Anchorage Christian Schools may see a 25 percent enrollment jump since last year
Alaska | August 16, 2021
The only thing preventing Anchorage Christian Schools from enrolling more students is a lack of teachers at this point, according to a top administrator.
Even with a shrinking Anchorage population and lower student count in public schools, the private school is fielding an overwhelming amount of interest from parents wanting to shift their students out of the Anchorage School District.
ACS told Must Read Alaska on Saturday that the enrollment is already up by 160 students over last year. Some are new to the area, here with military transfers or family moves, but by far the majority of new enrollments is from students leaving the Anchorage School District, said Calvin Hoffman, the school’s chief operations officer. With some students graduating or moving away, he expects to net at least 100 students by the time school starts on Aug. 23.
“We are booked solid on interviews,” he said, and there is now a waiting list, while the school tries to hire more staff. Last year’s enrollment was 425. ACS is up to 550 enrolled students right now, he said.
Some parents whose students attend Saint Elizabeth Ann Seaton are moving their children to other private schools due to that school’s masking policy, Must Read Alaska learned. EAS school starts Aug 16, and Anchorage School District’s classes begin Aug. 17. Grace Christian School’s first day of school is Aug. 18. Alaska Christian Schools classes start Aug. 24… (Excerpts from Must Read Alaska)