Parochial Schools Turn to China to Boost Bottom Line

Catholic schools across America are aggressively recruiting the children of Chinese government officials and business moguls to boost declining enrollment and finances, writes The New York Times.

Students from China may pay as much as five times the standard tuition rate at some schools, which have flown admissions officers to China and produced glossy brochures highlighting their multinational student bodies in bids to attract applicants. Secular private schools are also reaching out to Chinese parents seeking to better prepare their kids to attend U.S. colleges.

The schools do not demand religious commitments, but many require the Chinese students to take theology courses and fulfill church charity requirements, such as tutoring low-income students or serving in soup kitchens.