Trending upward: Enrollment in local Catholic schools continues to climb

Catholic schools throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore will see a lot of new faces in the new academic year that kicks off Aug. 29.

Total enrollment is expected to reach nearly 25,000 in archdiocesan and independent Catholic schools – an increase of approximately 530 students from the previous academic year. The latest uptick in enrollment comes on the heels of an 8 percent increase for the 2021-22 academic year.

Dr. Donna Hargens, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, attributed the increased demand to high academic standards offered in Catholic schools and a focus on the “whole student” that helps young people “reach their full potential spiritually, intellectually, physically, socially and morally.”

Catholic schools offer an environment that is “respectful and Christ-centered,” she said, while encouraging “strong partnerships” with families.

Hargens said the archdiocesan response to the coronavirus pandemic made more people aware of Catholic schools. Following an initial period of remote-only learning early in the pandemic, archdiocesan schools transitioned to a hybrid model of remote and in-person learning before returning to all in-person learning at a time when some other school systems did not.

“We know that (in-person learning) is the best educational environment for students,” Hargens said, “and we know that parents wanted it. We appreciated our educators who stepped up to provide that learning experience for our students. That gave people the opportunity to access Catholic education and then to stay with us because they experienced it.”

Archdiocesan pre-k through eighth grade schools project an enrollment of about 14,000, up from last year’s 13,678. Together with enrollment from private Catholic schools, the Catholic educational system in the Archdiocese of Baltimore makes up the 11th-largest school system in Maryland.

The increased enrollment has put some pressure on Catholic schools to add more teachers, with more than 100 openings reported in mid-August. The archdiocese was aggressively recruiting additional teachers through a variety of media campaigns.

“We really encourage people to spread the word and to let people know they can visit archbalt.jobs.net to view open positions,” Hargens said. “Everyone I talk to who serves in the Archdiocese of Baltimore really believes they’ve been called by name to serve in the Catholic schools in the archdiocese. We know there are more people out there who need to know there are opportunities available and to answer that call.”

The theme for the new school year is “One Body in Christ.” Maria Rubio-Pino, a student at Resurrection-St. Paul School in Ellicott City won a logo design competition in the spring that highlights the theme.

Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org

Click play below to listen to a Catholic Review Radio interview with Dr. Hargens.

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