The opening of school brings a spate of what I call state of the community articles in generally smaller local papers. When you’re in New England, or any other area with a boarding school and/or private day schools, these articles often mix a little boarding school angle with their mostly day school slant.

We highlighted “Paying for Private,” Connecticut Business News Journal last week.

“Enrollment Remains Strong at Private Schools Despite Recession” covers much of the standard territory of this kind of piece (in this day and age)- schools holding their own, increasing need for financial aid, changing school strategies and tactics- affirming the ‘things aren’t perfect, but we’re doing ok’ mantra that all of us in the boarding school world live with right now.

Stanwich School is growing. Brunswick School is doing well. Eagle Hill assistant head of school Robert Breakall confirms financial aid applications are up. Whitby School lost a few families at re-enrollment. And, Greenwich Country Day confirms that families seem to cut private school costs last- making them first priority.

The noteworthy section of the article touches on a topic that hasn’t received a lot of coverage during the economic slowdown- the way that the economic conditions has affected private school families in different types of cities and towns.

“…The recession’s hit on private schools has played out unevenly across the country, said Myra McGovern, director of public information for the Washington, D.C.,-based National Association of Independent Schools. However, the national trend is positive, she said.

‘What we found last year was a very, very modest decline of less than one percent, we consider that steady,’ she said. ‘Most people are surprised to learn that enrollment has held steady.’

It’s in areas that rely on a single major employer, have a significant tourism-based economy, or have been hammered by the housing crisis, where there have been more substantial drops in enrollment, said McGovern…”(ERSPSDR)

McGovern’s comments echo what we’ve heard and read annecdotally about the state of private school admission and enrollment in especially hard his cities such as Las Vegas. Schools and families in single industry and/or especially hard hit towns and cities are struggling to find creative ways to make sure that private schools stay an option for as many families as possible.