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Monday, December 28, 2009

Why the declines at private schools? | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/27/2009


Why the declines at private schools? | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/27/2009:


Why the declines at private schools?



"Some cite the economy and transfers to public schools. Others say it's a shortage of pupils and a long-term trend.

By Dan Hardy
Inquirer Staff Writer

Faced with the recession and rising tuition, are more parents at area private schools and their diocesan counterparts transferring their children to public schools to ease the strain on their pocketbooks?

Maybe.

School officials say it is difficult to measure the effect of the economy on enrollment because other factors are involved, including a declining number of school-age children and a long-term drop in the number of children in nonpublic schools.

But for Jacqui Coughlin and John Dewees, the answer is yes."