BY CATHERINE TSAI
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Something besides new teachers and books will greet some Catholic school students on the first day of class: newer-looking buildings.
While some students, such as those at Covington Catholic High School, started class today and Thursday, students at St. Henry High School will enter a new building Sept. 8.
The work at St. Henry is one of several projects in the Diocese of Covington to deal with crowding, growth and new technology. For now, construction continues at Boone County's first Catholic high school.
"It's going slowly but surely," Principal David Otte said. Enrollments at Catholic schools are on the rise.
In the diocese, enrollment jumped 12.9 percent -- or 1,351 students -- since 1990, said Lawrence Bowman, director for Catholic education for the diocese.
At St. Henry, enrollment doubled to 472 students since 1990. Kindergartners through high school seniors at St. Henry had been sharing a building on Dixie Highway in Elsmere. The elementary grades will now expand into the old building. The new high school on Donaldson Highway will hold grades 9-12.
Similar growth is occurring across the country.
The National Catholic Educational Association reports more than 2.6 million children attend Catholic schools nationally, where enrollment is up for the sixth straight year. In those six years, enrollment rose roughly 3 percent.
"People are looking for a solid, basic education founded on religious principles," Mr. Bowman said. "They want a safe environment, and Catholic education is very attractive, despite the personal sacrifice as tuition goes up from year to year."
Students' first chance to see the new St. Henry High School building will probably be during orientation Sept. 2, Mr. Otte said.
"I think the kids will like it," he said. "It's all air-conditioned, they'll all have their own lockers, they'll all have their own parking space."
Not everything will be ready when classes begin, but school officials expected that, Mr. Otte said.
Classrooms and the cafeteria should be done, but the gym and outdoor landscaping won't be done until at least October.
Elsewhere, St. Therese School in Southgate plans to dedicate its expanded building Sunday. Additions include five classrooms, a new library, more parking and a ramp accessible to disabled people. Other projects include improvements for St. Patrick School in Maysville, Villa Madonna Academy in Villa Hills and Blessed Sacrament Elementary School in Fort Mitchell.
