The Diocese of Madison’s founding bishop, Bishop William P. O’Connor, was a strong supporter of Catholic schools, and his successors have continued to emphasize the importance of Catholic schools.
Early years
In 1946, there were 55 Catholic elementary schools enrolling 8,975 students. In his first 10 years as Bishop of Madison, Bishop O’Connor dedicated 21 new schools or school additions. He always congratulated parents on their realization of the need for Catholic education.
The bishop wasn’t just satisfied with blessing the finished buildings. His interest in each construction project in the diocese was intense from the moment the pastor and building committee approached him with their plans. He went about laying cornerstones for four churches, seven schools, and six other institutions.
The enrollment in Catholic elementary schools in the diocese grew more than 63 percent in the first 10 years of the diocese. The enrollment in 1956 was 14,138.
National trends
The National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) reported that Catholic schools across the country reached their peak enrollment during the early 1960s when there were more than 5.2 million students in almost 13,000 schools across the nation.
However, the 1970s and 1980s saw a decline in the number of schools and students across the country, including in the Diocese of Madison. By 1990, there were approximately 2.5 million students in 8,719 schools in the nation.
Among reasons given for the decline was that there were fewer vocations to the priesthood and Religious Life. This meant that Catholic schools needed to employ more lay principals and teachers, which led to higher costs to operate schools and increasing tuition fees. Many schools couldn’t afford to stay open.
Benefits of Catholic schools
Michael J. Lancaster has served as superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Madison since 2006. He has over 27 years of education experience in both Catholic and public schools.
He said, “Catholic schools offer an education that forms the whole person, body, mind, and soul. Our schools invite students and families to a personal relationship with Jesus. It is through this relationship with Christ, who created all things, that knowledge in all academic subjects is illuminated and understood.
“This understanding compels us to excel in all endeavors, to love, to serve, and in doing so, to pursue holiness. In this way, Catholic schools lead students to be more fully human — to be the people God created them to be.”
Research has shown that students attending Catholic schools enjoy many educational benefits, including higher grades, better performance on standardized tests, and high rates of graduation and attendance at college.
Catholic schools partner with parents in the faith formation of their children. Catholic schools provide a safe and welcoming environment with faculty and staff who are dedicated, caring, and effective. The schools prepare students to be productive citizens and future leaders.
Catholic schools today
Today in the Diocese of Madison there are 45 schools enrolling 6,607 students. One new school, Divine Mercy Academy in Madison for students ages three to 12, opened this year.
The mission of diocesan schools is: “Catholic schools in the Diocese of Madison cultivate a love for Christ and his Church by inviting students and the entire school community to meet and know Jesus and embrace a loving God. Catholic schools seek to assist parents with excellent and academic formation for their children, developing the talents of all students and fostering a commitment to service, justice, and the sanctity of human life.”
The diocesan Office of Catholic Schools works closely with pastors and principals to promote quality education in parish and private Catholic schools in the diocese. Staff conduct on-site visits, in-service training, and consultation on policy and personnel issues.
For more information on Catholic schools in the Diocese of Madison, go to https://madisondiocese.org/schools