“Options” are being cited as a reason for continued declines in public school enrollment in Colorado, amid the state education department’s Wednesday release of official enrollment for this academic year.

But the choices in today’s educational landscape also are a top driver for private and parochial schools in the Colorado Springs area, which say they’re basking in enrollment gains and steadfastness since the coronavirus pandemic arrived nearly five years ago.

“It’s never been better,” said Superintendent Roland DeRenzo, who leads Colorado Springs Christian Schools, a private Christian system now in its 53rd year of operation.

The mighty Lions have grown by 2% every year since COVID-19, across its preschool through high school grades, he said, for a current total of about 1,100 students.

The increases have pushed the elementary division to full capacity, DeRenzo said, with school officials searching for additional space to hold classes for the fall semester.

“All options are on the table, whether a ready-made building or something we do ourselves, we’ll look at what makes more sense,” he said. “People looked at COVID as being a negative; I saw it as a great opportunity. When circumstances are out of your control, how you respond is everything.”

With a new online division that launched at the onset of the pandemic, Colorado Springs Christian Schools has expanded to four campuses: the flagship in Colorado Springs, a branch in Woodland Park, an online program in Breckenridge and a partnership program with the Sangre de Cristo Cowboy Church in Westcliffe.

Being among the first to restart in-person instruction after mandatory statewide shutdowns in the spring of 2020 was “a big factor” in attracting new families, DeRenzo said. Small class sizes averaging 11 students per classroom and a rigorous, foundational curriculum also draw students, he mentioned.

Public schools in Colorado are losing more White students and gaining Hispanic students; at Colorado Springs Christian Schools ethnic group enrollment has remained steady in percentages during the growth spurt, with no significant increase in any one particular ethnicity, DeRenzo said.

Nationwide, independent schools that are “delivering a high-quality education and following their mission are seeing trends of increased enrollment,” said Ryan Kelly, head of The Colorado Springs School, a private day school founded in 1962.

The preschool through high school campus has had stable enrollment topping 300 students, he said, with a new trend of more out-of-state interest from families relocating to the area.

Program expansions include college-prep tracks for engineering, health, and visual and performing arts that start in Middle School and continue into the Upper School. Robotics programming with state-of-the-art equipment also is on the way, and in the fall Kelly said all subject areas will have artificial intelligence integrated, emphasizing “ethical and effective use.”

The school also is continuing its signature experiential learning focus, with learning-by-doing in all grade levels.

“Parents are attracted to this style of learning especially because in-field experiences are declining in the public school system due to budget cuts,” Kelly said.

In the 12 years that Tom Tolbert has been administrator at Springs Baptist Academy, the school is seeing its largest enrollment of 70 students. When he took over as leader in 2013, the school had 23 students.

“From interviews with incoming parents, they’re looking for school choice, and they like our small class sizes and curriculum,” he said. “A lot of kids have been missing the foundational concepts.”

The parochial school, founded in 1977, operates under the umbrella of Grace Baptist Church.

“We’ve been focused building an environment that matches the values of what we’re trying to promote, along with a good, strong academic standing,” Tolbert said.

Christian values also are a main reason parents cite for enrolling their children in the Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs system, which includes eight schools, according to Superintendent Sheila Whalen.

“The majority of families choose the schools because of the integration of faith in the curriculum and culture of the schools, the strong academic outcomes and the safety of the school environment,” she said.

Over the past four years, enrollment has “steadily increased,” adding 151 students for a total of 1,459, Whalen said. The region also has two independent Catholic high schools.

“We intentionally provide a very traditional curriculum and utilize current teaching strategies but minimize the use of technology,” Whalen said. “Many families move from public schools for these specific things.”

The diocese opened a new school, Saint Gabriel Classical Academy, in 2022, and constructed a building that debuted last fall.

But in a few months after this school year ends, the diocese will close a school.

Whalen cites “changing neighborhood demographics” for the decision to shutter the nearly 70-year-old Divine Redeemer Catholic School in May.

“Right now, families are visiting the other Catholic schools in the area to decide which school is best for their family,” Whalen said. “We hope that they will remain in a Catholic school and will do what we can to help with that transition.”

One of the biggest challenges for private and parochial schools is affordability, and most independent schools offer need-based scholarships and financial aid to families.

“It’s difficult to provide teachers with a just wage and still have an affordable education,” Whalen said. “We continue to look for outside funding to help reduce the cost of tuition.”

DeRenzo is optimistic that the economy will improve as the year unfolds, which as history shows benefits tuition-based education.

“It’s a bellwether for us to watch, and signs are looking stronger, which could bode well for us,” he said.