The challenge in our area is competition from an explosion of free charter school alternatives and "alternative" parochial schools. Public school is plucking Pre-K kids with free Pre-K, and charters are plucking 6-8th graders with new STEM and health professions focused schools. These schools are decked out with technology, use slick marketing and get a lot media attention for their STEM focus. It is difficult for a church school serving a lower income area to compete financially, and differentiate itself in a meaningful way.