During the second week of November and the last week of January, Catholic schools around the country celebrate Catholic Schools Week. This week-long celebration sheds light on the unique advantages a Catholic education offers. So, what makes the Catholic School Difference?

Students explore their faith through Scripture, Sacraments, Church, and morality. As a faith community, archdiocesan Catholic schools emphasize the values of service and charity. These values encourage students to accept others, understand the difference between right and wrong, and commit themselves to serve God by serving others.

One evening a year, Saint Joseph High School partners with Covenant House, a not-for-profit that works to alleviate homelessness, to raise money for homeless teens. The students, after gathering sponsorships, spend a school night outside in a cardboard box. The act of service raises money for Covenant House, but also shows the students that acts of service bring you closer to God.

Archdiocesan Catholic schools stress the values of self-discipline and commitment. Faculty and staff are role models who share their faith, their talents, and their time.

While not all students who come to Catholic Schools are Catholic, all share experiences of faith and values. Catholic Schools encourage each student to accept the challenges of being a Christian in tomorrow’s world.

Values that promote understanding and service to the elderly and the handicapped, the poor, and the ill, are an important part of the Catholic School experience. As a faith community, Catholic schools emphasize values that encourage students to be inclusive.

Relationships with God and the community

According to the National Catholic Education Association report (NCEA), “Data Brief: New Students in Catholic Schools:” 95% of parents said their child had a good or excellent academic experience at a Catholic school, 86% had good or excellent social experience and 94% had a good or excellent faith experience. Ninety percent of the parents also said the communication they received from teachers was good or excellent.

The Archdiocese’s Office of School’s philosophy is that “a Catholic School recognizes the parents and family as primary educators and joins with them to form a living community of shared visions.” Catholic Schools encourage family input and involvement in the ongoing education of their children.

According to a National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report card, Students in Catholic schools discuss their experiences at school with family members more than any other group of students. Catholic Schools encourage family input and involvement in the ongoing education of their children.

Research from the National Dropout Prevention Center shows that such a partnership results in higher attendance rates and lower dropout rates. Catholic Schools strive to create a strong bond among students, home, school, and church so that all share a powerful sense of community.

Recently, students in the Art Club and Environmental Club at Lacordaire Academy in Montclair teamed up to join a scarecrow contest. After winning first prize for their scarecrow created all of recycled materials, they donated the prize funds — $500 — to their favorite charity, the Ocean Conservancy.

Family involvement 

Focus on school safety, character development, and academic rigor

For families of all backgrounds, according to the NCEA, a safe learning environment, strong character development, and a rigorous academic curriculum were the most crucial factors when choosing to enroll in a Catholic school.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Catholic schools across the nation prioritized returning to in-person instruction for the benefit of the students.

Academic excellence is a top priority in Catholic schools, and the data backs this up. According to the NAEP’s Spring/Summer 2018 report card, “A significantly larger percentage of students in Catholic schools scored at or above Proficient than students in public schools in mathematics and reading at grades 4 and 8.”

Caring and effective faculty and staff

Although parents chose Catholic schools due to the academic programming and character development, according to the NCEA, 46% of parents nationally highlighted the “caring and effective” faculty and staff as the best part of the school.

The Archdiocese of Newark takes pride in our excellent faculty and staff. Over the summer, Seton Hall Prep history teacher Julie Wester was chosen as the New Jersey Non-Public School 2022 Teacher of the Year. Julie becomes the fourth archdiocesan educator to receive this prestigious award since 2005.

Diverse and welcoming environment

Our Catholic schools celebrate diversity. A Catholic school is a tight-knit community where there is a place for everyone, regardless of income, ethnicity, religion, or race. Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Newark are proud to enroll a diverse group of students.

According to the Office of Schools’ most recent data, Catholic elementary schools within the Archdiocese educate a diverse group of students. the enrollment breakdown includes 58% Caucasian, 16% African American, 12% Asian, and 14% other groups or multiracial. 23.6% of the student population overall is Latino. For archdiocesan Catholic high schools, the enrollment breakdown includes 59% Caucasian, 19% African American, 9% Asian, and 13% other groups or multiracial. (17.3% of our student population overall is Latino.