THE BENEFITS OF A CATHOLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION
The primary reasons that parents give for sending their children to Catholic school are:
- academic excellence
- emphasis on Catholic values
- healthy social relationships
- a supportive environment
A Catholic education means…
College-bound peers – The vast majority of all elementary and secondary Catholic school students go to college. 99% of Catholic secondary school students graduate and 97% go on to college. At Catholic Schools, preparation for college is a clear goal and Catholic School graduates are often pursued by prestigious colleges.
A rigorous curriculum – Most students take four years of mathematics, history, English, science, foreign language, and religious studies.
Self-discipline – The emphasis on external discipline in Catholic schools is intended to teach internal, self-discipline. Students are expected to accept responsibility for their actions, to respect others and to make good decisions in the context of their faith experience.
Christ as a model – The goal of a Catholic education is to help children mature into Christlike people. Students are encouraged to recognize the presence of Christ in themselves and others. The religious formation of children begun at home is continued in Catholic school.
A safe, supportive environment – Reverence for the human dignity of every person comes from recognizing Christ in self and others. More than “Drug-free zones” or “Gun-free zones”, Catholic schools strive to be “Christ-centered zones”.
High expectations – Catholic school teachers expect every student to achieve. Over time, Catholic school students come to internalize this value, enhancing their self-esteem.
Committed parents – Parents are a child’s first teacher. At Catholic schools, parents take an active role in their children’s education. The school supports families and works with them for the benefit of children. When problems come up, parents are contacted and asked, “How can we work together to solve this problem?”
A caring community –There are 2,647,301 students enrolled in Catholic schools this year -- 2,004,037 in elementary/middle school and 643,264 in secondary school. Their parents provide hundreds of millions of volunteer service hours to their schools. Parents assist with everything from playground supervision, field trips and putting band-aids on skinned knees, to raising funds, installing computer networks and building new schools.
When you send your child to a Catholic school, your family becomes members of a special community. Like your children, your family will be enriched by the opportunity to grow in faith.
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