A Different Path, A Stronger Future: How School Choice Helped Makensie Thrive

Tommy Schultz · CEO, American Federation for Children

When Makensie moved into a smaller classroom setting at Pope John Paul II Catholic High School, everything shifted.

At her previous school, Makensie was one student among many — in classrooms of up to 30 people, it was easy to go unnoticed. She wasn’t struggling because she lacked ability. She was struggling because no one had the bandwidth to truly see her.

That changed when her family found a different path.

Seen, Known, Supported

Pope John Paul II Catholic High School is a different kind of environment. With class sizes of around 20 students, there is simply more room — more room for teachers to invest, more room for students to be known, more room to grow.

For Makensie, that shift was immediate. Teachers saw her. They challenged her. They made her feel like her future mattered to them personally.

“My life would be very different without Pope,” she says. That’s not a small statement. It’s an acknowledgment of how much the right school can change the entire arc of a young person’s life.

“My life would be very different without Pope.”

— Makensie Scott

Strength of Mind, Strength of Body

Outside the classroom, Makensie found something else she hadn’t expected: a competitive drive that led her all the way to a state powerlifting championship.

The confidence she built at Pope — being known, being challenged, being part of a community that expected things of her — extended into every area of her life. The same school that helped her academically also helped her discover what she was capable of physically and competitively.

That is what a great school does. It doesn’t just prepare students for a diploma. It helps them find out who they are.

Grounded in Faith, Confident in Her Future

At Pope John Paul II, faith is woven into every part of the school experience. For Makensie, that dimension of her education became foundational. Her faith deepened. Her sense of purpose sharpened. And she graduated not just prepared for college, but grounded in something larger than herself.

Stories like Makensie’s are exactly why school choice matters — and why expanding access to it is so urgent. Every student deserves an environment where they can be seen, challenged, and prepared for their future.

As the Education Freedom Tax Credit approaches its 2027 launch, more families will gain access to the kind of transformative opportunity that helped Makensie thrive. Eligible donors can receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700 when they contribute to a qualifying K–12 scholarship organization. Any amount above $1,700 is treated as a standard 501(c)(3) charitable deduction. There is no cap on how much you can give.

Because when students find the right fit, everything changes.