ARTICLES

Great Expectations

Saint Elizabeth Seton School in Palo Alto

By Art Brew

Despite heavy opposition to Proposition 38, policymakers could learn a thing or two by paying a visit to a small Catholic elementary school in Palo Alto. Saint Elizabeth Seton, is the only Catholic parochial school in the super affluent community where seventy-year-old homes command millions and luxury cars and designer clothes abound. It sits adjacent to St. Thomas Aquinas Church on Channing Road. But despite the affluence that surrounds it, the school draws nearly all of its 260 students from low-income families of East Palo Alto and East Menlo Park. Many come from financially disadvantaged homes, with heads of households who are low wage earners, single parents, or grandparents on fixed incomes. The school is named after the founder of Catholic elementary education in America and operated by the Daughters of Charity.

All of the children receive some tuition assistance and 86% require aid beyond the standard subsidy. Annual tuition is $2,230, although the actual cost of educating one child for one year is $3,600, the balance being made up by donations, private grants, and a variety of community fundraisers. Not a single dollar is received from the federal or state government, with the exception of a lunch program, which is given to all schools regardless of sponsorship. How, then, does Seton manage when the average cost per child in public schools is in the neighborhood of $8,000 a year? "We keep administrative costs down to an absolute minimum," says Sister Paule Freeburg, development director, "and we are blessed with 150 volunteers from all walks of life who help out as teachers, teacher aides, counselors, and fund raisers." Volunteers come from places like Stanford University and St. Francis High School in Mountain View, retired teachers and other local residents with rich backgrounds in the liberal arts and sciences also lend a hand. They usually tutor on a one-on-one basis or with small groups for whom English is a second language. The school knows that proficiency in English is essential for success in the American work place. Four years ago, Sister Trinitas Hernandez began three English classes in East Palo Alto and brought in volunteers from the Junior League to set up a make-shift classroom for parents to attend classes as well.

Seton students, 72% of whom are Hispanic, 14% African-Americans, and the remaining 14% Asian, Filipino, Pacific Islander, and Caucasian, have achieved a remarkable academic rate. Over the past five years, of the 131 students who have graduated from the 8th grade, only one dropped out of high school. The other 99.2% have either graduated or are on track to graduate. In addition, 75% of those who have graduated high school enrolled in college and have attended at least one semester so far.

Of the 25 students who graduated from Seton in 1998, 38.9% currently had grade point averages of 3.0 or above and 77.7% had GPA's above 2.0. Four are on the honor roll in their high schools. Almost all Seton graduates complete high school and over 60% go on to college. At least 70% of East Palo Alto students who attend public institutions do not finish high school, according to Sister Paule. "We carry on the tradition of the American saint after whom our school is named," she points out. "Elizabeth Seton started her first Catholic school because she believed that a Catholic education should be available to those who could not afford it as well as those who could. We accept students regardless of their economic status, religious beliefs, and language backgrounds. "We provide a quality elementary education in kindergarten through 8th grade in the context of a living Christian community."

George Schulz, former secretary of state, and now a distinguished fellow with the Hoover Institution at Stanford, has been a supporter of Seton for nearly two decades. The relationship began when his late wife, Helena, visited the school and was impressed with the quiet atmosphere and the polite demeanor of the students, two of whom approached her and, without knowing who she was, introduced themselves and welcomed her to the school. The Schulzes gave the kickoff gift to the school's endowment campaign. Helena Schulz died in 1995, and since that time her husband has come to Seton once a year to present the George and Helena Schulz award for scholarship, leadership, and citizenship. The awards come with $1,000 grants from Seton's endowment. On a recent visit to the school, the students presented Schulz with a kindergarten chair, which he accepted on behalf of his grandchildren. Significant assistance has also been received from S. H. Cowell Foundation of San Francisco and the Packard Foundations.

All of the Seton teachers are certified and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. "Our teaching staff is exceptional," Sister Paule explains. "Their commitment to meeting the educational needs of a less advantaged population is evidenced by their advanced academic credentials, and their willingness to work for salaries well below those of most other teaching professionals."

The school has no bus transportation of its own and all students walk to classes, come by public buses, or are driven over by their parents. There is an extended-day program for children whose parents work. Seton insists on strong parental support and regards the father and mother as the primary teachers of their children. Parents are expected to participate in school activities as well as fulfill service hours in a variety of areas. The school has an active Parent Action Committee that provides a vehicle for parents to show their support and concern for Seton. Class size does not exceed thirty students and the curricular includes religion and family life, language arts with strong emphasis on reading and writing skills, math, social studies, science, art, music, and poetry classes, computer education, and physical education.

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