Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan this week wrote parents of students in the two archdiocesan high schools that more than a 20 percent tuition increase would be necessary next year.

The present scale of $200 yearly for the first child, $185 for the second and $160 for each additional is going to a new one of $250, $225 and $200 at the two schools, St. Joseph’s and St. Pius X.

It is the first increase since 1966, he said, and rising costs have made it necessary.

Teaching nuns will receive a pay increase of $500, making their new salaries $2,000 annually. Lay teachers, who make salaries ranging from $5,000 to more than $10,000, will get a $100 increase.

The letter follows:

My dear parents:

This letter is written to you with great reluctance. It deals with the question of tuition in our diocesan high schools. At this time, we are forced to raise high school tuitions. The present scale is $200, $185, and $160. The new scale will be $250, $225, and $200. This increase was recommended by the archdiocesan board of education at its March 26 meeting. At that time they stated that they regretted the increase, but found it inevitable to meet the rising cost of education in the diocesan high schools.

“Since 1966 when the present scale was set, tuition has not been increased in our high schools. At that time, it was thought that the rate would hold for four years, but because of the rapid rise in cost of operating schools, this has not been possible.

“Although operating expenses at both schools have increased each year, the greatest increase is in salaries. We are raising sisters’ salaries by $500 to $2,000. This is still well below what it costs to maintain the sisters. Indeed the majority of our convents ended last year with a deficit and are most likely to do so in the present year also. Lay teachers salaries are being increased by only $100 over the scaled increment and this occurs at a time when public school salaries are increasing significantly. Good schools depend on good teachers. A great freedom to teach and fewer non-teaching duties are still an attraction to teach in a Catholic school. However, we cannot allow salaries to become unrealistically low.

“It is not possible to promise that this will be the last increase. Indeed, the facts would indicate otherwise. Nevertheless, our tuitions still remain far under the tuition of other private schools in this area. Indeed our tuition rates are almost $100 less than what other Catholic schools in the Southeast are charging.

“Our two high schools are truly archdiocesan schools. Even with the increased tuition, the archdiocese subsidizes each student by $155 or almost one-third of the cost of educating that student. The archdiocesan board of education feels that the majority of Catholics in the archdiocese want us to keep the two high schools in existence. They provide a complete Catholic education to almost 1,200 students each year. We believe that while religious are willing to teach in the school, while there are lay teachers dedicated to Catholic secondary school education and as long as there are parents willing to make the necessary sacrifices, the schools can remain open.

“We realize that there are parents who already have difficulty in meeting the burden of the present tuition and that there are other parents who will find the increase too much for their resources. We are committed to the proposition that no student will be denied a Catholic education because of parents' inability to pay the tuition. Therefore, in such cases, of hardship, the parents are asked to discuss the situation with the pastor of their parish and the principal of the high school. Suitable arrangements will be made without embarrassment to the parents or the students.

With thanks for your patience and understanding, I am

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Thomas A. Donnellan

Archbishop of Atlanta