CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OF L.A. ARCHDIOCESE BEGIN SCHOOL YEAR WITH INCREASED ENROLLMENT AND ACADEMIC PERFORMACE GROWTH

August 17, 2022  |  By: newsroom  |  Press Releases  |  

Catholic elementary and high schools of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles begin the 2022-2023 school year with new students, academic growth, investment in teachers, principals, and students, and two new school networks as part of the ongoing efforts to ensure that Catholic schools continue providing students with the highest quality faith-based education.

“After two years of disruption and uncertainty, we are thrilled to start the 2022-23 school year with renewed optimism and hope. With a 4% growth in enrollment this past year and student academic gains, Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles are challenging the status quo in TK-12 education,” said Paul M. Escala, Senior Director and Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese.

After all schools returned to in-person instruction this past year, students throughout the Archdiocese have demonstrated growth in key subjects. During the 2021-2022 school year over 65% of kindergarten and first graders demonstrated proficiency in the early literacy national STAR assessment exam, 55% of ninth grade students demonstrated growth in math, and 54% in reading. In addition to a 4.2% growth in benchmark reading and 6.8% growth in benchmark math outcomes for second and eighth graders on the annual national STAR assessment exam.

Additionally, the Archdiocese’s Department of Catholic Schools has partnered with philanthropic organizations to secure funding to increase the compensation of teachers and principals in schools serving our highest need communities.

“The investment in our educators serving our highest need students is critical to achieving our promise to provide the highest quality Catholic education to all students, especially the poor and at-risk. Teaching and leading in a Catholic school is a gift and we must be competitive in a tight labor market to fulfill our promise to students and families,” Superintendent Escala said. “We will continue to advance initiatives to invest in our people and our students to ensure the conditions for learning and faith formation are achieved.”

The Catholic STEM and Dual Language Immersion school networks grew to seven and ten campuses, respectively, during the 2021-2022 school year. The schools include Holy Cross in Ventura, St. Louis of France STEM Academy in La Puente, and Sacred Heart Elementary School in Los Angeles.

With additional investments in academic programs, student financial aid, partnerships and campus modernization projects coming this year, the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles are well positioned to continue to grow and maximize the God-given potential of students.

Established in 1851, Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles are the largest provider of faith-based education in the nation, serving over 68,000 students PK-12. Statewide, Catholic schools save California more than $2 billion in educational funding each year. To learn more about Catholic Education visit lacatholicschools.org and follow instagram.com/catholicedla and facebook.com/catholicedla.

About the Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Under the spiritual leadership of Archbishop José H. Gomez, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is the largest in the United States, serving the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara, covering approximately 9,000 square miles in 120 cities. The nearly 5 million Catholics in the Archdiocese come from some 70 countries and from every continent. Weekly Masses are celebrated in 42 languages throughout 288 parishes, and more than 73,000 students attend an Archdiocesan Catholic elementary or high school. For the latest news, and events and to subscribe for media alerts, visit media.la-archdiocese.org.