Why Catholic Education

At Lourdes, we serve our community as a school and parish inspired and guided by the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy. Our successful applicants have an affinity for diversity and seek to learn from and celebrate with others, care for others, and are loved for who they are.

Through intellectual rigor, Catholic school graduates in the long-term have higher critical thinking and analysis skills, thoughtful evaluation, and are more prepared for college than the average student. More importantly, they have a deeper faith and stronger moral base than students from other environments.

In the shorter term, students of Catholic schools score higher on achievement tests, tend to take more AP classes, and are more likely to be engaged in community service. Parents report trusting their Catholic schools more than other schools and that the teachers care more about their students. {Source: Quentin Wodon, World Bank}

The National Assessment of Educational Progress shows that Catholic School students are “academically exceptional” and outpace the education and knowledge of public school students. Of more importance, NAEP reports that a higher percentage of Catholic school students think positively about their education. Furthermore, NAEP data shows that if Catholic Schools were a state, they would rank at the top in both math and reading.

Research from Harvard, Georgetown, and Penn indicate that Catholic school students have higher levels of civic engagement and knowledge, and are more politically tolerant and supportive of civil liberties.

Catholic schools are not bound by state SOL standards, leaving the teachers freer to teach in a way that energizes and inspires students and not only meets but often exceeds the rigor mandated by the state.