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I Don't Like This . . .

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Wittymoniker1

All-Conference
Aug 6, 2007
5,415
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I don't know what the hell is going on at Cascia, but only taking 135 students will be upsetting many people.

Are all 246 students going to attend Cascia? No. But, shutting the door on students who truly do wish to attend the school is not going to sit well with a lot people.

And, since this a high school football board, how is this going to affect the program? I got to believe many good players will be turned away from it.

Unless year-by-year, they will allow more students, I don't see how SR can compete in the Blue.
 
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ramblinman_rivals165935

All-Conference
Jul 18, 2001
9,102
2,802
0
Wittymoniker1 said:
I don't know what the hell is going on at Cascia, but only taking 135 students will be upsetting many people.

Are all 246 students going to attend Cascia? No. But, shutting the door on students who truly do wish to attend the school is not going to sit well with a lot people.

And, since this a high school football board, how is this going to affect the program? I got to believe many good players will be turned away from it.

Unless year-by-year, they will allow more students, I don't see how SR can compete in the Blue.
Click to expand...

How about if everyone takes a deep breath, a step back, and let's see what explanations are forthcoming. IF this is what is happening at Rita, I am sure that there will be some sort of official spin put on this.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that the Catholic school system in Chicago has been undergoing a Darwinian process of survival of the fittest for the past several decades. Dozens and dozens of schools have not adapted well to changing conditions, and they have closed their doors. The closure process is almost always the same: death by a thousand cuts.

How many times have we seen Catholic schools mount a "save our school campaign" at the last minute? Why wait until the last minute? Was school leadership that blind to the writing on the wall? Why react and try to fix things from a position of weakness?

Rare is the Catholic school that has the vision and guts to make the tough decisions to adapt long before things get really alarming. Sad, but true.

I don't know if this is what is happening at Rita or not but, if it is, then at least they are doing SOMETHING and God bless them. Carve out your new niche, and do it well. Screw being competitive in the Blue. Take care of business first. Make strategic decisions based on what is best for the school. Listen to your alumni, but also educate them that the market for Catholic education has changed. As a result, their school is a very different place from when they were students, and it must continue to change in order to adapt to changing conditions.
 
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F

feeto

All-Conference
Aug 23, 2007
2,250
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No need for a deep breath...... This is happening. I hope it works for them, but it's going to be an uphill battle. I don't see people sending their kids to 77th and western because it's an exclusive college-prep school. The neighborhood has nothing to offer. Rita has always been a legacy school. Also, why didn't they anounce this before all of those boys took the test?

I DON'T GET IT.
 
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UlbKA91

Junior
Sep 22, 2015
1,037
309
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It could also be a "tell" of Leo's closure in that seats are needed to accomodate a potential merger; yet it would seem to contradict (in the eyes of many) the college prep rationale.
 
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mc140

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
8,779
2,829
113
I don't think trying to make Rita into some type of elite academic institution is the answer. It will not lead to more money from alums.
 
W

Wittymoniker1

All-Conference
Aug 6, 2007
5,415
1,817
113
ramblinman said:
How about if everyone takes a deep breath, a step back, and let's see what explanations are forthcoming. IF this is what is happening at Rita, I am sure that there will be some sort of official spin put on this.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that the Catholic school system in Chicago has been undergoing a Darwinian process of survival of the fittest for the past several decades. Dozens and dozens of schools have not adapted well to changing conditions, and they have closed their doors. The closure process is almost always the same: death by a thousand cuts.

How many times have we seen Catholic schools mount a "save our school campaign" at the last minute? Why wait until the last minute? Was school leadership that blind to the writing on the wall? Why react and try to fix things from a position of weakness?

Rare is the Catholic school that has the vision and guts to make the tough decisions to adapt long before things get really alarming. Sad, but true.

I don't know if this is what is happening at Rita or not but, if it is, then at least they are doing SOMETHING and God bless them. Carve out your new niche, and do it well. Screw being competitive in the Blue. Take care of business first. Make strategic decisions based on what is best for the school. Listen to your alumni, but also educate them that the market for Catholic education has changed. As a result, their school is a very different place from when they were students, and it must continue to change in order to adapt to changing conditions.
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I've taken my deep breath and initiated some conversations with alumni, and this is really happening. I don't want a new niche. I want to stay competitive in one of the best conferences in the state.

And this decision coming on the heels of 246 students taking an entrance exam at Cascia?Screw the new niche. Having 40 students more taking the entrance exam than MC and only 1 behind BR is the new niche I like right now.
 
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S

SOUTHSIDECFD

Senior
Oct 1, 2009
1,876
767
0
ramblinman said:
How about if everyone takes a deep breath, a step back, and let's see what explanations are forthcoming. IF this is what is happening at Rita, I am sure that there will be some sort of official spin put on this.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that the Catholic school system in Chicago has been undergoing a Darwinian process of survival of the fittest for the past several decades. Dozens and dozens of schools have not adapted well to changing conditions, and they have closed their doors. The closure process is almost always the same: death by a thousand cuts.

