(September 4, 2008)--The sagging economy is beginning to affect the education choices of Americans.
Many private schools say enrollment is dropping or financial need is going up.
Southern Virginia, which has dozens of Roman Catholic, Jewish and Protestant-run schools, has been especially vulnerable to the trend.
At Gateway Christian School, where tuition is about $4,000, Principal Sam Postlewaite says enrollment is down about 10 percent this fall.
He says, "obviously, it's just tough times" for parents.
At Norfolk Christian Schools, dean Jane Duffey says she's seen a 20 percent increase in requests for additional financial aid.
Enrollment is down about 2 percent from last year's 750 students.
Tuition at Norfolk ranges from just more than $6,000 in elementary grades to nearly $9,000 for seniors.
At Hebrew Academy, where annual tuition is about $10,000, school financial officer Heather Moore says she's seen a big increase in requests for tuition assistance.
She says she's frequently heard that a spouse has lost their job, and they'll have to live on one income for a while.
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