Experts are anticipating an “enrollment cliff” to hit colleges in the coming years due to declining birth rates. However, student levels at private Mid-Missouri secondary schools appear to be holding relatively steady.

Tuition makes up the vast majority of most private school budgets, making consistent enrollment essential.

Max Vikhter, head of school at the Christian Fellowship School in Columbia, said that although the school’s lowest numbers are at the high school level — the age students would be ahead of the projected collegiate drop — overall enrollment is strong.

He said state school choice policies like MOScholars , a program that provides state scholarships to offset tuition, make private school more accessible.

“As that continues to expand, I think we're going to star

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