By Chris Hornbarger
Executive System Administrator, IHC Schools

Watertown - Why pay to send your child to a Catholic school, when public schools are free?  Often, families aren’t convinced by the answers they presume.  To make a good choice, they need good information.
Here’s our “top ten” list for why families should consider sending their children to Immaculate Heart Central Schools (Pre-K to 12) in Watertown.

1. A gift that lasts a lifetime. 
We like to say IHC offers students “A Foundation for Life.”   It’s true.  What we teach is not about the “next rung on the ladder”- performing on the Regents, the SAT, getting into a good college, or winning a scholarship (though we’ve got a great track record in these areas).  What we offer lasts a lifetime – a guideline for life, grounded in Christian virtues, that only grows stronger over time.  Consider the comments of some graduates:
•“Immaculate Heart taught me a way of life.”

•“I believe that IHC provides a ‘foundation for life.’ … The moral and ethical foundations that were emphasized made it easier for me to meet the strict honor code requirements of the Air Force Academy.”

•“The Sisters of St. Joseph have been a central part of our lives – always there to help us, guide us, support us.”

Our students, who include about 50 students of faiths other than Catholic, participate in a wide range of activities that continuously reinforce the central role of Christ in our schools.  We pray daily.  We celebrate the liturgy from time to time.  Our senior “Mystery Players” bring powerful stories of Jesus’ birth and death on the cross during the Advent and Lenten seasons to churches throughout the Northeast.  Our student religious retreats are powerful and transformative for students.  We believe in the portion of our mission statement that calls on us to “cultivate holiness based on the love and imitation of Christ.”

2. IHC students love their school. 
Please visit and see for yourself.  You will be impressed by the friendliness of the students, and the enthusiasm they have for their school.  Don’t take our word for it.  We recently surveyed our seventh-graders, and while, yes, 26% would like us to loosen up on the dress code (we’ll take it under advisement!), 95% said they would recommend IHC to a friend.  When asked what has been their favorite experience at IHC, the number one answer was “how supportive the teachers have been.”

3.We provide an excellent education. 

Our High School is accredited by the prestigious and rigorous Middle States Association Commission on Secondary Schools.  Our SAT scores exceed the New York and national averages by nearly 70 points, and the top 30 percent of our graduating classes exceed the SAT averages by over 300 points.  Over 45% of our faculty have advanced degrees.  Sixty-four percent of last year’s graduating class earned a Regents diploma with Advanced Designation or Advanced Designation with honors.  We believe in the portion of our mission statement that says “provide a quality Catholic and secular education.”

4. IHC students are prepared for college. 
Nearly 100% of our graduates go on to higher education, winning approximately $1 million is scholarships.  Moreover, they are ready when they arrive, with a solid foundation of knowledge and skills, time-management habits forged by years of reinforcement, and Christian virtues that help them navigate the often difficult ethical and moral choices that confront them when they leave home.  When it comes time to say goodbye, you can have faith that your children will make the right choices.

5. We’re affordable and substantial aid and scholarships are available. 
Bottom-line: if a family wants to send their child to Catholic education, we will work out a way for them to do so.  IHC tuition is among the lowest of Catholic Schools in economically similar areas of New York State, while the value – dollar for dollar – is high (and growing).  More than 45% of our students receive financial aid, and the pool of available aid is growing.  Several scholarships are available for new students who would like to give IHC a try.

6. Students become responsible citizens.
Our alumni have distinguished themselves here in the community, across the country, and around the world.  The list of local leaders who are IHC alums, either in business or public office, is long.  Our alumni nationwide include many members of the clergy, nuns, doctors, lawyers, successful business people, non-profit organization leaders, active members of their local congregations, Knights of Columbus, workers bringing services to disadvantaged people in poor societies, and many others.  We believe in the portion of our mission statement that requires us “to form responsible citizens whose Christian values will transform the world.”

7. IHC students learn the value of service
From elementary school to graduation, IHC students are expected to serve in a wide variety of ways, and not just to pad their college applications.  Whether it be our elementary students visiting with seniors, our junior high school students helping raise money for our “Bite Back” campaign to help fight malaria in Africa, or our senior high students helping install drywall in a house for Habitat for Humanity as part of our Faith Community Service Program, IHC students learn from doing,  and that they are expected to be active in their communities throughout their lives, serving the greater good, and helping those in need.

8. Our schools are safe.
Little need be said.  We offer a safe and secure environment that is free of the safety and discipline distractions that many schools contend with.

9. Free transportation from local areas (including Fort Drum). 
Students who live within a 15 mile radius of IHC, including Fort Drum, are available for free busing provided by their home school district.  Moreover, all of our schools (Primary, Intermediate, and Junior/Senior High School) are on the same schedule, simplifying family logistics.

10. Exceptional athletics. 
IHC is known for the competitiveness of our sports teams.  Our success is not rooted in recruiting (we don’t) or in size (we’re small) – it is rooted in exceptional student-athletes with strong character, a work ethic forged in the classroom, a sense of mutual responsibility to their teammates, and committed coaching by volunteer parents and alumni who care deeply about the students, the school, and sportsmanship – not the score.  Our small school has garnered State, Sectional, and Frontier League titles, won numerous sportsmanship awards, and routinely competes successfully against much larger schools (for example, our baseball team, which should be in Class D due to its size of less than 174 qualifying athletes, competes in Class A, against schools with 900 some qualifying athletes).

We encourage you to make an informed decision.  Please check out our website, www.ihcschools.org , give us a call at (315) 221-3785, and set-up a visit.  “IHC Schools: A Foundation for Life.”