Catholic schools in Portland have not disclosed the number of students who have transferred from St. Agatha Catholic School, nor provided information on their current enrollment figures. This follows a recent controversy involving St. Agatha, a small K-8 school in Southeast Portland, which made headlines for rescinding the enrollment of a student with same-sex parents.
Since this decision by Rev. Luan Tran, several parents have withdrawn their children from St. Agatha, and at least one teacher has resigned in protest.
Despite the situation’s impact, the Archdiocese of Portland and local Catholic schools have remained largely silent about the specifics regarding student departures and the broader implications for both St. Agatha and nearby schools.
Many families have expressed interest in transferring their children to Holy Family or St. Ignatius Catholic School, both perceived as more accepting of LGBTQ+ issues. Holy Family Principal Joe Galati confirmed during an interview on August 27 that his school had welcomed students from St. Agatha, though he provided limited details.
When asked about the number of students who transferred to Holy Family, Galati mentioned that “three to four” had moved there in the past two weeks. This number does not include families who may have switched schools immediately after the controversy erupted. Galati also refrained from disclosing the total number of new students at Holy Family.
The loss of multiple students raises concerns about the financial implications for St. Agatha, which charges annual tuition ranging from $8,580 to $11,850. However, the school has consistently declined to reveal its current enrollment figures, leaving the extent of its financial challenges unclear.
