Skills, Spirituality, and Service
For more than 200 years, a Catholic education has been an option for New York families. In 1800, six years before the first public school was established in New York, Irish and German immigrants in St. Peter’s Parish founded a school for 100 students on Barclay Street in lower Manhattan. In 1884, the American Catholic bishops decreed that every parish should have a school and that it should be the first building constructed in the parish. By the end of the century, Catholic schools had become a major component of what American Catholic bishops considered “an Empire of Charity.”
In New York, by 1900, more than 55,000 students were enrolled in parochial elementary schools and Catholic secondary schools. The Catholic schools of the Archdiocese grew and evolved to continue to meet the changing needs of the families they served.
Today, families continue to choose Catholic schools for strong academics, a family-friendly environment, and a community that welcomes those of different faiths, students with learning differences, and immigrants. Extended daily hours, free counseling services, scholarships, and financial aid help both parents and students.
The academic programs teach basic skills, advanced math, advanced prep programs, hands-on science, and foreign languages, along with art. By integrating technology into classroom instruction, schools prepare students to compete in an increasingly complex world. The results of this holistic approach to education are academic achievement, strong test scores, and a 99% graduation rate for high school seniors.
Recently released test scores for 2023 from the New York State Education Department (NYSED) showed Catholic schools lead most schools in New York State in math and English language proficiency (ELA). “Our students gained eleven percentage points in math proficiency across our schools, not only surpassing last year’s scores but effectively leveling our proficiency levels with ELA,” said Sister Mary Grace Walsh, ASCJ, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools in the Archdiocese of New York. English Language Arts scores remained strong.
For grades 3-8 63% of students were proficient in math and 64% of students showed proficiency in reading. In NYC (New York City) government schools, 51.7% of all students passed reading and 49.9% passed math. Catholic school leadership attributes this academic success to an investment in curriculum, student support, professional development, technology, and social-emotional support for students and staff.
For families interested in learning more or applying to a Catholic school, the 2024-25 online admissions portal is open for private Pre-K and grades K-8. Families can visit catholicschoolsny.org to research schools, start an admissions application, and register for an in-person visit. Parents can also call the bilingual parent helpline, (646) 794-2885, from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday-Friday. Families who enroll before April 15, 2024, will save $100 per child in registration fees (visit catholicschoolsny.org/ admissions/apply/).