Sacred Heart

There is a Catholic School near Downtown Tampa that has been in existence for nearly seven-decades. It has educated tens of thousands of students, but over the years its enrollment dropped dramatically. That is until now.

In "Assignment:Education".. see how Sacred Heart Academy has made a big turnaround.. and why.

On the northern edge of Downtown Tampa.. Sacred Heart Academy has been educating young people for 67-years. But like so many urban schools.. it was hit with shrinking enrollment, and growing debt. It was a dying school. Until now.

In a group cooperation exercise.. These five and six-year-olds are having a great time with a parachute, in the school's -old- gym. They're part of the school's -new- early childhood development program. Principal Madeline O'Dea was hired to create the program.

--[Principal Madeline O'Dea says:] "And what I set out to do is setup a program that is educationally sound and able to bring children forward at their own developmental rate." [child off-camera says:] "That's barney"--

The concept is simple. The classes are broken down in six-month age-groups. This is a class of young three-year-olds. Older three-year-olds and young four-year-olds are paired together. Then there is a class of just four year olds. And older fours and younger fives are brought together in another classroom. Many parents like this approach. One parent even drives her four-year-old to the downtown school from Carrollwood.

--[Parent Maureen Goin says:] "The progressive state they have in the classroom. She can work at her own pace and everybody develops at their own pace and that's what I appreciate."--

Father Michael Kennelly says the program is bringing new life to a wonderful old school.

--[Father Michael Kennelly says:] "I think quality education, wherever it may be, will attract young parents. They want the best for their children and the most update type of education. Then they want the spiritual and we have it all out here."--

The early childhood development program at Sacred Heart Academy has added 96 students to the school's overall enrollment. There are about 30 more openings available for next year.

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