Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Father Mark Bialek, pastor of St. John in Westminster, displays the Eucharist for children during class at St. John. (Courtesy St. John, Westminster)

Catholic education needed now more than ever


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Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: Commentary, Feature, Guest Commentary, Schools

By Father Mark Bialek, pastor of St. John Westminster, and Jesse Read, principal of St. John Westminster Catholic School

Next week (Nov. 13-19) we are celebrating Discover Catholic Schools Week, which is a time to spread the word about the substantial benefits and meaningful opportunities a Catholic education can deliver for students and their families.  

The importance of a child’s education cannot be overstated. It is a fact that learning – especially at an early age – is essential for cognitive and social growth, which ultimately lays the groundwork for a bright and prosperous future. Here’s another fact: Catholic education has proven time and time again that a curriculum that not only connects students with needed knowledge but also instills faith-based values and holds them to a higher standard better prepares them to overcome the countless obstacles they face during their time in the classroom and well after, truly giving them the best chance to lead a successful life.

St. John in Westminster third-grade students Layla Hasell, right, and Danny Hart are among those who benefit from small class sizes and STEM programs (Courtesy St. John, Wesminster)

The facts don’t lie. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Catholic schools across the country – including at St. John Catholic School in Westminster along with several others in the Archdiocese of Baltimore – saw a significant increase in enrollment. These administrations understood the urgent needs of students and quickly adapted to the unprecedented times by developing hybrid strategies that utilized both in-person and online learning, allowing them to continue to provide a quality education in a safe environment.

Just last month, we saw the results of these strategies. The National Assessment of Educational Progress released a report showing that Catholic school students performed at or near the top in reading and math compared to public and charter schools coming out of the pandemic. It is worth noting that the NAEP is considered the most consistent measure of U.S. student achievement over time and a lens into student success.

The truth is the report highlights what we knew well before COVID-19. In 2016, the National Catholic Educational Association reported that Catholic schools boast a 99% graduation rate, and of those, 86 percent attend a four-year college.

However, the benefits go beyond just grades and degrees. The Catholic morals that are taught from PreK through high school stress the importance of family, faithfulness, service, life, and prayer. Studies have shown an unstable home life can lead to an increased risk of poverty, violence, and economic hardships. 

And it is this sense of family that is woven in the fabric of the Catholic school experience. Catholic schools aren’t just made up of principals, teachers, and students, but embody an entire community that includes parents and parishes, sharing the same goal of educating our children while bringing them closer to the Lord.

St. John Catholic School in Westminster embraces this mindset and understands that education is more than a job but a higher calling. In fact, earlier this year, St. John was voted best private school in Carroll County. From small class sizes and state-of-the-art technology to our STEM program, we emphasize the importance of hands-on learning and faith formation while helping students realize the full potential of their God given abilities. 

We live in a very competitive world that is constantly evolving, and it is important now more than ever that we hold our students to a higher standard to meet these demands, especially in math, science, and technology. More times than not, they go beyond the status quo and exceed expectations.

We have made it our mission to raise our young disciples of today into the Catholic leaders of tomorrow. 

If interested in joining our St. John Catholic School family, open enrollment will be on Feb. 1. Go to sjwestschool.org to apply. For information on other Archdiocese of Baltimore schools, visit archbalt.com/schools.

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