St. Edward School to start offering tuition discounts to families

In August of 2022, St. Edward School was notified by the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence (SCSOE) that they had been accepted as a member of that organization. The Catholic Schools Center of Excellence is a Minnesota-based foundation with the motto “Catholic Schools Matter.” We at St. Edward School could not agree more.
The mission of the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence (CSCPE) is to enhance excellence and increase enrollment in preschool-8th grade Catholic schools in Minnesota. They do this by sharing innovative ideas, sound business practices, proven strategies, and financial resources to help meet each school’s individual goals.
Later in the year, St. Edward School was made aware of a grant opportunity. The school was challenged to dream big. To dream about a project that would positively affect enrollment.
The education committee discussed the possibilities. They were forced to discuss what impediments to enrollment might be. Is it small class sizes (higher enrollment fixes that)? Do people of all faiths know they are welcome? Is tuition too high? The education committee discussed the possibilities. They looked at the mission of the school: St. Edward Catholic School exists to provide a comprehensive academic foundation that empowers children in their faith journey by teaching Catholic values while encouraging lifelong service.
The education committee agreed that St. Edward School provides an excellent academic foundation. They then agreed that the children participate in many faith and service-building activities throughout the year. They also agreed that the school has the technology devices it needs to prepare children for their future.
The question remained, what could they do to positively affect enrollment? They were forced to discuss what impediments to enrollment might be. Is it small class sizes? (Higher enrollment fixes that.) Do people of all faiths know they are welcome? Is tuition too high?
The decision was made to apply for the grant monies with a proposal of offering a 50 percent tuition discount to new families enrolling in 2023-2024 and a 60 percent tuition discount to those families who stay for a second year in 2024-2025. In this way, families who are on the fence about St. Edward School will be able to see for themselves why they were recently called, “An amazing school!” by their accreditation team chair.
CSCOE readily accepted that proposal and the grant monies were received. With that, St. Edward School will be offering tuition discounts as described above to all families, regardless of faith, who have been curious about what St. Edward School has to offer.