Rev. James D. Conley, D.D., S.T.L. | Diocese of Lincoln website

St. James School in Crete, Nebraska, has been providing education for 138 years. The school emphasizes a partnership with parents, recognizing them as primarily responsible for their children's education. At St. James, the cost to educate a child is over $6,000, while tuition is around $3,000. Parents typically pay $75 monthly for their child's attendance.

The school serves a culturally diverse population with 71 students from kindergarten through sixth grade. Nearly 80% of these students are Hispanic, and over 40% receive free or reduced lunch. Despite efforts to keep education affordable, some families struggle financially to choose St. James.

In recent years, Nebraska has made progress in school choice legislation. The state passed its first program in 2023 and another in 2024, becoming the 49th state to do so. These programs provided scholarships to 4,500 low-income and working-class students across Nebraska.

Under the scholarship program of 2023, 38% of recipients were students of color; others included special education needs students and those from military families or denied public school enrollment options. The program of 2024 distributed funds primarily to students at or below 213% of federal poverty level.

At St. James School, nearly half the students received these scholarships averaging $2,000 each—still below the cost to educate a child even at affordable schools like St. James.

These scholarships have significantly impacted families by easing financial burdens and allowing parents more time with their children rather than taking on additional jobs.

As National School Choice Week is celebrated nationwide and in Nebraska, there is hope that the stories from St. James Catholic School will inspire continued support for educational opportunities for low-income and at-risk students in Nebraska.