First, I have noticed in your posts somewhat of a tendency, with all due respect, to focus on Catholic private schools. There are a lot of other very fine private schools that are not Catholic at all. If I lived a little closer my kids would be attending (assuming they could test well enough) Christian Academy of Louisville. KCD is another fine (and very expensive) school. There are plenty of others. So there are many instances in which religion motivates parents, and then there are other things that motivate parents.

 

Seems we are similar. In NKY, Calvary Christian is a fine school where my children would attend if it was feasible.

 

Heritage is another non-Catholic but Christian private school in NKY.

No more than the non-significant student.

 

This is more of the false information public schools are trying to spread about Catholic schools. It really needs to stop. We’ve answered these questions over and over. No. No. No.

 

If someone has proof this is happening, please report it to the KHSAA. Surely there must be proof.

 

Regardless, the fact that someone would want to potentially drive from 2 counties away and pay any amount for something they could get for free says a lot about what's in their own back yard.

Not necessarily. I will PM you.

Ladies, you do realize that participation in extracurricular activities, even non-athletic pursuits, is STRONGLY encouraged in private high schools, don't you? The majority of students participate in more than one extracurricular activity, AND participate in school-organized service projects. The focus at Trinity, for instance, is NOT to steer students into the football program, but to keep students INVOLVED in the school. The INVOLVED student 1) statistically achieves better academically, 2) assimilates into the school atmosphere with less difficulty and 3) has a sense of "ownership" in the school.

Ladies, you do realize that participation in extracurricular activities, even non-athletic pursuits, is STRONGLY encouraged in private high schools, don't you? The majority of students participate in more than one extracurricular activity, AND participate in school-organized service projects. The focus at Trinity, for instance, is NOT to steer students into the football program, but to keep students INVOLVED in the school. The INVOLVED student 1) statistically achieves better academically, 2) assimilates into the school atmosphere with less difficulty and 3) has a sense of "ownership" in the school.

I applaud them for that. That is great. And it is a huge benefit for their students.

 

Publics tried to get a service project portion of education put into the public education forum and it got shot down. THat is sad. Now, it is about a test score for the school.

 

Unfortunately, too many of the publics' families do not have the financial resources to pay for leagues and the like. The coaches of the HS are not allowed to be involved in the organization or running of those extras and the resources are not there to do them.

 

Of course, we are back to as much of the rural/urban debate that we have had as much of the privates/publics.

This topic is a recurring theme on BGP. The frustrating aspect is that many of the accusations have been refuted by facts, but the same accusation made by the same person pops up on a new thread. Pretty much, these complaints fall into three categories:

 

1. Tuition: Note, for the umpteenth time, every Catholic school student pays tuition. There are no exceptions. But, consider: Even if the Catholic schools permitted athletes to attend tuition free, those athletes would then be paying the same tuition as their public school counterparts-zero!

 

2. Level playing field: Nothing is ever completely equal anywhere. The level playing field people always cite St.Xavier or Trinity. These are two of a number of private/Catholic schools in the state. These people never refer to other private/Catholic schools-such as DeSales. Consider this snippet from a previous post: Compare DeSales with the advantages of your public school. Your public school has the initial multimillion dollar head start when it was built for you by tax revenues paid in part by the parents of DeSales students. Athletic facilities? DeSales has no football stadium. Your local public high school probably has a stadium. Throw a couple more million on the ledger in your favor. Those same DeSales kids’ parents paid in part for your stadium. Still believe DeSales is the wealthy school vis-a-vis your public school? Don’t forget teachers’ salaries. Every year the tab comes due for this bill. DeSales' supporters pay this entirely out of their pockets. The government pays all of this bill for your institution. Did we discuss furnishing that empty multimillion dollar school facility you were given? Desks, labs, lockers…. You may have taken these for granted, something the blue collar parents of DeSales students, located in a blue collar neighborhood, are acutely aware of. We still haven’t discussed support staff. Somebody has to keep the physical plant operational and clean. Set aside another huge block of money-every day. Is your desire to trade with DeSales for their hypothetical "wealth" waning? It just gets worse. We haven’t discussed medical benefits, pensions and vacation pay for teachers and support staff. And don’t forget building upkeep, expansion, legal expenses and myriad other expenses that go into providing a first class education to young people. Now substitute Covington Catholic, St. Henry, Mercy, Pres, Christian Academy,Lexington Christian or most other privates. If you are honest, you will admit that the financial playing field is not level, but it tilts in a direction that many do not want to admit, and this exists whether rural or urban.

 

3. Larger geographic area to draw students: There is no KHSAA rule against this. Perhaps this complaint has been shot down most succinctly by Guru, and I paraphrase: If you choose to self restrict with nonmandatory rules, you should not complain when others do not choose to adopt your nonmandatory rules.

This topic is a recurring theme on BGP. The frustrating aspect is that many of the accusations have been refuted by facts, but the same accusation made by the same person pops up on a new thread. Pretty much, these complaints fall into three categories:

 

1. Tuition: Note, for the umpteenth time, every Catholic school student pays tuition. There are no exceptions. But, consider: Even if the Catholic schools permitted athletes to attend tuition free, those athletes would then be paying the same tuition as their public school counterparts-zero!

