Vermilion Catholic growing with enrollment rising the last few years

Vermilion Catholic is not a new a school, so it is difficult to say it is up-and-coming.
That is in fact the case, according to Michelle Meaux, the school’s development director. Meaux spoke to the Abbeville Kiwanis Club on Tuesday during the group’s weekly meeting.
“We are very proud to see a continued increase in enrollment during the past few years,” Meaux told the Kiwanians. “We have a current enrollment of 203.”
For the 2014-15 school year, VC officials project an enrollment of 219. This year there are 62 freshmen, 51 sophomores, 40 juniors and 50 seniors. Those numbers are expected to grow to 64, 67 and 50, respectively, beginning this August for the freshmen, sophomore and junior classes. The senior class, which will have 38 students, is the only class that will see a lower number.
“We want to accommodate every child who wants a Catholic education,” Meaux told club members. “Our freshmen and sophomore classes are at max capacity, so we will see what happens.”
If the projections hold, 219 will be the largest number since 200, when 255 attended. The low number during the last 14 years is 161 during the ‘07-’08 school year. Meaux said things are moving in the right direction.
“We have had consistent growth over the past six years,” Meaux said.
The students are coming to VC not just from next door at Mount Carmel.
“We were originally established to serve all of Vermilion Parish,” Meaux explained. “We are a feeder school not only for Mount Carmel, but Maltrait Memorial in Kaplan and St. Peter’s in Gueydan.
“We do have students who come from all of those schools every year.”
There are even students who travel farther.
“We do have several students traveling to us from the Lafayette, Broussard and Youngsville areas,” Meaux said. “A lot of people are seeing the good things that are going on at Vermilion Catholic and want to be a part of it.”
There are indeed good things happening, especially among the 50 seniors who make up the ‘14 class.
“Their average GPA was 3.78 and average ACT score was 25.8,” Meaux said. “Adjusting for the highest score of 31, the class ACT average remains at 25.6.”
There is a solid foundation in the classroom. Still, Meaux said there is something else she feels that draws people to the school.
“A big part of it is that we are a close, tight-knit family atmosphere,” Meaux said. “People want to get into that. Of course, that is important in the Catholic faith.”