Catholic schools are attracting more students as the state lowers requirements to access tuition money from Indiana’s Choice Scholarship or voucher program.
Diocese of Gary Superintendent Joseph Majchrowicz said enrollment jumped 27% from last year and is at about 6,100 students, spread across 20 schools in Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties.
“Things are doing fabulous and we are really marketing hard,” he said. “The Choice Scholarship program is making a difference,” he said.
Indiana launched its voucher or Choice Scholarship Program in 2011 and today, it’s one of the biggest in the country.
In 2021, the GOP-led legislature pumped more money into the voucher program and raised the income eligibility limit. A family of four, for example, can have a total household income up to about $145,000 and still qualify.
This year, the legislature is eyeing a separate voucher expansion program called the Education Scholarship Account Program. It’s aimed at all students with less eligibility restrictions than the Choice program.
The legislation established it in 2021 for special education students. A new bill, still under consideration, would expand it to all students. Public school advocates have criticized the program, citing a potential loss of revenue and lack of accountability.
Majchrowicz said every school in the diocese grew this year, except one which he said remained at the same level. He said none of the schools is in danger of closing due to low enrollment.
Aquinas Catholic Community School in Merrillville is expanding to accommodate a growing enrollment. Principal Lisa Guti
errez said the school grew 37% since 2017. She said about 86% of the students rely on Choice vouchers.
Work on a new $3 million addition began last year on the school at 801 W. 73rd Ave. It includes two new classrooms, a teachers’ lounge, nurse’s office, and new front entrance.
The Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation provided a $1.9 million donation, coordinated by the Big Shoulders Fund Northwest Indiana.
Majchrowicz, who is retiring this year, anticipates more growth, especially with the expansion of the South Shore commuter rail line into south Lake County.
“Northwest Indiana will be booming,” he said.
Academically, Majchrowicz said all the schools received accreditation from the state last year and from Cognia, a national accrediting body.
Meanwhile, St. Paul students wore pajamas and slippers Monday as the school merged its Blue Ribbon honor with Catholic Schools Week, raising money for Café Manna, a soup kitchen operated by the St. Teresa of Avila Student Center at Valparaiso University.
Winning the national award for academic achievement meant a lot to parent Katie Joseforsky, whose daughter Anna is a second-grader.
“The Blue Ribbon makes me feel very confident that I sent my child here. It’s an honor,” she said.
“It’s a tight-knit family and a good community. We love the faith-based education,” Joseforsky said.
Principal Lisa Hughes credited teachers and students for all their work to attain the Blue Ribbon, marked by a plaque in the school lobby.
“The honor will be far reaching and it came from the work of people before me,” said Hughes, who’s in her second year. “It’s my hope we realize all those expectations.”
She hopes soon the school of about 250 students, from preschool to eighth grade, can expand to include two classes at each grade level, instead of one.
“I don’t know that there’s a secret to it, it’s just hard work,” she said of the national award.