Watch CBS News

Camden Catholic Sees Increase In Enrollment Of Foreign Students

CAMDEN, NJ (CBS) – Camden Catholic High School has experienced the same enrollment declines as other area Catholic schools, but they're seeing a boom in the number of foreign students attending the school. And now those foreign students can live on campus.

It's hard to imagine a humble diocesan high school becoming a sought after boarding school, but that is what's happened at Camden Catholic.

Story continues below...

camdencatholic2
(Credit: Pat Loeb)

Director of International Students Lisa Borreggine says the school began accepting foreign students in 2006 and apparently developed a good reputation because this year, it's enrolled 51 foreign students. Twenty of those students are living in the just-opened dormitory.

"We are there for the kids, so that is the reason the dorm is a good place for these kids. Someone is there all the time," Borreggine says. "Spending time with the teachers is a really good opportunity to improve the student's life."

Paul Chung is a native of Korea, but he loves Camden Catholic and says living there allows him to participate more than when he was living with a host family.

"Ski club or math league or robotics, a whole variety of choices are in front of me, and all I have to do is just choose what I want," Chung explains.

The dorm is in what used to be a convent on school grounds and can house 50 students.

Reported by Pat Loeb, KYW Newsradio

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.