Catholic High School Survey Data Revealed

On December 20, 1981, a survey of the Catholic Families in metro Atlanta (i.e. in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett and Rockdale Counties) was conducted through the parishes. The purpose of the survey was to gather data and information regarding the interest and support for additional Catholic high school education opportunities. The following is a summary of the findings of the survey.

The questionnaire for this survey was designed by a task force of educational planners in cooperation with the Department of Catholic Education of the Archdiocese of Atlanta. It was generally focused on numbers of students, interest in Catholic high school education and financial support for Catholic high school education. Moreover, some attention was given to selected considerations including school philosophy and school curriculum.

Thirty-five metro Atlanta parishes participated in the survey. These parishes indicate a total of 27,092 registered families. Survey instruments were completed by 6.131 families for a 23 percent return. The following table presents the number of registered families and completed questionnaires for each parish.

Four thousand and twelve (4,012) or 65.4 percent of the responding families said they had children who were infants through grade eight. Of this group 2,027 indicated that they would send their children to a Catholic high school. Another 549 families with children indicated they would "probably" send their children to a Catholic high school. A total of 2,621 or 67.8 percent of the families with children indicated that they would "yes" or "probably" send their children to a Catholic high school if one were available.

Two hundred and forty (240) families indicated that they currently do not have children but anticipate children in the future. Of these, 162 said they would send their children to a Catholic high school. This represented a 67 percent response from the childless group.

The families who responded "yes" or "probably" to the question "If available, would you send your child to a Catholic high school?" listed 5,019 children presently in kindergarten through grade eight.

The mean annual family income of those surveyed is $33,363 whereas the mean amount these families are willing to pay for Catholic high school education is $930.

Three hundred and forty-two (342) families who said they would "yes" or "probably" send their children to a Catholic high school indicated that they were willing to spend more than $1,500 per child for tuition.

Families responding to the questionnaire were asked to indicate the relative importance of 11 factors in deciding to send their children to a Catholic high school. The combined response of all families results in this priority ordering of these factors: 1) Academic Excellence; 2) College Prep Program; 3) School Discipline; 4) Catholic-Christian Environment; 5) Religious Education; 6) Presence of brothers, priests and sisters; 7) Tuition Costs; 8) Transportation; 9) Athletic Program; 10) Non-college Prep Program; 11) Desirability of Racial Mix.

Father Richard Kieran, Secretary for Education, said, "We are studying these returns from the parishes. The Department of Education will use the facts we have learned as a basis for recommendations to the Archdiocesan Board of Education. This study will help as we look at the future of Catholic high school education in our Archdiocese."