School is a valuable commodity, but in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, education has become almost priceless.

Basic economics of supply and demand dictates the market, and that is playing out for private schools, as public schools reveal restricted in-person plans for the fall semester.

The Syracuse Diocese has 21 schools across seven counties. Their Pre-K through sixth grades will be able to offer families a traditional schedule despite the pandemic.

William Crist is the Superintendent of Syracuse Diocese. He said the diocese is moving forward with its plan to be open five days a week.

​Small class sizes, no teachers unions, and all around flexibility have created a renewed interest in private schools. 

"Throughout the entire area we're experiencing some great interest," Crist said.

Crist said there are wait list for certain grade levels as demand grows. Other private schools are seeing the same effect.

Christian Brothers Academy in Dewitt has over 700 students enrolled for the fall.

He has some buildings developing wait lists for certain grade levels. Demand is growing.​  ​Other private schools are seeing the same effect.​
​Christian Brothers Academy in Dewitt has over seven hundred students enrolled for the fall. Matt Keough is the President of Christian Brothers Academy says 

"We fielded quite a few calls. So it has a lot of increased enrollment or increased interest these last few days and we're managing that right now," said the academy’s president Matt Keough.

Keough said all 7th graders and newcomers to CBA in the fall will attend school in-person five days a week.

“Parents have a choice where they'd like to send their children to school and we're trying to be flexible with that," Crist said.

Families have new financial decisions due to abbreviated public school schedules. Some parents could face well over $20,000 in child care of tutoring for the year.

Some private school tuitions start at $5,000 a year in contrast.

"We have financial aid that's available to those families to help families that may need financial assistance as well,” Keough said. “So we want to make it so that every well qualified student has the opportunity if they wish."​

The steward minded schools say they are ready to fill the need. Private schools hope to use their adaptability to help many more students and families.