Teacher Michele Leider watches as a student in her 3- to 6-year-old Montessori class plays an African instrument on Sept. 24 at the Cardinal Bernardin Early Childhood Center, 1651 West Diversey Parkway. The early childhood center is a regional archdiocesan school and a ministry of the archdiocese that educates infants, toddlers and children up to 9 years old through Montessori methods. Catholic Schools in the archdiocese saw an increase in enrollment in large part through its early childhood programs like that at Cardinal Bernardin.(Karen Callaway / Catholic New World)
Catholic elementary school enrollment in the City of Chicago grew for the third consecutive year, according to recent results of an annual Office of Catholic Schools survey. A total increase of 675 students in the past three years represents the first positive movement in Chicago’s Catholic school enrollment since 1965. Additionally, Catholic school student enrollment in many areas in suburban Cook and Lake counties is stabilizing. For the third consecutive year, more than half of the 212 elementary schools in the archdiocese have a stable or growing student population. This upward trend is happening at the preschool, kindergarten and first grade levels, which have grown a combined 10 percent from three years ago for an increase of 1,350 students. “The extraordinary work and enthusiasm on the part of parents, administrators, lay boards, volunteers and pastors, have driven the enrollment in our schools,” notes Dominican Sister M. Paul McCaughey, superintendent of Catholic Schools. “And having donors — Big Shoulders and others — make aid available has given more access to families as well.” “As the largest diocesan school system in the nation, our goal remains more students in great Catholic schools, doing what we do best in service to families and the future of our world and church,” said Sister M. Paul. She encouraged a look at the Annual Report and Summary results, including system test scores, posted on the Catholic Schools website under “News.” More than 85,000 students who attend Catholic schools in the archdiocese and their 6,000 teachers put out the welcome mat at their 212 elementary and 38 high schools during Catholic Schools Week Jan. 27-Feb. 4. This year’s theme, Catholic Schools: Raise the Standards, was reflected in open houses and other events throughout the week. Parents or guardians seeking information about these events and Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago are encouraged to visit schools.archchicago.org.