More than 50 schools closed or merged in the '70s and '80s. Tom McCarver, director of Catholic education for the Archdiocese, says 1992 was the first time in 30 years that Catholic school enrollment began to increase. McCarver says the recent enrollment turn-around reflects more than the region's population growth. We have religious programs in every one of our schools, and people are opting to have their kids close to that. McCarver says most of the 11 high schools are full.
Many elementary schools have waiting lists too.
New schools are needed soon, especially in the suburbs. Three Catholic parishes in Eagan have joined forces to buy 28 acres of land along Yankee Doodle Road, the future site of Faithful Shepherd Elementary School. The school will house more than 600 students in kindergarten through eighth grade when it opens in two years. Judd, a mother of two young children, says the school will mean a lot to her family. We teach them at home, we believe in them.