How many times have we seen Catholic schools mount a "save our school campaign" at the last minute? Why wait until the last minute? Was school leadership that blind to the writing on the wall? Why react and try to fix things from a position of weakness?

Rare is the Catholic school that has the vision and guts to make the tough decisions to adapt long before things get really alarming. Sad, but true.

I don't know if this is what is happening at Rita or not but, if it is, then at least they are doing SOMETHING and God bless them. Carve out your new niche, and do it well. Screw being competitive in the Blue. Take care of business first. Make strategic decisions based on what is best for the school. Listen to your alumni, but also educate them that the market for Catholic education has changed. As a result, their school is a very different place from when they were students, and it must continue to change in order to adapt to changing conditions.
Click to expand...

You took the words right out of my mouth....

If the new priest does not live up to the commitments of the recruiters he could get tarred and feathered.
 
McCaravan

McCaravan

All-American
Feb 1, 2016
4,713
7,454
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Well....my 2 cents....from a FOOTBALL stand point, I'm guessing most if not all of the students they targeted for athletics will get in. Including the prep bowl loss, SR went 5-6 on Varsity, Sophs went 5-4 and Fresh went 2-7, and they still brought in 246, which is outstanding, we will what happens....they are offering Money for scores over 85, which is less Money coming in, and now they are thinking of letting nearly 1 million in tuitions walk out the door??? I can't make heads or tails of it.....
 
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ignazio

All-Conference
Oct 25, 2007
3,837
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I don't see them turning down that 136th kid if he truly brings something to the table. Or the 137th ... 200th.

Any chance this is a step towards going coed?
 
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RockSoup

All-Conference
Oct 1, 2009
3,192
4,860
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This whole weekend and beginning of the week has been interesting. My thoughts as a St. Rita alum are:

I don't understand the uproar about taking a test for entry into a Catholic School and getting accepted. When Dean, Witty and I and all the others on this board who took an entrance test we took it with some who didn't get in.

For those that say St. Rita should have sent a letter beforehand. Did BR or MC write a letter and say "test with us. Guaranteed Acceptance" or did they send a letter and say "test here but you might not get accepted". No of course not, they extended an invitation to all 8th grade families just like St. Rita, nothing more, nothing less.

For those saying Rita can't be the next Iggy, I say, who's trying? With the 8th grade athletic talent that tested, they look more like they are trying to be the next IMG. Everyone on this board knows that may not amount to much 4 years from now so no Bartlett jokes.

Rita has moved to a more individualized academic path for each student that takes a lot of resources but also has been noticed by many parents and private school rankings. Like I said before, the decision makers and influencers will come up with the number where each student's potential can be realized.
 
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MS4EVER

All-Conference
Dec 4, 2004
5,573
3,602
113
Rocksoup- Sorry for my SR ignorance but is this the first year they are doing this and what are the sizes of the Soph,Jr and Senior classes?

Also the Bartlett team did live up to expectations losing in the Semis to MS.
 
R

RockSoup

All-Conference
Oct 1, 2009
3,192
4,860
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MS4EVER said:
Rocksoup- Sorry for my SR ignorance but is this the first year they are doing this and what are the sizes of the Soph,Jr and Senior classes?

Also the Bartlett team did live up to expectations losing in the Semis to MS.
Click to expand...

Good to know about that Bartlett team but the last couple years in the Blue had a couple of the very good freshman teams end up going 0fer in the Blue as Seniors.

I don't work at Rita (maybe I can get paid per post?) so someone else can probably give a better answer but it's been around 550 to 750 the last decade which would tell me class sizes are around 140 to 160. Wikipedia has the enrollment at 600. I think the number of test takers has created the stir. Would any of this be board worthy or head scratching if SR continued to test around 200?
 
M

mc140

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
8,779
2,829
113
RockSoup said:
I don't understand the uproar about taking a test for entry into a Catholic School and getting accepted. When Dean, Witty and I and all the others on this board who took an entrance test we took it with some who didn't get in.

For those that say St. Rita should have sent a letter beforehand. Did BR or MC write a letter and say "test with us. Guaranteed Acceptance" or did they send a letter and say "test here but you might not get accepted". No of course not, they extended an invitation to all 8th grade families just like St. Rita, nothing more, nothing less.
Click to expand...

MC, Rita, Rice, SL have pretty much took every kid who takes the entrance exam and has been that way for awhile. This is definitely a change. In over a dozen years the only schools I have ever had an 8th grader not get into were Marist and Ignatius.
 
