FLORIDA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFER
QUALITY EDUCATION WITH AFFORDABLE TUITION RATES

Tallahassee, FL (Jan. 19, 2001) -- Florida Catholic schools, providing high-quality education, spirituality and a value system while keeping tuition rates as low as possible, once again have an overall enrollment of 90,000 plus students.
   For the third consecutive year, enrollment in Florida Catholic exceeds 90,000 students. Enrollment for the 2000-2001 academic school year is 93,219.
   "The enrollment figures reflect parental awareness that Catholic schools not only offer academic excellence, but a value system for life that is based on spirituality," said Larry Keough, associate for education of the Florida Catholic Conference. "It is little wonder that most of our schools statewide are near or at capacity."
   The statewide average diocesan tuition for a Catholic school elementary student is $2,789. That amount is what a statewide tuition average would be for a Catholic family, which is active in a parish, to send a child to a Catholic school for one year. In five of the seven dioceses, the average tuition rate is actually lower than the statewide figure (please link to school statistics). Tuition averages are higher in two South Florida dioceses due to cost of living expenses and other variables.
   In an era of soaring educational costs, the average annual diocesan tuition remains relatively low, which in part stems from administrative efficiency. A combined 21 diocesan school administrators oversee the administrative responsibilities of 210 Catholic schools statewide.
   The 2000-2001 figures were released as Catholic schools prepare nationwide for the Jan. 28-Feb. 3 Catholic Schools Week. The week will be dedicated as a time for Catholic schools throughout the nation to reflect on their commitments, sacrifices and accomplishments to provide successful faith-oriented education. The theme of the week is, "Celebrate Catholic Schools."
   The latest Florida Catholic school statistics reveal that minorities, including African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians and American Indians, make up 33 percent of the overall enrollment throughout the seven dioceses, from the Panhandle to South Florida. In keeping with the Catholic schools' mission to reach out to at-risk students, Catholic schools are participating in the Opportunity Scholarship Program and the Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities.
   Four Catholic schools are educating 48 Opportunity Scholarship students in Pensacola, the only area in the state where students are eligible to participate in the program. In the Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities, which is statewide, 28 Catholic schools have registered to participate in the program. Approximately 140 students have enrolled in Catholic schools via the program.
   Approximately 90 percent of the students are Catholic in the Catholic schools throughout the state. Of the total number of schools, 175 are elementary, 30 are secondary, and five serve special needs students. In addition, 94 percent of the 6,310 school faculty and administrators are lay persons.
   For more information, please contact Mr. Keough at the above-stated phone number or email address or your diocesan school superintendent.

The Florida Catholic Conference is an agency of the Catholic Bishops, established in 1969.  It speaks for the Church in matters of public policy, serves as liaison to government and the legislature, and coordinates communications and activities between the Church and secular agencies.  The Bishops of the seven dioceses of Florida constitute its Board of Directors.