Private School Parents - Enrollment Question

[luvmarypoppins]

I am on the school council of one of my ds school. Its a christian school associated with the church we go to, but its non denominational and we dont teach our particular religion etc. Well last night the principal informs us that we are losing at least another 10 kids, 2 familys are moving, 1 family is going to public school, not for financial reasons, and another family is going to our "competitor" school, my 2 oldest go to the "competitor" school but its for high school as our current school goes up to 8th grade only. I guess I am asking what do you do to "attract" students/parents to your school. We have a pre-k program and advertise the K-8 program to those parents, other churches in the area know about our school etc. We have a lower cost than our "competitor, we lack a gymnasium and a hot lunch program, they sometimes do a pizza day etc. We also have a good academic reputation etc. Guess I would like to hear what others do to increase enrollment, TIA.

 

[campinggal]

Ah...the battle of the shrinking enrollment. I'm with you there!

My dd's school is a small rural K-8 school in VT (108 kids) and we struggle with the enrollment issue every year.

Unfortunately, depending on where you live, this could be an issue until well after 2010 due to the general demographics that have the elementary school age population continuing to decline for the next few years. Again, it depends on where you live if this is a trend in your area too. You'll see it in the public schools too as the classes start to get smaller too- then having small classes at your private school is no longer a draw because that can be had at the public school. Looking at birth rates in your area (and how they have trended over time) will also give you a sense of the future demographic too.

The best thing we have done is to really try to invite people to our school and see it in action. We actively solicit current families for names of new families and invite them to our 'Open House' that we hold twice a year. At the open house, we have the class rooms open and often an event- a local singer, offer an art workshop etc. Our community knows that their help is needed for 'Open House' days to have kids in the classroom to help the school feel alive. The personal invitation and connection to existing family has been our best marketing tool.

Also examining trends in current enrollment to see if something is being overlooked- like maybe you have a few new families from a certain area that you never had before- is that now a place to actively place new ads.

Focus on your strengths and do something to showcase that- like you mentioned having a 'strong academic reputation.

Good luck! The enrollment thing is a tough one- we're right there with you!

 

[Cindy's Mom]

bump, because I'd like to know too.

 

[stamper]

This is a tough one! One thing that might "get your name out there" is to submit to local newspapers articles/pictures of the students doing neat or great things. Do it often and people will start to see that great things are going on there. Maybe have a community service done by students and make sure that the papers know about it. Etc, etc.

Do you offer any sports? This is a BIG drawing point. Our school doesn't have a soccer field or a gym of its own...we rent a local public school gym and an area church lets us use their field. We offer soccer, volleyball (girls) and basketball(boys).

Good luck!!

 

[golfgal]

What is going to attract students to your school is what you have to offer. If you don't have a gym, then no gym class is assumed or no sports available. No hot lunch, a pain for the parents to get lunch for their kids every day. As far as academics, you need to outshine the competition, upgraded technology, good math and science programs, outstanding teachers are what is going to get your population up.

I know our Catholic school has declining enrollment but mainly because the Catholic population of 3-6 year olds is really small in our town right now. They do have a recruiting committee and they do things like send a gift to all the babies Baptised in our church then one of the students from the school sends a letter to that child each year on the anniversary of their Baptism. They try to put everything they can in the paper, results of the science fair, speech team competitions, charity work, special days in school or when speakers come in. They have a mentor family program where current families will contact the parents of soon to be kindergartners and help them with all the going to school questions they have as well as letting them know about the great things at the school.

Your best source of advertising is your current families. Have a fun day at school, a carnival or something and challenge all the families to personally invite 3 prospective families to the school or something like that.