All-Girls High School in Monmouth?

A local committee is looking to determine the need for a Catholic all-girls high school in Monmouth County.

The committee, which according to its Web site is a group of parents and leaders in the county, “is seeking to establish an independent, all-girls Catholic high school.”

The executives of the committee are two couples, friends for years, with seven girls between two families and a desire to send their daughters to a one-sex school.

Maread and Sean Clifford, and Victoria and Justin Gmelich, all attended one-sex high schools, and want to have their daughters do the same.

A study is being conducted for families to voice their opinions on the idea of the high school, from Sept. 12 to Sept. 28. 

“The purpose of the study is to evaluate the feasibility of establishing an all-girls high school in Monmouth County and the potential impact on existing schools in the area as well as to establish open communication with all interested residents, educators and community leaders,” said Victoria Gmelich, committee co-chair.

The survey is asking participant to report how many girls are in their family, high school enrollment, factors when selecting a high school and the amount of support for an all-girls high school. The study also included open-ended questions.

Clifford said the committee will have results of the study in October, and are looking to the future for an opening date of 2014 with just a freshman class. She said the school will plan to add one grade level every year.

The school would fall under the Diocese of Trenton, and serve as a preparatory high school. According to a news release, the initial enrollment expected is 500-600 students and “will serve a need currently unmet by existing parochial, private and public high schools in Monmouth County.”

Accreditation would be provided by the Middle State Association of Schools and Colleges.

“From the beginning of the process, our group has sought to keep an open line of communication with the Diocese of Trenton as well as members of local Catholic, private and public school communities,” said Mairead Clifford, co-chair of the committee.

According to the release, the anticipated annual tuition would be $13,000. A location has not yet been chosen, but will be “centrally located” in the county, perhaps in the area of the Lincroft section of Middletown.

Properties have been looked at; however one of the goals of the study is to determine demographic for the school.

Interested families can learn more and sign up for the survey at the committee’s Web site or on Facebook.