The Added Value of a Catholic Education

Academic rigor, a commitment to service, and educating the mind, body, and spirit are at the core of a Catholic education. These hallmarks, along with Catholic schools safely opening for in-person learning in September 2020, have resulted in continued increased enrollment after decades of decline. Currently, 50,000 students are enrolled in Catholic schools in the New York Archdiocese. The National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) reports that elementary and middle school enrollment increased by 3.8% nationwide in the 2021-2022 academic year. This was the first growth in two decades and the largest recorded increase by NCEA. The 2022 – 2023 school year data is being collected and analyzed now. Still, the trend for enrollment holding steady or increasing is expected to continue. It’s not just Catholics who are choosing these schools: 20% of students are of other faiths.

Test data shows Catholic school students have exceptional graduation rates and perform higher on math and English tests than public school students. According to the NCEA, Catholic schools have a 99% high school graduation rate, and 85% of graduates attend college. Recently released scores from the New York State Education Department (NYSED) show that nearly 52% of Catholic school students in grades 3-8 passed math and 64% passed reading in 2022, compared to 49% and 38% of public school students, respectively. In addition, Catholic school students’ English Language Arts scores increased by 7.3%.

A More Affordable Catholic Education

Partnership Schools, a group of Catholic charter schools, are an innovative option touted as the next generation of urban Catholic education. In this unique hybrid

model, the diocese owns the schools, and business partners manage and fund them. “We say we are a 157-year-old startup,” said Beth Blaufuss, vice president for strategic initiatives for the Partnership Schools. The Partnership has complete operational control of seven Pre-K to 8thgrade schools in the South Bronx and Harlem. The Partnership’s mission is to “develop outstanding Catholic elementary schools that provide students from underserved communities with the academic preparation, values, and skills they need to break the cycle of poverty and lead fulfilling, productive lives.” Scholarships based on financial need are available to qualified applicants and their families. To learn more, visit www.partnershipnyc.org

To learn more about Catholic schools near you, visit catholicschoolsny.org