Why Catholic Schools?

Catholic schools are good for children, families, communities, the nation, and the Church. And today more than ever, they need our support. Why should we champion Catholic schools? Here are four reasons--and there are certainly more!

1. Catholic schools provide religious and moral formation in a world badly in need of Gospel values.
2. Catholic schools excel in offering high quality education, particularly to those most in need.
3. Catholic schools are the responsibility of the entire Catholic community.
4. Catholic schools are essential to the health of the Church and our democracy - they nurture the soul of our nation.

• Catholic schools tend to operate as communities rather than bureaucracies, which links to higher levels of teacher commitment, student engagement, and student achievement (Marks, 2009).
• The Catholic school climate, mission, and purpose positively impact student achievement and attendance (Bryk, Lee, & Holland, 1993).
• A faith-based orientation builds coherence and integration of schools and school community (Bryk, Lee, & Holland, 1993).

• In Catholic schools, the student achievement gap is smaller than in public schools(Jeynes, 2007; Marks & Lee, 1989)
• In Catholic schools, overall academic achievement is higher (Coleman, Hoffer, & Kilgore, 1982; Sander, 1996).
• In Catholic schools, student math scores improve between sophomore and senior years (Carbonaro, & Covay, 2010).
• Latino and African American students in Catholic schools are more likely to graduate from high school and college (Grogger & Neal, 2000).
• Students with multiple disadvantages benefit most from Catholic schools (Greeley, 1982; Evans & Schwab, 1995; Neal, 1997).
• The poorer and more at-risk a student is, the greater the relative achievement gains in Catholic schools (York, 1996).
• More research on student achievement from Catholic Education: a Journal of Inquiry and Practice

• Graduates of Catholic high schools are more likely to vote (Dee, 2005).
• Graduates of Catholic high schools are more likely to earn higher wages (Neal, 1997).
• Catholic schools tend to produce graduates who are more civically engaged, more tolerant of diverse views, and more committed to service as adults (Campbell, 2001; Wolf, Greene, Kleitz, & Thalhammer, 2001).
• When a Catholic school closes, neighborhood disorder increases (Brinig, Garnett, 2009).