Calvin Christian School Grows Enrollment 10% in 2012-13

Calvin Christian School has been educating students in South Holland, IL, a south suburb of Chicago, for over 100 years. As a member school of Christian Schools International (CSI), Calvin Christian is one of its oldest schools in the U.S.

Randy Moes, principal of Calvin Christian, contacted Dr. Rick Newberry in December, 2011. Randy was in his first year of leadership as principal and he knew that he needed help to turn around the enrollment decline. Prior to Randy’s arrival, the enrollment had declined from 253 students in 2007-08 to 195 students in 2011-12.

Randy worked with his board leadership and found the funding for the Enrollment Catalyst program, which would easily pay for itself with increased students. During the month of December, 2011, Dr. Newberry conducted a two-day site visit to meet with parents and faculty in focus groups and to assess the enrollment and marketing effort. A customized parent satisfaction survey was also conducted with the parents.

As a result of this process, a comprehensive enrollment and marketing plan was developed to turn around the enrollment decline. This plan included weekly coaching and training with the Calvin leadership team through Skype conference calls. The strategies focused on the recruitment of new families, retention of current families, and web-based and word-of-mouth marketing strategies. A new website was also launched during this effort (www.calvinschool.org).

The result? Calvin Christian School experienced an enrollment increase of 10% in 2012-13 over the previous year.

Read what Randy has to say about his partnership with Enrollment Catalyst:

“In less than one year working with Dr. Rick Newberry, Calvin Christian School saw its enrollment increase by over 10%.  We had faced a declining enrollment for four straight years.  In the fall of 2012, we began our 101st year with an enrollment of 215.  Our new PK3 program, website, tagline, promotional materials, social media presence, and informed and engaged parents have been catalysts for our growth.  None of this would have been possible had Rick not coached us through a complete renovation of how we recruit and retain families.  We highly recommend Rick at Enrollment Catalyst to fulfill your desire to see more families drawn to the kind of learning environment God has called you to establish.” – Randy Moes, Principal at Calvin Christian School, South Holland, IL

Dr. Newberry continues to partner with the Calvin Christian School leadership this year in a bi-weekly coaching relationship. The goal is for the momentum of this enrollment growth to continue next year and beyond.

About Enrollment Catalyst and Rick Newberry

Enrollment Catalyst partners with schools across the United States and Canada to provide coaching and consulting in enrollment management and marketing systems, strategies and solutions. The program is designed to provide school leaders with effective marketing and enrollment growth strategies as well as staff accountability, direction and results needed to grow enrollment.

Enrollment Catalyst President and Consultant Dr. Rick Newberry has 25 years of educational leadership, marketing and enrollment management experience in both higher education and K-12 levels, and has served as the executive director of development and enrollment management at a private university, as well as head of a large private school. Rick regularly writes in his blog at www.enrollmentcatalyst.com/blog and presents at many educational conferences around the country.

To find out how Enrollment Catalyst can help your school grow and increase enrollment, contact Rick at Rick.Newberry@EnrollmentCatalyst.com.