Values for a Lifetime

Amid the football and soccer games, band performances and drama productions, admissions administrators at Catholic high schools across the Archdiocese of Cincinnati have their eye on another fall event — the annual open house.

Schools welcome prospective students and their parents to visit their campuses, tour the facilities, meet with faculty and staff and learn about the curriculum and activities. They also showcase new programs or facilities, and teachers often conduct demonstrations in their classrooms. In addition, visitors are able to obtain information on clubs and other extra-curricular activities.

The open house is a key marketing tool for high schools, particularly since school boundaries were dissolved in the archdiocese in 2007, allowing schools to recruit students from across the region.

“We think it’s absolutely critical,” said Dirk Allen, director of admissions and media relations at Badin High School in Hamilton. “We think a lot of students are uncertain as to where they are going to high school, and open house is a great opportunity for you to convince them your school is the place to go.”

An open house visit can confirm the decision of a junior high student who is considering a particular school. It can also sway other students.

“If they come to your open house you know you’ve got a chance,” Allen said. “What we find is that student-to-student contact at open house is very valuable.”