Private Schools Hold Their Own: More Financial Aid Sought
Enrollment at private and parochial schools across Maryland will hold steady or increase slightly this year, although the recession has forced more families to apply for financial assistance, school officials say.</br></br>Enrollment figures for the 1991-92 academic year will not be compiled for several months. But private schools in Prince George's, Montgomery and Howard counties are likely to see their enrollments rise by 2 percent, the Association of Independent Maryland Schools predicted.</br></br>ÛÏThe schools are maintaining. Early statistics are balancing out to show virtually no change in enrollment," said Sara Donnelly, executive director of the association of 78 private schools.</br></br>Sacred Heart in Bethesda, enrollment is expected to be the same as last year, when the school added 115 students to its student body of 580. The schoolÛªs tuition, which ranges from $6,800 to $7,075 a year, has not deterred returning or new students, officials said.</br></br>"I'm surprised at how neck and neck itÛªs running, because we expected a decrease because of the economy and war,Û said Sandra Du-binsky, director of admissions.