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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, August 28, 2009

Private schools try to retain students


By Bret Yager
Hawaii Tribune-Herald

The Big Island's private schools are fighting a continuing slide in their enrollment as parents look for cheaper options.

Schools have tried to stem the outgoing tide with more financial aid to parents, but it's been only partially effective.

St. Joseph School in Hilo started this year with 30 fewer students than last year — and 60 fewer than the beginning of the 2007-08 year. The school of 311 students has launched an open enrollment policy so students can enroll at any time of the year.

Haili Christian School in Hilo was down nine students this year, to 190.

Enrollment at Waimea's Parker School has shrunk to 250 from 275 a year ago and 285 the year before that. Hawai'i Preparatory Academy lost 25 students in the past two years for a current total of 565 students.

Most of the decline at HPA has come at the middle school level. Part of that is because there simply are fewer students of middle-school age because of population demographics — something that's true nationally, said Joshua Clark, director of the school's admissions office. But the decline can also be chalked up to parents who just can't afford the private school option any longer.

"They lost their jobs, or their savings were depleted and they couldn't make it anymore," Clark said. "Some we could salvage, others we couldn't. We've been planning for increased financial aid since last fall."