While the future of Nativity BVM High School is being studied by the Diocese of Allentown, the Catholic school atop Lawton's Hill has the support of the local community.
The diocese recently commissioned a study to determine the future of the school and will review enrollment trends at the high school and feeder schools, school finances, academic and extracurricular programs, transportation and facilities.
"People are concerned about it but I feel optimistic," Schuylkill County Commissioner George F. Halcovage said Wednesday. "The quality of education at Nativity is outstanding and it serves a large portion of Schuylkill County."
Halcovage is a graduate of Nativity. He also has five children who graduated from the school.
Nativity was founded in 1955 following the closure of Pottsville Catholic High School and St. Stephen's High School in Port Carbon. The four-year high school is at 1 Lawton's Hill and has students from the school districts of Blue Mountain, Minersville Area, Pine Grove Area, Pottsville Area, Saint Clair, Schuylkill Haven Area, North Schuylkill, Shenandoah Valley and Mahanoy Area.
"I think it's a great asset for the families who choose a Catholic education and like all the school districts in the area, it is important to this county. As a community, we come together for support of Nativity," Halcovage said. "I believe the diocese has a real open mind in trying to make sure it is financially sound. We believe it is and there is a very positive role for Nativity in the future."
Halcovage said the school has the support of the Schuylkill County commissioners and the board will be writing a letter of support. The Pottsville City Council held a special meeting Nov. 29 to authorize a letter as well.
"The school is an important part of our city and local community. We have had a lot of notoriety brought to Pottsville through the academics and athletics of Nativity. I think it is important that we show that in writing," City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said Wednesday.
Palamar said studying the situation of the school is not a bad thing.
"I think that just in general, our population isn't what it once was," Palamar said. "The county is losing population and I think that is just a natural part of it. We all have to adjust to that. It's just the reality of what we live in and schools as well as businesses have to look at that reality."
The diocese study also includes an online survey for parents and students in local Catholic schools. More than 1,000 people have taken part in the survey, Diocesan Communications Director Matt Kerr said Tuesday.
"The diocese is very pleased with the participation in the study so far," Kerr said.
The diocese has 38 elementary schools, seven high schools and three special learning centers in the five-county area it covers. The schools located in Schuylkill County are Marian Catholic High School, Hometown; McAdoo Catholic Elementary, McAdoo; Assumption BVM and St. Joseph Center for Special Learning, both of Pottsville, along with Nativity BVM; St. Nicholas School, Minersville; St. Ambrose School, Schuylkill Haven; Trinity Academy, Shenandoah; and St. Jerome Regional School, Tamaqua.
The effect that the closure of a Catholic high school will have on the many elementary schools is unknown.
"I think that's part of what the study will tell us," Kerr said. "That's why Catholic elementary school parents were invited to take part in the study."
For the first time in 15 years, overall enrollment is up for diocesan schools, Kerr said. He said an extensive marketing campaign is a contributing factor.
Nativity, however, has seen a decline in students over the last several years.
"Our pool of students have been lower as enrollment at our feeder schools have been down," Nativity Principal Lynn Sabol said Tuesday.
There are 171 students enrolled at Nativity, according to Sabol. She said the school is only down 10 students from last year and the school had 57 graduates this past year.
School enrollment has dropped from 208 students in 2010 and 262 in 2000, according to Kerr.
Nativity has formed a committee with community leaders to help gather support for the school and move forward, Sabol said.
"The survey has been phenomenal and we have received a lot of support," Sabol said Tuesday. "We have had a lot of support from the local pastors and parishes as well."
The results of the study will be revealed during the first quarter of 2013.