PARKERSBURG — Parkersburg Catholic Schools has announced a significant increase in interest and enrollment for the 2023-24 school year, following the promotion of the West Virginia Hope Scholarship.

A press release said Parkersburg Catholic is a Catholic values-based private school for students grades Pre-K-12. The release said since the completion of the Hope Scholarship Town Hall event held at Parkersburg Catholic High School in January, as well as an all-school student shadow day in February, the school system has seen a notable spike in enrollment for the 2023-24 school year.

“We’re thrilled to see such an increase in enrollment,” PCHS Principal Mike DeRose said in the release. “This is a testament to the hard work of our faculty and staff and the quality of education we offer here at Parkersburg Catholic Schools. I am pleased by how much support we get from the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. The future definitely looks bright!”

Parkersburg Catholic Elementary Assistant Principal Amanda Weatherwax said in the release, “At Parkersburg Catholic Elementary, we’ve been blessed to serve 14 students this year on the Hope Scholarship. As we plan for next school year, we’ve already exceeded that number in families who are interested in choosing us as their educational provider. We welcome anyone that is interested in learning more about our school while taking advantage of this opportunity.”

The release said the Hope Scholarship serves as one of many financial aid and scholarship opportunities offered. It said additional aid is provided through the Diocesan TAP Grant, case-by-case needs-based aid provided by the school system, tuition aid for Ohio residents, as well as a new incentive referral program that will take effect immediately.

The release said through the new incentive referral program, referrals made that result in enrollment will allow the referring family, and the enrolling family, to each receive $1,000 in tuition credits for each child who enrolls. It said for example, the referral of a family with two children who make the switch to Parkersburg Catholic will result in two $1,000 tuition credits for each incoming student, as well as one $2,000 credit for the family who made the referral.

“We are committed to making Parkersburg Catholic Schools financially viable to all families regardless of their state of residency,” DeRose said in the release. “The Hope Scholarship is just one of many funding sources we use to make enrollment at PCS possible.”

The release said PCS offer the highest academic standards, with students consistently performing in the top 20% of the nation year after year. It said each campus provides customized educational programs designed for students to flourish in their professional endeavors following High School graduation. The release said Catholic values-based culture also aids students in developing the skills they need to live a life of stewardship.

The release said the application for the WV Hope Scholarship opened on Wednesday, March 1, and will run through May 15. For more information contact DeRose at 304-485-6341 or Weatherwax at 304-422-6694.