Why You Should Send Your Child To A Catholic School!

Notre Dame Catholic School gives many opportunities for children of all socio-economical backgrounds to be successful. We set high standards and give all children the support they need to be successful.

FACT SHEET: THE VALUE OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
National Catholic Educational Association 1/22/08
www.ncea.org

Academic excellence: Research on school effectiveness in the last 10 years has continued to focus on academic outcomes of students. The outcomes include standardized test scores, graduation rates, post-secondary aspirations, and college attendance. Catholic Schools, while they aspire to academic success, include among their primary objectives an understanding of the Catholic faith, a commitment to the practice of religion and a strong set of values. These goals, along with academic achievement, are the key components of the Catholic school’s effectiveness.
 
Catholic elementary and secondary school students, on average, out perform their public school counterparts. Catholic schools send a higher percentage of their students to college than do public schools and are more successful in preventing dropouts than are public schools. Catholic schools remain effective for minorities and disadvantaged youth as well.
 
In national and science achievement tests at both the elementary and secondary levels, Catholic school students outscored their public school counterparts; in all subjects, Catholic School students show greater academic achievement gains between tenth and twelfth grades than do public school students.  

Community service: Prayer and mission are at the heart of Catholic Schools. Community service is a priority. 94% of schools have service programs and the average number of service hours performed by students is 79. 

Commitment of Catholic schools to the development of the whole person is a fundamental one that corresponds to the core Catholic sensibility that we should be “finding God in all things.”
 
Satisfied teachers:  Catholic educators tend to enjoy high levels of job satisfaction. When teachers were asked to respond to the question, “if you could go back to college and start all over again, would you become a teacher or not?” More than 77% of Catholic school teachers responded yes, compared to 64% of public school teachers. Reasons for this job satisfaction include: a perception of doing meaningful work and professional growth and sense of service. With regard to satisfaction measures that are specifically related to Catholic schools, teachers point to the opportunity to work in a faith community as very important to job satisfaction. 

Catholic Schools and Minority Students. The percentage of minorities in all Catholic schools has more than doubled in the past 30 years. Reasons for this increase include a greater emphasis being placed on the needs for basic Christian values and religious instruction and the emergence of school choice. Catholic schools have a distinct climate: an atmosphere that encourages and supports the learning process among students of all types. This distinctive climate aids Catholic schools in providing a quality education for inner city and at-risk students, encouraging them to excel in academic pursuits and personal development. Consistent features of Catholic school climate include generally smaller enrollment; highly structured academic programs, devoted and loyal faculty, and the practice of regular religious experiences. Catholic schools attempt to promote complete intellectual, spiritual, athletic and social development of their students.

 Catholic schools provide a setting where each child is valued. The schools are pleasant, supportive, and respectful and expect success from minority students. Environments are safe and teachers enforce the need for students to be well prepared for the future.

 Catholic schools influence their students’ choices, which result in the more equitable distribution of course-taking among all social classes. Catholic school students take more advanced math courses and the schools influence their students to take more academically challenging and risky courses than do independent schools. They provide more equality and equitability in determining who completes advanced coursework.

 The academic success of poor minority students is attained with significantly smaller financial resources than those spent by public schools. Latino and African American students in Catholic schools are encouraged to assume more personal responsibility for their intellectual development. The overall philosophy is one that leads children to believe their intellectual abilities and to strive for academic excellence.

 Catholic school and selectivity. Catholic schools are not especially selective in admitting students, particularly with regard to academic ability. This finding works against the commonly held belief that Catholic schools are selective and therefore pick only the best students. In fact, they accept 88% of all students who apply.

Our Families Share Why They Chose a Catholic School:

 
We have been blessed to have our three children attend Notre Dame Catholic School for the past nineteen years. A Catholic education has always been a top priority for our family. Our children have received the best education possible at Notre Dame. The teachers, principal, and pastor are all very supportive of the families.

Notre Dame has high expectations in academic excellence, where the students are challenged and encouraged to succeed. They also have opportunities to participate in school masses and prayer services. It was always comforting for us to know that our children were in a safe, loving, and religious environment. Our children have benefited greatly from a Catholic education. They have their Catholic faith, with strong morals and values, to lead faith-filled lives. A Catholic education is an in investment in our child’s future. 

We have also enjoyed meeting all of the wonderful families here at Note Dame. It’s a place where you feel welcomed!

Kenneth & Deborah Girtin 

 
The greatest investment you can make is in your children, and Notre Dame is the best school to watch that investment flourish. Our son loves this school; every teacher has been his favorite! If you’re looking for a school that teaches strong Catholic values and challenges the students with rigorous academics, a place where the principal knows every child by name, then Notre Dame is the school for you.

     Frank and Joanie Gonzales

 
Why have I chosen a Catholic education for my children? I have pondered the thought many times; especially when I consider the tremendous sacrifice it takes to do so. When I think of how faith-filled my children are, with the presence of God in their hearts everyday, I know that it becomes a necessity and the sacrifice is well worth it. Our years at Notre Dame Catholic School have been wonderful. We started our journey in 1998 and the enrichment we have received, with all the diversity of cultures and families, are immeasurable. All my children have learned compassion, community service and are on the path to being well-rounded individuals and I know they will all be successful, contributing citizens. I have God to thank for all of it, because He helps me to make it all possible.

     Mary Mares

 
Our three children have attended Notre Dame Catholic School for 10 years now and we wouldn’t have it any other way. The faith formation they have received is something that just cannot be obtained at a public school or at any private school. The teachers are all committed to a Catholic education as well. Since Notre Dame is a relatively small school, compared with public schools, there is a real sense of community with like-minded parents all around us. We are very happy we chose a Catholic education for our children.

Chris and Shari Nearing