Fr. Tolton Catholic H.S. sustaining impressive enrollment gains
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The leaders of Fr. Tolton Regional Catholic High School in Columbia choose a theme for each new school year.
This year’s theme is “Finding Joy” — something the administration, faculty, students and families have had good reason to do as of late.
“Our enrollment is up by about 40 percent since pre-COVID,” said Jill Weimer, the school’s vice president and director of advancement.
“That’s a net increase of about 100 students,” she noted.
Based on early applications, the school should be operating at full capacity for the 2024-25 academic year, with around 90 students in each of the four grade levels.
Tolton Catholic opened in 2011.
Much of its recent enrollment gain can be traced back to offering in-person classes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When COVID hit, a lot of people were looking to us as an alternative,” said Laura Sasser, the school’s admissions director.
“Due to our smaller class sizes, we were able to spread out, stay in session and offer in-seat instruction the whole time,” she said.
All the while, the school has been hiring and keeping great teachers and staff and offering more electives, dual-credit and Advanced Placement (AP) classes.
“We’ve also been bolstering the clubs and activities we offer,” said Mrs. Sasser. “And not just athletics — although we do have 19 state championships. But a full range of activities from a culinary club to philosophy club.”
“We have something for everyone, and we’ve really excelled in those things,” said Mrs. Weimer.
Tolton Catholic’s distinctive House System builds up community, brings people from different grade levels together and helps welcome students who transfer from other schools.
The House System is student-driven, with oversight from Mrs. Sasser.
The school has six “houses,” each with 50 to 55 students, including a mix of boys and girls from grades 9 to 12.
The houses meet several times each week and participate in contests and activities planned by the seniors on the school’s executive council.
“It brings them together and helps them get acquainted and make friends,” said Mrs. Sasser. “It really lets them have a sense of community and belonging.”
It’s all part of a larger picture.
“When they come through here, we talk about growing the whole person in spirit, heart, mind and body,” Mrs. Sasser noted. “That’s attractive to a lot of parents.”
Daniel Everett, Ed.D., president and principal of the school, concludes every message and announcement with “You are loved.”
“From the moment they enroll to when they come through the doors and into the classroom and right up through graduation, that’s something they definitely know and feel,” said Mrs. Sasser.
Good reasons to stay
A spike in enrollment during a pandemic is one thing. Maintaining those impressive numbers is quite another.
“It’s a credit to our administration, our teachers, really to everybody who has a hand in managing and serving this larger student population,” said Mrs. Weimer.
“The staff really rose to the occasion to maintain the pre-COVID standards,” she noted. “So, once people came here, they saw value in staying.”
This has been especially true for families who aren’t Catholic or who were concerned about making the finances work, she said.
About one-quarter of the students are not Catholic.
In addition to providing excellent instruction and extracurricular activities, Tolton Catholic thrives at developing faith and community.
“Obviously, we come from a long tradition of Catholic schools providing strong academics and discipline,” said Mrs. Weimer. “But the faith and community piece is the glue that holds it all together.”
The first thing people see when they pass through the main entrance is a distinctive crucifix.
Each day and each class begins with prayer.
“We talk about it in athletics and activities — about using your God-given talents and doing your best for God’s greater glory,” said Mrs. Sasser.
There are weekly all-school Masses, and each house has a second Mass on its own day of the week.
Each grade has a yearly faith-based retreat.
Mrs. Weimer and Mrs. Sasser host an orientation titled “Tolton 101” for freshmen and transfer students each August.
It includes one of the school’s chaplains or another priest in Columbia leading the new students through a “Teaching Mass.”
“Things like why you genuflect, what the Sign of the Cross means and how you’re supposed to behave when you go to Communion,,” said Mrs. Weimer.
“It’s not only good for our Catholic students to have a reminder of why we do what we do at Mass, but it also helps our non-Catholic friends to participate well in the Mass and have a better comfort level with it,” she stated.
Mrs. Sasser noted that several non-Catholic students in the past few years have elected to be initiated into the Catholic Church.
“So, Catholic identity is strong and visible throughout the building and throughout the community,” she said.
Doors wide open
Mrs. Weimer was quick to point out that although Tolton Catholic is headed toward full capacity, families are still welcome and encouraged to apply for enrollment.
With Catholic schools all over the United States preparing to celebrate Catholic Schools Week from Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, she suggested taking time pray for the teachers, staff and administration of every Catholic school.
“They sacrifice a lot for the mission of Catholic education,” she said. “Teaching and school administrating can be challenging. We should pray for all of them to stay true to the mission of Catholic education.”
In keeping with this year’s theme at Tolton Catholic, Mrs. Sasser suggested also praying for everyone associated with a Catholic school to “continue finding joy in all we do and to be our best for the students and their families.”
