The Promise of Catholic Schools for Educating the Future of Los Angeles (original) (raw)
2010, Journal of Catholic Education
This study examined the impact of Catholic education on elementary and secondary students in Los Angeles. The study focused on the continuation and graduation rates of ethnic minority students who received special funding from the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF). Using qualitative and quantitative measures, the study revealed that students from ethnic minority and low-income communities enrolled in Catholic schools are graduating from secondary schools at a higher rate than their peers who are enrolled in public schools. Furthermore, survey data were collected from principals and parents of these students enrolled in Catholic schools. The study shows that a Catholic education has a major impact on the lives of these students, their parents, and their communities. E ver since the 1983 publication of A Nation at Risk from the National Commission on Excellence in Education, educators have been concerned about the quality of our schools. Particular concern has focused on the school experience of ethnic minorities and students from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds who do not succeed at school in alarming numbers. In large urban areas such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, there is special concern because these major regions are majority ethnic minority and the future viability of our major cities depends on the ability of Latino, African American, and low SES students to receive a quality education. Without such an education, the future generation of our major cities will not be prepared to function as part of an educated citizenry or in the workforce. Thus, during the past 30 years there have been numerous reform efforts in public and private education focused on closing the achievement gap and documenting best practices in urban education. Some of these efforts have focused on the unique ability of Catholic schools to provide a quality education for ethnic minorities and students from low SES backgrounds, often at much less cost than public schools.
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