In the case of Central Private School, a new upper grade campus at 12650 Gurney Road has proved a potent attraction. Interest jumped as soon as people realized the new school was under construction.
“From the moment the sign went up, we started getting eyebrows raised and phone calls,” said Mikelyn Sumner, president of the board of directors for Central Private.
The new campus became necessary after its 12801 Centerra Court campus, where it has operated since it opened in 1967, sustained heavy damage in the massive 2016 flood. Rather than rebuilding in place and risk future flooding, school leaders purchased 28 acres of property on Gurney Road, a much more visible location in Central.
The new campus is already “busting at the seams,” Sumner said, and the school has a “waiting pool” for families of students it lacks room currently to educate. The school is raising money and developing plans to eventually build a new middle school wing, an elementary campus and sports facilities on the 28-acre Gurney Road property.
While it is a Christian, faith-based school, Central Private it is not affiliated with a church.
“When (families) come to Central Private, they know what we offer, they know what we stand for, and what our mission statement is, and if they are willing to be a part of that, we welcome them,” Sumner said.
Nearly half of the private schools in Louisiana lost students over the past three years, many of them Catholic or mainline Protestant schools in or near urban areas.
Seven private schools reported losing 100-plus students between 2019 and 2022. Resurrection of Our Lord School in New Orleans declined the most, losing 214 students, while Hosanna Christian Academy in Baton Rouge was next, losing 161 students.
For the Diocese of Baton Rouge, about 60% of its schools are still below where they were in fall 2019. St. George Catholic lost the most, 105 students. But with 1,100-plus students, St. George is still the fifth-largest private school in Louisiana.
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