HAZLETON -- About 100 kindergarteners thorough 12th graders attend Immanuel Christian School in Hazleton. To keep up with growing school expenses, the Christian school on North Locust Street was considering raising tuition for the coming school year.
At the last minute, it decided to actually slash tuition in half, from about $5000 a year to $2500.
"We just really feel like God is calling us to give this opportunity to more students. We don't want to be exclusive," said Susan Selby, the school's business administrator.
Selby says administrators are stepping out on faith, hoping a cut in tuition will lead to an increase in enrollment and making it a win for the community and the school. Students are applauding the decision.
"I think that is a really good thing, so more kids could come in and learn about God," said fourth grader Sarah Polashenski.
With tuition cut in half, school officials hope a Christian education will now be available to more Hazleton families of all income levels and backgrounds.
The tuition cut will take effect next semester, and students are already getting ready to welcome and share the education they are getting at ICS.
"It's completely different from public education. Not just because it's Christian so it has religion intermixed into it, but also the academics," said 11th grader Josiah Gonzalez.
The tuition cut is actually modeled after a Christian school in York, which did a similar thing. That school is now thriving. The hope is that same thing happens at Immanuel Christian School in Hazleton.
