In December, 1999, the Archdiocesan Board of Education Strategic Planning Committee completed a study of the growth areas of the Archdiocese. Using Archdiocesan and Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission demographic data, the committee has identified high growth areas in the Bucks and Montgomery counties, particularly near Lansdale Catholic High School and surrounding areas. The demographic data indicates that the northern region of Bucks County projects strong population growth by the Year 2020. Lansdale Catholic High School is at capacity, and is not equipped to handle the current and projected growth in this area.

On March 20, 2000, the Archdiocesan Board of Education hosted an "open forum" for parents, teachers, and interested members of the community. The options presented were: 1) Expand the present facility; 2) build a new Lansdale Catholic High School in the Hilltown area; 3) Keep the current site as is and build an additional school in Montgomery or Bucks County; and 4) do nothing.

Last spring, a local Task Force was formed at Lansdale Catholic High School to investigate the options. In an effort to gather input from the families in the service area, Peter G. Federico associates was hired to construct a survey and analyze the data gathered. The survey was distributed to the parents of identified third to seventh grade students who attend either Catholic schools or participate in the parish CCD (religious education) program. A total of 5,900 families representing 20 parishes were given the survey, with 1,752 (29.7%) surveys returned. This reflected an adequate return rate for a survey of this type.

The results of this survey serve as support for a recommendation, not a final decision. These results will need to be viewed within a context that includes the actions of other schools in the system, both elementary and secondary and the implications those actions have on enrollment.

Attached is the Executive Summary of the survey results which has been forwarded to pastors, principals of feeder parishes, faculty and Directors of Religious Education, who will share with others in the community who participated in the survey.

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Executive Summary
Lansdale Catholic High School
Interest Survey
Fall 2000

Introduction

This survey is part of a process in making a recommendation to the Board of Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia by Lansdale Catholic High School. A Task Force has been charged with examining options for Lansdale Catholic High School to handle the population growth and increased demand for Catholic secondary education in the Montgomery and Bucks Counties. The results of this survey serve as support for a recommendation, not a final decision. These results will need to be viewed within a context that includes the actions of other schools in the system, both elementary and secondary and the implications those actions have on enrollment.

Purpose

An interest survey was distributed to the parents of identified third to seventh grade students who attend either Catholic schools or participate in the parish CCD program.
A total of 5,900 families representing 20 parishes were given the survey, with 1,752 (29.7%) surveys returned. This reflected an adequate return rate for a survey of this type.

The questions to be answered by the survey were:

1) To what degree does the projected growth and respondents interest suggest the need for either an expanded facility or an additional facility for secondary education in Bucks or Montgomery County?

2) What is the market preference when given the following options?
· Expand the current facility.
· Build a new Lansdale Catholic High School in the Hilltown area.
· Keep the current site as is and build an additional school in Montgomery or Bucks County.
· Do nothing.

3) Which of the modifications or elements proposed for inclusion within the renovated or new Catholic high school increased or decreased parents' interest in sending their child(ren) to that school?

RESULTS

· 93% of respondents stated it was important or very important for their child(ren) to attend a high school, which promoted strong, Christian values. Over half (54%) said they would send their child(ren) to a Diocesan Catholic high school.

· Almost unanimously (99%) of the respondents believed that something needed to be done to more adequately meet the growing demand for Catholic secondary education in Montgomery and Bucks County.

· 85% approve of building a new school, breakdown as follows:
- 43% would like to see a new Lansdale Catholic in the Hilltown area
- 42% would like to keep Lansdale Catholic at its present site and build a new school in either Montgomery or Bucks County.

· 14% would like to see the present facility expanded.

· 755 respondents expressed a favorable view of placement of a new school within a five-mile radius of Hilltown.

· Of the three parishes (St. Stanislaus in Lansdale, Corpus Christi in Upper Gwynedd and Mary, Mother of the Redeemer in North Wales) in close proximity of Lansdale Catholic, the majority (44%) preferred Option #2 (Build a new LC within the Hilltown area).

· The top three proposed modifications or elements to be incorporated within the renovated or new Lansdale Catholic that would increase parents' interest in sending their child(ren) to LC were:
1) State of the art computer labs.
2) Upgraded Science Labs
3) Overall state of the art educational facility.

· 6% of the respondents said they were Lansdale Catholic graduates.


Conclusion

The projected growth in population for Bucks and Montgomery Counties along with this strong support and interest in Catholic education provides the basis from which to conclude that a massive expansion or rebuilding of Lansdale Catholic High School is in order.

The Task Force will take this information into consideration and make a formal recommendation to the Board of Education early next year.


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Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747