Many of Notre Dame's families sacrifice time (and gas money) to travel a long way to school. They say it's well worth it.
Today, there are about 100,000 public schools in the U.S., and even though schools of choice are erasing many school district borders, a vast majority of public school students continue to reside in the districts in which their schools operate.
For private and independent schools, there is no such residency requirement or standard, even though convenience and where one lives continue to factor into where parents choose which private schools to send their children. Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is no different in that most school families live within about 10 miles of the campus in Pontiac.
For a surprisingly large number of NDPMA parents, location is not necessarily one of the considerations at all in choosing a school for their children. In fact, students at NDPMA live in more than 50 cities and townships throughout metro Detroit with some traveling in excess of 50 miles one way to get to classes, while passing many other private and Catholic schools in the process.
School administration officials hear it time and time again from parents: Their kids go to Notre Dame simply because it's a great school with a stellar reputation — and they're willing to make those long commutes because they want the best for their children.
We recently conducted a quick survey of where our NDPMA families live. We then put together a graphic (above) that visually shows what we've found. We've also listed below the 54 cities and towns that were used to create the graphic.
We believe this is yet another demonstration affirming the value of a Notre Dame education. It's also confirmation that people will travel a long way to experience what is summarized so well by the school's mission statement: "Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy provides its diverse student body a Catholic and internationally recognized college-preparatory experience of lasting value. We affirm our Marist mission to work with God to form Christian people, upright citizens and academic scholars."
WHERE DO WE LIVE?
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Addison Township Attica Auburn Hills Beverly Hills Birmingham Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Township Brighton Bruce Township Chesterfield Clarkston Clawson Clay Township Clinton Township Commerce Township Davisburg Detroit Farmington Hills Franklin |
Goodrich Grand Blanc Highland Holly Howell Lake Angelus Lake Orion Lapeer Leonard Macomb Township Madison Heights Metamora Milford Oakland Township Orchard Lake Orion Township Ortonville Oxford Pontiac |
Ray Township Rochester Rochester Hills Romeo Royal Oak Shelby Township South Lyon Southfield Sterling Heights Sylvan Lake Troy Washington Township Waterford Township West Bloomfield White Lake Wolverine Lake |
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.