With enrollment up, Infant of Prague Catholic School set to make a big change
Infant of Prague Catholic School will soon welcome students in grades 9-12 for the first time ever and will be the only Catholic school in Onslow and surrounding counties to offer a high school education.
Infant of Prague Catholic School is currently located at 501 Bordeaux Street in Jacksonville and has been open since the 1950s. Principal Jennifer Feldhaus said an increase in enrollment has led to the need for another facility.
"When we first began looking for another facility, we looked into mobile classrooms, we looked into expanding within the footprint of our current campus but it was a two-fold expansion," Feldhaus said. "We needed to add additional grade levels, meaning we needed to have another kindergarten class and another first-grade class because we had so many students on waiting lists. But we also needed to add the 9th-12th grades so that we have a high school offering for our families in the area."
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This is why the school purchased a building on Anne Street, which Feldhaus said is perfect. The new campus will house grades 5-12 while the current campus will hold pre-k through fourth grade. Feldhaus added the split will allow their current facilities to expand and have more classes.
"There has been a high interest for a Catholic high school," Feldhaus said. "The closest one to us is in Greenville. When we're looking at high school options for our families in the area, our families want a quality education. They're looking for schools that are accredited and we maintain the same accreditation that Onslow County public schools do. That means our teachers are licensed, there are ongoing improvements, processes and our students will be able to earn a North Carolina diploma upon graduation."
Feldhaus said the increase in enrollment is not just from the Jacksonville community, but also from the military community and surrounding communities. She added the school has families traveling from Sneads Ferry, Hampstead, Swansboro and others looking for the Catholic option in education.
The new campus is expected to open for students next August, according to Feldhaus. She said enrolling starts in February and happens online.
"It's a wonderful property," Feldhaus said. "The chapel is perfect because our students participate in celebrating mass and the building was previously used for a Sunday school program. The renovations are including making the classrooms larger and there's a change of occupancy so it will be brought up to code for educational occupancy. It's very exciting."
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Feldhaus said there are many reasons enrollment is up, but one of the most significant factors is the North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship. According to the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, the scholarship is a program that helps families who make below a certain amount of income pay tuition and fees at participating nonpublic, or private, schools.
Infant Of Prague is one of these schools.
"We're seeing where now, Catholic schools and private schools that weren't an option to families before, it is in their consideration," Feldhaus explained. "And we're seeing that a lot with first-time parents, those parents who are first starting school with their kindergartner. They're looking for safe space education."
For those interested in learning more about Infant of Prague and keeping up-to-date with progress on the new campus, visit their website, Facebook page or call 910-455-0838.
"Expanding Infant of Prague Catholic School to include high school grades and additional elementary classrooms will truly offer families in our community, as well as the surrounding communities, access to a quality, long-term Catholic education," Feldhaus said.
Reporter Morgan Starling can be reached at mstarling@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Daily News: Onslow County Catholic school to offer high school education
