5 Clear Benefits of Catholic Schools for Your Daughter

In today’s rapidly changing society, parents have no shortage of options for their children’s education. Public schools, private schools, and religious schools all offer different educational experiences and opportunities to young people of various backgrounds and abilities.

In the past, a one-size-fits-all approach was the standard in education. However, we have come to understand that students learn differently and have their own unique needs within an educational environment. Additionally, we have learned about the importance of supporting the entire person – not just academically but also emotionally, spiritually, and in other areas.

Schools like St. Agnes Academy in Houston understand how to embrace traditional Catholic values to empower young women personally, academically, and professionally. Let’s review the benefits of Catholic schools and why enrolling your daughter at St. Agnes is a great choice.

Many parents choose to send their children to Catholic schools because they are dissatisfied with the education available in secular academic environments. As a result, it is currently estimated that almost 2 million students attend Catholic learning institutions in the United States.

Each of these 2 million students is unique and deserves individualized support throughout their academic journey. Modern Catholic high schools like St. Agnes Academy incorporate Catholic values into our course and extracurricular offerings to ensure each child receives direct support.

We are dedicated to providing a tailor-made academic experience to students from all walks of life. Many Catholic school students benefit substantially from this individualized, faith-centered approach to education. Now, let’s dive deeper into some of the major benefits of this educational approach for your Catholic family.

Historically, Catholic school students have been shown to obtain higher levels of academic excellence during their high school years. For example, Catholic students’ math test scores consistently show improvement between their sophomore and senior years. The data also indicates that Catholic school students are capable of higher academic achievement than their public school peers.

While many public schools demonstrate a substantial achievement gap between minority and non-minority students, Catholic schools consistently achieve much smaller discrepancies in overall student outcomes.

In fact, studies have shown that students with multiple disadvantages tend to benefit the most from a Catholic education, which means all Catholic school students have the ability and opportunity to thrive within their educational environment.

One direct measure of Catholic schools’ greater levels of academic achievement is Catholic schools’ higher graduation rates. 99% of Catholic school students graduate high school on time to pursue higher education.

Furthermore, research shows that African-American and Latino students are 42% more likely to graduate than their public school peers and are 2.5 times more likely to graduate from college. Overall, 86% of students who attended Catholic schools will go on to attend college and further their studies.

Catholic school students demonstrate higher levels of civic engagement post-graduation. For example, they are more likely to vote and commit themselves to public service.

Catholic school graduates also enjoy an increased lifetime earning potential, enabling them to give back to their communities substantially. Catholic school students are also overwhelmingly less likely to experience incarceration as adults.

In addition to demonstrating higher rates of civic participation, Catholic school students and their families are generally more engaged within their communities on even a pedestrian level.

The presence of a Catholic school within a community has been shown to increase social cohesion and has even been linked to lower neighborhood crime rates. Parents of inner-city Catholic school students tend to play a more active role in their children’s education and report that their children are more focused and engaged during their years in Catholic school.

One of the most stand-out benefits of a Catholic school education is the potential for students to develop a lifelong relationship with their faith. Catholic school students often retain their Catholic identities into adulthood and are active members of their faith communities.

Even so, Catholic school students generally are more tolerant of diverse viewpoints and capable of engaging civilly with members of other faith communities. Catholic school graduates typically attend church more regularly, pray daily, and donate more consistently to the Catholic Church.

If you have been searching for the right academic fit for your daughter, St. Agnes Academy offers a challenging, singular educational environment where young women can thrive in the classroom and beyond.