Attending Catholic school creates dividends for life

Published: August 15, 2009

By Vernell Bowen
Superintendent of Catholic Schools

Vernell Bowen, Superintendent of Catholic Schools

Catholic schools strive to create a special bond among students, the home, the school and the church -- an investment that pays lifelong dividends. The ability for Catholic schools to build on both tangible and intangible resources is reflected in the philosophy that permeates the total education program.

A Catholic education is a challenging education. High standards, strong motivation, effective discipline and an atmosphere of caring combine to foster excellence, and the high quality student performance is supported by the evidence in: students scoring significantly above the national averages on standardized testing, the gradation rate for Catholic schools is 99 percent, and 97 percent of graduates attend college.

In study after study, Catholic schools outperform their public school peers. The federal government uses a regular test across the country, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, to measure education progress of public, private and Catholic schools. The data in the table below reflect the academic success.

NAPE Scores for 2008
Age 9	Reading	Math
Public	218	242
Catholic	235	251
Age 13
Public	258	280
Catholic	275	293
Age 17
Public	284	305
Catholic	303	317
Source: http://www.ncea.org/news/CatholicSchoolData.asp

Catholic education is a very important part of the American social fabric and should be treated as a vital national resource. Catholic education can claim alumni in the highest courts in the land and in the most modest occupations. Not only does it provide an education for its own religious faith, it has proved itself a life preserver for immigrants and inner-city children.

Education does not always produce tangible results. Most people in the business world have the mentality that education should be treated like a business and everyone should be able to see the bottom line through facts and figures. The other aspect of Catholic education is that the philosophy permeates the total education program and the lives of the faculty and students that produce intangible results that creates a better world.

The philosophy challenges students to improve the world by sharing Gospel values and living Christ's message of salvation. They grow to understand the roots of their faith and their responsibilities as Christians.

Students explore their faith through classes and activities in Scripture, sacraments, Church and morality.

Catholic schools stress the value of self-discipline and commitment.

Faculty and staff are role models who share their faith, their talents and their time.

While all students who come to Catholic schools are not Catholic, all share experiences of faith and values.

Catholic schools encourage each student to accept the challenges of being a Christian and to move the world to social justice.

One of the most remarkable top-to-bottom studies of Catholic education makes the case that Catholic school students fare much better because they create "social capital" that pays academic dividends. Anthony Bryk, Valerie Lee and Peter Holland have argued that academic success is a direct consequence of the sacrifices Catholic schools demand of parents -- time, energy and finances. The Catholic tradition of religion and community build resources of support that positively effect student outcomes.

In these economic times, parents must make a commitment and make sacrifices to provide an education that will produce lifelong dividends. Catholic schools have a proven track record. The question is: "Can I afford to send my child to a Catholic school?" Better still, "How can I not afford to send my child to a Catholic school?"

http://www.dolr.org/offices/schools/contactus.php" target="null">Contact Vernell Bowen, Superintendent of Catholic Schools.

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