Snetsrak61

Snetsrak61

Senior
Aug 16, 2008
1,209
681
113
tomloner said:
Not what this is about. Higher standards and targeting students who they will retain for four years.
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One could argue going coed is often a decision made specifically for those reasons. I have no idea about the leadership at SR and where their values lie, but logically it would align.
 
McCaravan

McCaravan

All-American
Feb 1, 2016
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Snetsrak61 said:
One could argue going coed is often a decision made specifically for those reasons. I have no idea about the leadership at SR and where their values lie, but logically it would align.
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I can't see to many Moms and Dads wanting to send their daughters to 77th and Western now a days
 
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ramblinman_rivals165935

All-Conference
Jul 18, 2001
9,102
2,802
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Guys, the sky is not falling here.

How many of those 246 test takers tested at Rita as their backup plan because they are also applying to Whitney Young, Jones, or one of the other selective CPS high schools and will enroll there if admitted? How many of those 246 will test so low that they would not be successful at Rita? How many of them are testing and waiting to see if a financial aid package will be offered and if that package makes a Rita education affordable for the family?

A week or so ago, I posted here about YIELD when it comes to enrollment management. What is Rita's traditional yield of test takers to actual freshmen enrollment? How many of those 246 test takers will Rita be offering admission to in order to achieve a freshman class of 135 young Mustangs come next August? Maybe they offer 200 and 140 wind up enrolling. It's going to be very difficult to manage enrollment to achieve a freshmen class of precisely 135.
 
Snetsrak61

Snetsrak61

Senior
Aug 16, 2008
1,209
681
113
McCaravan said:
I can't see to many Moms and Dads wanting to send their daughters to 77th and Western now a days
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Any more than they want to send their sons?

Just wondering to what extent they plan to raise their academic profile. They can certainly stay as all men and raise their standards, but you're probably somewhat capped on how much you can raise your academic profile in Chicago if you don't compete for half the population. Other midwest cities where coed catholic education is the exception- perhaps not the case. Although there's raising your academic standards and raising your academic repuation. The latter is a much longer-term process.
 
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UlbKA91

Junior
Sep 22, 2015
1,037
309
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ramblinman said:
How many sent their daughters to Ignatius for DECADES with the second largest CHA housing project (ABLA homes) right across the street?
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You also had UIC, the greater Loop and Taylor Street (for muscle) at their back. Although you can argue that Rita is just a 2 mile jaunt down Western or SW Hwy/Kedzie from the parishes versus crossing multiple "hoods" on the way to a hypothetical coed MC or the DLS Girls campus. What might happen is that Peace and DLS (which serve the Archer corridor and the near SW suburbs), Mac and Marist (which serve BMG) dont really get impacted, but you have the female population that isnt served by schools like Urban Prep take the most interest. See Walter Payton Prep for what that would look like - which might play into the hands of negative recruiters.
 
W

Wittymoniker1

All-Conference
Aug 6, 2007
5,415
1,817
113
RockSoup said:
This whole weekend and beginning of the week has been interesting. My thoughts as a St. Rita alum are:

I don't understand the uproar about taking a test for entry into a Catholic School and getting accepted. When Dean, Witty and I and all the others on this board who took an entrance test we took it with some who didn't get in.

For those that say St. Rita should have sent a letter beforehand. Did BR or MC write a letter and say "test with us. Guaranteed Acceptance" or did they send a letter and say "test here but you might not get accepted". No of course not, they extended an invitation to all 8th grade families just like St. Rita, nothing more, nothing less.

For those saying Rita can't be the next Iggy, I say, who's trying? With the 8th grade athletic talent that tested, they look more like they are trying to be the next IMG. Everyone on this board knows that may not amount to much 4 years from now so no Bartlett jokes.

Rita has moved to a more individualized academic path for each student that takes a lot of resources but also has been noticed by many parents and private school rankings. Like I said before, the decision makers and influencers will come up with the number where each student's potential can be realized.
Click to expand...

I am glad Rita accepted me into its family. I am who I am today because of certain teachers at that school. And because of those teachers, I truly found my niche and am truly thankful for that.

With this 135 number, there may be many students--who may not have the best test results or who need some assistance academically--that will lose out on many great opportunities. I am thankful that the cutoff number was not 135 when I took the test.

And yes, I understand life goes on and possibly these students who were rejected will go to other fine institutions like MC, BR, Larry, D, and others. But, if the kid had his heart on Rita, I'd understand why he'd be very disappointed.
 
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W

Wittymoniker1

All-Conference
Aug 6, 2007
5,415
1,817
113
ramblinman said:
Guys, the sky is not falling here.

How many of those 246 test takers tested at Rita as their backup plan because they are also applying to Whitney Young, Jones, or one of the other selective CPS high schools and will enroll there if admitted? How many of those 246 will test so low that they would not be successful at Rita? How many of them are testing and waiting to see if a financial aid package will be offered and if that package makes a Rita education affordable for the family?

