Editorial

Why do Catholic schools succeed?

Every independent research study on the effectiveness of Catholic education in the United States has shown conclusively that Catholic schools make a difference in the lives of students and families, the Church, and society as a whole. Catholic schools are a recognized success, especially in their mission to transform the lives of individuals and communities.

Many of the Catholic schools in central and southern Indiana are thriving. This is the result of several factors, including strong support from parish school commissions, parishes and the archdiocese, the excellent education provided by teachers and staff, parents who are willing to make sacrifices for their children, elected officials and donors who recognize the importance of Catholic schools. Together, these individuals and organizations are making a real difference.

Another key is the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program—also known as the “voucher” or “choice” program—where state funds help make Catholic schools a reachable reality for nearly all families.

Unfortunately, since the 1970s, Catholic school enrollment has declined nationwide. There are hopeful signs (post-pandemic) of an increase in enrollment—especially at the preschool and kindergarten levels—but the decades-long decline has taken a toll on parishes, dioceses and religious communities that sponsor Catholic schools. What is the root cause of this problem. How can it be solved?

Those who have made “growing Catholic schools” their life’s work offer the following insights:

• When sponsoring organizations begin to view their schools as burdens rather than blessings, they are less likely to seek creative solutions to the challenges facing Catholic education today.
• When parents believe that there is no way they can afford to send their children to Catholic schools, they give up. Fortunately, the opposite is also true.
• When schools are recognized as the blessing they are, and when parents see that they can afford a Catholic education, miracles of hope and transformation happen.

What constitutes a school’s Catholic identity? What are the essential elements of a transformational Catholic education?

A Catholic school must witness in a public way to the person of Jesus Christ and to his message of evangelization.

Catholic schools exist to proclaim the Gospel. Everything in the school—its curriculum, its liturgies and retreats, its sports activities, and its service programs—should provide students (also staff and families) with opportunities to encounter the person of Jesus Christ, to become his disciples and to proclaim to the whole world our salvation in him.

The most important element in a school’s Catholic identity is its commitment to make Christ present to everyone who attends the school or who comes into contact with it.

Secondly, a Catholic school must teach the Catholic faith (catechesis). The mystery of God, as revealed to us by the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, is the primary content of a Catholic education. Everything else that is taught—as part of a genuine commitment to educational excellence—is an elaboration on the wonders of God’s creation and the history of our salvation.

All of the academic disciplines reveal in partial and preliminary ways the working of the Holy Spirit in our world from the beginning of time. The more we learn about math and science, diverse languages and cultures, and the ups and downs of world history and the history of our local communities, the more we discover that the teachings of our Church, as contained in Scripture and in our Catholic tradition, represent the truth, the way things really are. Outstanding Catholic schools are vibrant learning environments that promote curiosity and an openness to new ways of living and learning.

Finally, in order to be truly Catholic, a school must teach its students and all members of the school community to reach out to others and accept responsibility for the well-being of all God’s creation (social justice). Catholic schools do not exist for their own sakes. They exist for the good of their students and the communities they serve.

Frequently, a Catholic school is an “anchor” in its neighborhood, a source of stability and moral integrity. A school that is truly Catholic serves its neighborhood and community because of its recognition that we cannot love God as we should unless we also love our neighbor. Social justice is a constitutive element of the Gospel. That means it must also be a constitutive element of the curriculum and the daily life of every Catholic school.

With the help of God’s grace, may all our Catholic schools in the archdiocese continue to transform hearts and lives.

—Daniel Conway