By Andy Lynch | Tassel™ President & CEO & Sarah Sams | Brand Content Strategist
Enrollment is oxygen for faith-based schools. The stronger the enrollment, the more breathing room a school has in its operating budget. To that end, you could reach the conclusion that the goal is full enrollment in every grade. Wouldn’t it be amazing to start the school year completely sold out — no empty seats, and wait pools for your wait pools?
Of course, full enrollment would be fantastic. But what if full isn’t actually the goal?
Full vs. Healthy
As many school leaders have discovered, full enrollment isn’t the same as healthy enrollment. It takes a certain number of students to pay the bills and deliver your programming, but healthy enrollment is about more than quantity.
If your school welcomes too many wrong-fit families, it’s only a matter of time before you feel the inevitable aches — cultural strain, faculty burnout, negative word-of-mouth, and Right-fit Families™ heading for the exit.
A commitment to healthy enrollment requires deeper conversation and investment in cultural alignment. It manifests in incremental refinement of admissions and retention processes, but the payback is worth it.
Schools that choose intentional, measured growth by enrolling Right-fit Families™ foster thriving communities where leadership, faculty, staff, and families understand and value their shared commitments.
The Healthy Enrollment Spectrum
Every school falls somewhere on the spectrum of enrollment health, and their position is not permanent. Schools in a position of strength may be only a few unfortunate enrollments away from decline. Schools that are languishing may find themselves moving in a positive direction with a mix of outside forces and internal commitments. But no school holds its ground without effort.
Where does your school stand on the spectrum of enrollment health? To assess your current scenario, rate your school on eight key aspects of organizational life. In your next meeting, review this article together. Have each person rate each aspect from 1 (very unhealthy) to 10 (very healthy). Collect the responses and have a scribe record them on a shared screen or whiteboard. Everyone should rate independently to avoid being influenced by others’ answers.
No matter the scores, you’re sure to have an important, enlightening exchange. Click below to download the Healthy Enrollment Assessment for your next meeting.
The Aim: Healthy and Full
To be clear, “full” and “healthy” are not mutually exclusive. The aim is healthy enrollment on the way to full enrollment.
So, where does your school stand today on the spectrum of enrollment health? What opportunities do you have to pursue greater alignment?
Interested in exploring ways to level up your commitments to Healthy Enrollment™, contact Tassel to learn more.
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