A week or so ago, I posted here about YIELD when it comes to enrollment management. What is Rita's traditional yield of test takers to actual freshmen enrollment? How many of those 246 test takers will Rita be offering admission to in order to achieve a freshman class of 135 young Mustangs come next August? Maybe they offer 200 and 140 wind up enrolling. It's going to be very difficult to manage enrollment to achieve a freshmen class of precisely 135.
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I thought the numbers usually averaged between 15 - 20%. After it's all said and done, I believe the number would be between 197 - 205 students entering Cascia in August of 2017. I would just hate to see a kid who had his heart set going to Rita get shut out because of a certain 135 number, especially a kid who is not so low.
 
R

RockSoup

All-Conference
Oct 1, 2009
3,192
4,860
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Wittymoniker1 said:
I am glad Rita accepted me into its family. I am who I am today because of certain teachers at that school. And because of those teachers, I truly found my niche and am truly thankful for that.

With this 135 number, there may be many students--who may not have the best test results or who need some assistance academically--that will lose out on many great opportunities. I am thankful that the cutoff number was not 135 when I took the test.

And yes, I understand life goes on and possibly these students who were rejected will go to other fine institutions like MC, BR, Larry, D, and others. But, if the kid had his heart on Rita, I'd be very disappointed.
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Yep, I get it, my phone blew up with the great number in the morning and the concern in the evening. But like I've been posting, there are alums with influence that have your same concerns and good discussions are happening, that's why I'm all Aaron Rodgers and like R-E-L-A-X, they'll make the best decisions for those future students.

I understand your concern but it's funny that BR and MC posters are so concerned with Rita's admission policy. Are they concerned an 8th grader might not get in or are they concerned about a healthy, innovative, strong St. Rita.
 
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RockSoup

All-Conference
Oct 1, 2009
3,192
4,860
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Two last things Wit so we can return Edgy's board back to a HS football board and not a St. Rita admissions site:

You wondered if we can compete athletically with the big boys still and there is no doubt that this class will.

And second, this has been slowly happening without the spotlight on for awhile (the curriculum change, individual path, stronger academics) which is why private school rankings like Niche have Rita ranked ahead of any of the south side high schools by many spots.

To a fellow alum, the future is bright, now back to HS football. Love your passion Witt!
 
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NNFAN

All-Conference
Sep 9, 2001
10,054
1,600
0
I would like to welcome any of the Rita rejects to Huskieville, as long as they can help us on the football field. I know it's a long way to Naperville, but I'm willing to offer a shuttle service. I don't have that many years left.
 
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UlbKA91

Junior
Sep 22, 2015
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krock the house said:
You think Free tuition for getting a certain score on the entrance exam is healthy, innovative and strong?
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I could see only an inflation/COLA-level increase from your 8th grade tuition being a reasonable enough inducement. I think the CPS magnets should test that mechanism to expand some of their SES school classes. I'm sure mid-single digit tuition for Northside, Payton and Young might do the trick vs. 15-20 k for Iggy, Latin, Parker etc.
 
W

Wittymoniker1

All-Conference
Aug 6, 2007
5,415
1,817
113
RockSoup said:
Yep, I get it, my phone blew up with the great number in the morning and the concern in the evening. But like I've been posting, there are alums with influence that have your same concerns and good discussions are happening, that's why I'm all Aaron Rodgers and like R-E-L-A-X, they'll make the best decisions for those future students.

I understand your concern but it's funny that BR and MC posters are so concerned with Rita's admission policy. Are they concerned an 8th grader might not get in or are they concerned about a healthy, innovative, strong St. Rita.
Click to expand...

And don't forget, we have tomloner working the phones as well. Not sure what happened to his initial post in this thread, but I'm glad TL was and still is on top of things. I've heard there was quite an uproar and hopefully, it will all get resolved.

RS--I would like to believe our fellow Catholic Leaguers have Cascia's best interest at heart, save privatone. We all know feeto's schtick, so we expect him to add gasoline to the fire. Even though I am extremely happy about SR's testing numbers besting our rivals, save BR, I would never want these fine institutions to fail in any form.
 
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W

Wittymoniker1

All-Conference
Aug 6, 2007
5,415
1,817
113
NNFAN said:
I would like to welcome any of the Rita rejects to Huskieville, as long as they can help us on the football field. I know it's a long way to Naperville, but I'm willing to offer a shuttle service. I don't have that many years left.
Click to expand...

You live in district? There's one address to accommodate some of these awesome southsiders.
 
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NNFAN

All-Conference
Sep 9, 2001
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1,600
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ignazio said:
I thought you were working on the annexation of Lisle, Warrenville and Woodridge.
Or at least Gerrymandering certain homes out of them.
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I wear a lot of hats... main focus right now is getting that Warrenville talent onto the field here asap.
 
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