Private schools in Pueblo County see new students because of pandemic
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- Even with COVID-19, or perhaps because of it, the 2020-21 school year has brought new students to several private schools within Pueblo County.
Trinity Lutheran School's Principal Kacia Vigil tells KRDO that enrollment has doubled from 20 students to nearly 40. Vigil says several other families are also interested in enrolling their students in the school.
A majority of the students are coming from Pueblo County School District 70. D70 chose to begin the 2020-21 school year with remote learning for all grade levels until COVID-19 numbers drop within the county.
“Part of the reason why (families are coming to Trinity Lutheran) is there might be so much uncertainty coming into the school year," said Kacia Vigil, the principal at Trinity Lutheran School. "We weren’t sure if D60 or D70 were going to be back in person, back online, or if it was going to be a hybrid situation. From as early as we could, we were telling families we are planning on being here in person. We will make the adjustments that we have to, but we plan on being here in person.”
Trinity Luthern isn't alone. Park Hill Christian Academy in Pueblo says they've received an influx in students from both D70 and Pueblo School District 60. The new students make up around 27% of total enrollment at the school.
But while Park Hill Principal Douglas Cox tells KRDO they've received new students, they've lost nearly just as many because of the pandemic. Cox says many parents were wary of in-person learning.
Pueblo Christian Academy in Pueblo West says they've taken in ten students from D70. However, they've lost dozens in their preschool. The school's principal says many parents want to hold off on preschool until the pandemic passes.
At other schools, the influx has been minimal. St. Therese Catholic in Pueblo says they were expecting a large influx of students from D70, but enrollment numbers have remained fairly static. Only three students transferred into the school from D70.
