“The Church worldwide is in the midst of a Catholic education boom,” writes Jeff Ziegler in a new article from The Catholic World Report. But, he continues, “In the midst of this Catholic education boom worldwide, the Church in the United States has suffered a dramatic decline in its education apostolate.”
Ziegler’s article offers a fascinating analysis of where Catholic education has been, where it is now, and where it’s going. A few more quotes:
- Catholic school culture, in general, is thus strongest near the Ohio River, the central Mississippi River, and parts of the Gulf Coast; it is weakest in portions of Texas, California, and in Alaska.
- “Despite research that indicates that Hispanic students in Catholic schools are dramatically better prepared academically for postsecondary education and productive careers than Hispanic students in other kinds of schools, only 3 percent of school-aged Hispanic children are enrolled in Catholic schools,” Marie Powell, executive director of the Secretariat of Catholic Education at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, told CWR.
- …the average elementary school tuition [is] now at $3,383 and the average secondary school tuition [is] at $8,182….In contrast, the average per-pupil cost for elementary and secondary students at the nation’s public schools is $10,297.
- “What is the greatest challenge facing our Catholic schools today? Providing just compensation for our staff while protecting our families,” says Daryl Hagan, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Evansville.
- The abandonment of the practice of the faith by large numbers of the nation’s Catholics also poses a significant challenge to the future of Catholic schools.
- …education leaders in the dioceses with the most successful Catholic school programs have repeatedly emphasized the importance of a strong Catholic identity.
- “More than crucifixes displayed on the walls and students wearing plaid, a Catholic school must invite its students into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ,” added Dan Peters of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.
- In Wichita, all Catholic primary and secondary schools have been tuition-free for Catholic students since 2002.
It’s definitely worth a read.