"It makes no small difference, then, whether we form habits of one kind or of another from our very youth; it makes a very great difference, or rather all the difference."
~ Aristotle

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton scores in the 73rd percentile nationally in academic achievement in English, mathematics, social studies, and science, and 41 percent of our students score within the highest 75-99 percentile range. Our students have gone on to prestigious high schools, universities, and professions and have won many awards and scholarships, including the Fulbright Scholarship and the Charlie Mary Noble Award in Physics & Astronomy. Last year, 12 of our students won in our regional science fair and advanced to the state competition, and five were nominated for nationals. 

Catholic education carries many benefits. First, Catholic schools impact students’ growth in character. As Plato and Aristotle tell us, one of our primary jobs as parents and as teachers is to cultivate the affections, to help children like what they should like and dislike what they should dislike. Studies show that Catholic school students show more self-discipline than their peers and are more likely to control their temper, respect others’ property, accept their fellow students’ ideas, and handle peer pressure well. Catholic school is a good environment to grow in character. In fact, one St. Elizabeth parent relayed that her newly enrolled child told her, “for the first time, I have a group of friends where I can be myself, and they support me in my faith.” 

Catholic schools also have a record of academic excellence that is unparalleled. Not only is raw academic achievement higher, but this remains true when controlling for socioeconomic factors. In fact, on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, Catholic school students outperform their peers in every subject, at every grade level, and in every test year. Ninety-nine percent of Catholic high school students graduate and 86 percent go on to college, both rates higher than those of their peers, and students from Catholic schools continue to outperform their peers in college, are more likely than their peers to graduate college, and are more likely to earn a STEM degree. As adults, they go on to earn higher wages than peers, and they are more civically engaged and more committed to service. Our own graduates have supported these trends by going on to fine universities, graduate schools, and professions. 

Most important are the benefits to children’s faith formation. Catholic school students have greater religious knowledge and are more orthodox than their peers. As adults, they are more likely to keep attending church, remain loyal to the Church’s moral teaching, discern a religious vocation, marry within the Catholic Church, and promote their own children dating and marrying fellow Catholics. Most importantly, research shows that Catholic school students are more likely than their Catholic peers to remain Catholic as adults. As Pope Pius XI said, “There can be no true education which is not wholly directed to man's last end.” Catholic school is a great way to keep the faith strong for generations in your family.