 

2. Level playing field: Nothing is ever completely equal anywhere. The level playing field people always cite St.Xavier or Trinity. These are two of a number of private/Catholic schools in the state. These people never refer to other private/Catholic schools-such as DeSales. Consider this snippet from a previous post: Compare DeSales with the advantages of your public school. Your public school has the initial multimillion dollar head start when it was built for you by tax revenues paid in part by the parents of DeSales students. Athletic facilities? DeSales has no football stadium. Your local public high school probably has a stadium. Throw a couple more million on the ledger in your favor. Those same DeSales kids’ parents paid in part for your stadium. Still believe DeSales is the wealthy school vis-a-vis your public school? Don’t forget teachers’ salaries. Every year the tab comes due for this bill. DeSales' supporters pay this entirely out of their pockets. The government pays all of this bill for your institution. Did we discuss furnishing that empty multimillion dollar school facility you were given? Desks, labs, lockers…. You may have taken these for granted, something the blue collar parents of DeSales students, located in a blue collar neighborhood, are acutely aware of. We still haven’t discussed support staff. Somebody has to keep the physical plant operational and clean. Set aside another huge block of money-every day. Is your desire to trade with DeSales for their hypothetical "wealth" waning? It just gets worse. We haven’t discussed medical benefits, pensions and vacation pay for teachers and support staff. And don’t forget building upkeep, expansion, legal expenses and myriad other expenses that go into providing a first class education to young people. Now substitute Covington Catholic, St. Henry, Mercy, Pres, Christian Academy,Lexington Christian or most other privates. If you are honest, you will admit that the financial playing field is not level, but it tilts in a direction that many do not want to admit, and this exists whether rural or urban.

 

3. Larger geographic area to draw students: There is no KHSAA rule against this. Perhaps this complaint has been shot down most succinctly by Guru, and I paraphrase: If you choose to self restrict with nonmandatory rules, you should not complain when others do not choose to adopt your nonmandatory rules.

 

Point #2, those outside Louisville cite other schools.

 

As far as point #3, there is a difference between private schools being able to draw from a larger geographical area AND then give financial aid to those students to offset the cost of tuition. And public schools who cannot offer financial aid or scholarships to offer that tuition cost.

 

My kids could either go to Calvary Christian and receive financial aid/scholarship or go to Highlands and receive none. Both will have a tuition cost. Who has the advantage in recruiting my child AS A STUDENT!!!???

I will say it for the umpteenth time. Changing the ENTIRE situation between Publics and Privates DOES NOT "level the playing field" as long as sports are non-classified such as basketball and baseball. If you think there is a difference between Trinity and Louisville Eastern, try the difference between Male and Silver Grove. (Remember, they paly in the same class in those two sports alone)

No more than the non-significant student.

 

This is more of the false information public schools are trying to spread about Catholic schools. It really needs to stop. We’ve answered these questions over and over. No. No. No.

 

If someone has proof this is happening, please report it to the KHSAA. Surely there must be proof.

 

Regardless, the fact that someone would want to potentially drive from 2 counties away and pay any amount for something they could get for free says a lot about what's in their own back yard.

For the record I am an advocate of private schools, as two generations of my family have benefited from private Catholic Education. If a Catholic High School were in closer proximity, I would strongly consider enrolling my child.

 

Will my children get a quality education and High School experience at a Public High School? Yes!! Already have, and they will be as successful in life as any person that graduates from a Private High School.

 

With regard your last sentence, I agree. That is why I am an advocate of Public Schools improving and promoting their School as the way to protect their own back yard.

I think the concern is not cyclical advantages but programs that are year in and year out better.

 

Pendleton County Wildcats boys basketball is a good example. The year they go to state, they had a front line of 6'8", 6'5" and 6'5". Anyone that knows PC basketball will tell you that is not normal for PC. I don't think anyone held that against PC because it was a cyclical advantage. That is the way it is for rural schools. It goes in cycles.

 

The problem those 190something schools see is those programs that are just drawing from mulitiple counties to field their 6'8", 6'5", 6'5" team just to rid themselves of the cycle.

 

HS Sports started out as geographical communities versus geographical communities. So many in the decision making grew up with it that way. They see HS sports as should still be that way. In rural HS's, it is still that way. Less in urban high schools. Are social communities and not geographical communities in privates.

 

The major proponent of that is a public school, and I honestly don't believe that they recruit. Success draws successful athletes.

"But for those who say and BELIEVE that the privates win more because they OUTWORK the public coaches/programs, I call hogwash."

 

In certain situations, the private school student athletes are motivated by each other to achieve at a higher level. Come to Louisville and visit a Trinity practice in football. This program excels because of the internal drive to be the best in the largest team sport. Trinity's basketball team works very hard, but you can't teach 6'8". You can teach a 5'8 170lb young man to be a QB. You can teach a 5"10" 200lb young man to be a part of a cohesive unit of other similar sized young men and build a nice offensive line.

 

You can't teach a kid to be able to dunk a basketball. You can improve his jumping skills somewhat through training. You may or may not be able to improve shooting skills. You can definitley get thicker in the weight room. It's easier to build a good basketball team than a good football team.

 

Assumption dominates volleyball because their players have played since the second grade and have outstanding facilities and play practically year-round.

 

In Jefferson County, the public schools offer a very limited number of athletic opportunities for their middle schoolers. They used to have football and did away with it years ago.

 

I don't believe that it's hogwash to state that private school kids outwork many of their counter parts. Come for a visit. The weight room Trinity backers have paid for is a big reason for the success. The kids utilize the facilities and the coaches make very little per hour for their efforts.