QUINCY — Quincy Catholic elementary schools and the QCES Foundation have announced total enrollment has increased by 68 students, to 1,023, or an increase of 7 percent, for the 2014-15 school year.

Enrollment increased for the third consecutive year at Blessed Sacrament, St. Dominic, St. Francis and St. Peter schools. Of the new students, 31 students are of faiths other than Catholic, bringing the total number of non-Catholic students enrolled for 2014-15 to 100.

"Quincy Catholic Elementary Schools welcome students of all faiths, and we appreciate the dedication and confidence the parents of all of our students have placed in our four schools to provide their children with a quality faith-based education," said Paul Rittof, director of marketing and development for Quincy Catholic Elementary Schools and executive director of the QCES Foundation. "We also owe a debt of gratitude to our QCES parents who invest in their children's education by offering their time, talent and treasure to our schools, and who serve as goodwill ambassadors with others pointing out why they've chosen a Quincy Catholic elementary schools' education for their children," added Rittof.

Pre-school enrollment also saw a boost of 18 students, an increase of 10 percent for a total of 198 students which places the combined 2014-15 enrollment number at 1,221 students, an increase of 86 students and the largest enrollment in the four Catholic elementary schools since the 2006-07 school year.

At a news conference earlier this month, Rittof attributed the increase to a number of initiatives, including an ongoing aggressive marketing campaign promoting awareness of what is offered in the four Catholic elementary schools, making a Catholic elementary school education more affordable for those parents who wish to enroll their children whether Catholic or families of another faith. The QCES Foundation has awarded more than $170,000 in tuition-assistance dollars thus far. To date, 133 families with a total of 208 students enrolled in one of the four Quincy Catholic elementary schools have received tuition assistance.

"The QCES Foundation is absolutely committed to making a Catholic elementary school education affordable for any family, whether Catholic or of another faith," stated Matt Bergman, president of the QCES Foundation.

QCES Foundation officials say a limited amount of tuition-assistance remains available this school year.