Now is a great time to be in Catholic schools! Enrollment increased for the second straight year, up nearly three percent over last year, for a total of 6,788 students in Catholic schools across the diocese.
This mirrors increasing Catholic school enrollment nationwide over the past two years.
According to data from the National Catholic Educational Association, much of that growth was due to the fact that during the COVID pandemic, while public schools remained closed and kept classes online, Catholic schools remained open and in-person.
While this explains some growth, it does not fully explain the current increase.
Through excellent academics, Catholic schools teach and lead students to truth and form them in virtue.
They are formed in faith through daily prayer, weekly Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, service projects, and the daily witness to the Gospel message by faculty and staff.
Through all of this, children grow in the knowledge that they are children of God, known and loved by Him who calls them to become the people He created them to be.
Could this mission and method of Christ-centered education be part of the reason Catholic schools are growing? In order to find out, we asked some parents.
“When it comes to our kids . . . we want them to grow spiritually every day. We don’t want them to stop when they get on the school bus and then start again when they get home. We want them surrounded by people who are letting them dive deeper and letting them grow spiritually in living out their Catholic faith around our kids every day.” — St. Joseph School, Sinsinawa
“With everything changing nowadays and everything that’s being taught in public schools that does not align
. . . with our beliefs . . . we just couldn’t keep them in public school. We love that our kids get to learn so much about our faith.” — St. John the Baptist School, Jefferson.
While many parents echoed appreciation for the education and faith, virtues, and morals that Catholic schools provide, other parents were impressed with the high academic standards and self-discipline that their children are learning.
According to one mother, “It’s impacted my children greatly. The staff is driven to make sure that they do their best academically.” — St. John the Baptist School, Waunakee.
Along with an appreciation for smaller class sizes, parents mentioned the incredible sense of community at Catholic schools.
One parent commented, “We found from our first visits that we were welcomed as family. We were not a number. We were people that they appreciated and wanted to have in their parish and school.” — St. Joseph School, Sinsinawa
When asked about the most important benefit of attending a Catholic school, another family responded, “Community. You’re not going to find a staff that is so committed to being involved in every aspect of your child’s life. There is a close tie-in between the school and the parish community. We received a lot of help and support from them as well. It all tied together very nicely.” — St. Joseph School, Fort Atkinson.
During Catholic Schools Week, we celebrate the incredible difference our Catholic schools make for our students, their families, and our communities.
I hope that you join us in celebrating with all the special events at each school during Catholic Schools Week, and if you’re not involved in a Catholic school, come check us out.
Now is a great time to be in a Catholic school!
Michael Lancaster is the superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Madison.