Sam Dean | The Roanoke Times

Andrew Alexander, 5, raises his hand to answer a question Thursday in his kindergarten class at Faith Christian School.

Lauren Pennington, 5, works during class at Faith Christian.

Sixth-grader Caryn Kaltenbach, 11, examines an experiment in a science class Thursday at Faith Christian School.

Sam Cox, head of Faith Christian School, cannot deny the economic recession's effect on some of the school's families.

"We have had more than one small-business owner go bankrupt," Cox said. "We have sales reps that aren't selling and builders that aren't building."

Cox said the economic downturn prevented more than 25 students -- or 8 percent of the school's population -- from returning to the private school in Southwest Roanoke County this year.

In the second year of the recession, some private schools in the Roanoke region are fighting to maintain enrollment at a time when struggling families might question the affordability of tuition. But at Faith Christian it is not as bad as it could be, and for that, Cox said he is grateful.

The enrollment scenario appeared much more grim in the spring. Faith Christian's admission officials usually have a good handle on the numbers by May for the following school year. At that time 15 percent fewer students were enrolled for the 2009-10 school year -- a bitter pill to swallow for a fledgling school that has experienced steady growth and three years ago moved into an $8.2 million building that is not entirely paid for.

Total enrollment dropped by only five students when classes began Aug. 25, down from 301 students last year to 296. Cox attributed that to a boom of new students -- 40 percent of whom enrolled in the final three weeks of summer break.

Cox said school officials have seen a spike in requests for tuition assistance.

"Last year was a record year for the total number of financial aid requests and total gifts. 2009 was even bigger," he said.

The school upped its budget for financial assistance as a result. But not every family that needs help will ask, Cox said.

"Nobody thinks twice about applying for financial aid for college," he said. "There seems to be more of a stigma for some people to apply in the K-12 atmosphere."

Cox attributes that to the more intimate nature of the small, private school setting where administrators personally know the students and the families.

Roanoke Valley Christian Schools also lost students because of the recession.

"About 15 students from last year were impacted by either unemployment, the economic downturn or other financial factors that kept them from returning," said Rick Brown, associate pastor for school ministries.

New students did not fill those slots.

At North Cross School in Roanoke County, requests for financial assistance are processed externally. Applicants complete forms comparable to those required to apply for college financial aid. The outside company makes a recommendation and school officials ultimately decide how much to award.

Requests for tuition assistance also have risen there. Headmaster Tim Seeley said 20 percent of North Cross families receive financial aid and the average gift is $4,000 a year. While the number of requests has increased, the average award has stayed about the same.

"We certainly haven't been immune to this [recession], but it hasn't resulted in a lot of families saying we can't afford to do this," Seeley said.

Enrollment at North Cross increased by more than 40 students, many of whom are in a new pre-kindergarten program for 3-year-olds. The school this fall will embark on a $6 million capital fundraising campaign to replace the middle school. It is the first major construction project since the lower school was renovated about eight years ago.

At Roanoke Catholic School, Head of School Ray-Eric Correia said the rising cost of tuition is an issue that for years has plagued enrollment at private schools and especially Catholic schools.

"I don't think that we have suffered that much more because of the economy," he said. "It was not like there was a sudden drop off a cliff."

Enrollment at Roanoke Catholic dropped from 509 students last year to 466 this year.

Correia said he is aware of one or two families directly affected by the economy who were unable to send their children back to the school this year.

He said the school overall has a "large and very needy population." About $750,000 in tuition discounts were awarded last school year at Roanoke Catholic. Most of the funding was awarded from the diocese in Richmond as part of a wider national effort launched four years ago in the Catholic community to preserve Catholic education.

Community High School and Parkway Christian Academy both realized enrollment growth this year. Community High, located in downtown Roanoke, gained at least eight students for more than 50. Parkway Christian, one of the newer private schools in the area, has grown from 37 students in 2002 to 376 students, who started there in August.

Parkway Christian senior administrator Erica Dixon said the growth is likely because of the school's low tuition compared with other private schools.

"Within 10 years, we hope to have PCA fully endowed and tuition-free," she said.

Enrollment remained constant at Blacksburg New School, according to lead teacher T.J. Stone. She said she knows the school's students and their families are not impervious the effects of the economy but she did not know of any case in which money prevented a student from continuing his or her education at the school.

"I think it is probably just tougher for the parents making the commitment to an independent school education and maybe they are having to make sacrifices in other areas," Stone said.