Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts News
120-Year-Old Parochial School in Chicago Rebounds to Defy National Trend of Urban Catholic School Demise
Five years ago, the 120-year-old Lakeview school was near closing due to low enrollment. It was among the struggling big-city Catholic schools described in the Thomas B. Fordham Institute's recent report, "Who Will Save America's Urban Catholic Schools?" Unlike the 1,300 Catholic schools closed in U.S. cities since 1991, AACA survived through the efforts of St. Alphonsus Church Pastor
Bucking the trend of four decades of declining enrollment among urban Catholic schools, AACA has doubled its student body from an all-time low of 135 in 2002. It is slated to enroll more than 300 students in 2008-2009, following record applications this spring of 200 applicants. AACA's turnaround is underscored by other recent achievements:
— Rated one of the top 25 private elementary schools in the metropolitan area by Chicago Magazine. — Accredited by the National Association of Education of the Young Child as one of only two programs in the Archdiocese of Chicago to receive this mark of quality in early childhood education. — Raised a record $210,000 in its 2008 Art & Soul annual fund raiser attended by more than 500 parents, parishioners and friends.
"Alphonsus Academy is a success story of what can happen when a dedicated community, a talented faculty and an energized leadership team commit to revitalizing a school," said Dr.
Dr. Stanton-Anderson credits AACA's comeback to several factors that are also highlighted in the Fordham report:
— Differentiating the school through a unique, reinvigorated curriculum as a \"Catholic arts-based magnet school.\" Working with internal art instructors as well as the Chicago Arts Partnership in Education (CAPE), the school has created units of study that integrate various artistic media into the core curriculum. — Gaining crucial parental involvement and commitment. Volunteer fund raising efforts led by parents have been the main source for filling operating budget gaps and for providing for much-needed improvements such as library renovation and the addition of a computer lab. The funds also help keep tuition affordable and make scholarships for lower-income families possible. — Tapping educational resources from Catholic universities. AACA has been a member of the Professional Development Schools Network, which provides support from DePaul University's School of Education, including mentoring/coaching for teachers. In addition, three AACA teachers are from the Notre Dame University's Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) teacher preparation program. — The creation of a strong leadership team that includes the School Board, the Pastor, teacher leaders and a principal with a doctorate in educational leadership. A more aligned, standards-based curriculum, faculty teaming, and a cohesive plan for addressing pressing resource and facility needs have resulted from the group's efforts.
AACA's expansion is helping meet educational needs for a growing number of families who want to stay in the city. "Having a quality Catholic education available in our Lakeview neighborhood was one of the big factors in our initial decision not to move to the suburbs," said
Despite strong momentum, AACA faces challenges like many urban Catholic schools. Its 103-year-old school facility requires constant upkeep. Providing financial assistance to all families in need adds pressure to raise funds to cover scholarships. Retaining qualified teachers remains a challenge with an average starting salary of
"Financial support for these three areas continues be a huge make-or-break factor in our school's ongoing viability," said Dr. Stanton-Anderson. "However, the exceptional support we have received during the last five years makes us confident that Alphonsus will continue to not only beat the odds but flourish."
Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts is a pre-Kindergarten through eighth-grade Catholic school with a 120-year history of providing Catholic education to students in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood. It currently enrolls 260 students, 97% of whom are Catholic.
SOURCE Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts
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