Catholic School Week is an annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. Sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association, schools observe the week with Masses, open houses, and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members. The celebration is held each year in late January.
In honor of Catholic School Week, we looked at reasons why parents choose a Catholic school education.
Here are 5 common reasons why parents choose a Catholic school education for their children.
1. Parents believe that their child’s teachers should serve as moral role models. The CARA Institute at Georgetown University confirmed that “strong moral values” is the top reason parents choose to send their child to a Catholic school. Many of the parents who choose a Catholic school education want their child’s education at school to be an extension of what they are being taught at home. They are looking for influences on their child that mirror their religious beliefs and moral choices.
Monterey parent Angela Savage chose a Catholic school education at Santa Catalina for her young daughter for several reasons including safety concerns and a desire to have a school that focuses on the entire child. Happy with her decision, Angela states that “the consistent religious instruction and activities helped my daughter’s faith develop even in demanding situations.”
2. Daily exposure to the Catholic faith is important to developing a strong religious foundation. Daily lessons in the Catholic faith create a strong foundation for children. Graduates of Catholic high schools are statistically more likely to continue church involvement as an adult. According to Our Greatest and Best Inheritance: Catholic Schools and Parental Choice (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) “Catholic school students are more likely to pray daily, attend church more often, retain a Catholic identify as an adult and donate more to the Church.”