https://archive.triblive.com/local/fox-chapel/catholic-elementary-school-in-aspinwall-enjoys-growth/
Catholic elementary school in Aspinwall enjoys growth
submitted by Katie Lovett
First graders at Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy in Aspinwall enjoy a school tradition of popsicles to end the first day of school on Aug. 28.
Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy in Aspinwall — bucking a regional trend — has a growing student enrollment that helped it elude recent Diocese of Pittsburgh school mergers.
Director of Admissions Katie Lovett said the school along Brilliant Avenue started the year Aug. 28 with 204 students in pre-kindergarten to eighth grade, a 10 percent increase over last year.
“It's the first time in 20 years that we'll have over 200 students,” Lovett said.
The growth kept them safe from a diocesan-mandated merger of several North Hills area elementary schools earlier this year.
St. Mary of the Assumption School in Indiana Township, St. Bonaventure School in Shaler and St. Ursula School in Hampton came together this fall as one school under the name of Blessed Trinity Academy.
Parent Luci Massaro believes that CDTCA's growth reflects the support shown by staff and parents.
“It's more than a school with classrooms,” she said. “It is a community.
“There is such a consistently strong sense of the teachers truly caring about the success of every student.”
Principal Mark Grgurich credits the access to “top-caliber” education within a family-style atmosphere.
“Parents like the close-knit feel of our school,” Grgurich said.
He cited small class sizes – about 20 students per teacher – and a new science lab with all of the amenities of popular “maker spaces,” including a 3D printer, vinyl cutter and laser engraver.
Lovett said the attention to STEAM subjects has made a difference.
An improved technology platform means Google Chrome books for all middle schoolers and there is a new media center in the main building.
“We pride ourselves in being able to offer a top notch education rooted in faith,” Lovett said. “In an era where parents have many choices for their child's education, we are thankful to see such growth this year.”
Tawnya Panizzi is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 412-782-2121, ext. 2 or at tpanizzi@tribweb.com or via Twitter @tawnyatrib.
Copyright ©2026— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)