Excellence You Can Believe In
Our faith in Jesus Christ is the reason our schools exist. Therefore, both spiritual and academic experiences in Catholic schools enable students to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ, broaden their knowledge of their faith and connect their faith to their daily lives. The foundation of faith around which we build our academic programs permeates every aspect of the school day and continues beyond it. This faith-filled environment instills high degrees of self-confidence, self-respect and self-discipline among students.
Ultimately, a Catholic education should prepare students to be good stewards of God’s gifts and active people of faith who serve others, make a difference in the world, and participate in their faith and civic communities.
This spiritual mission is carried out in many ways—regular school liturgies, prayer experiences, sacramental preparation, retreats, classroom instruction, service learning and extracurricular activities. And this mission is supported by educators who are committed to fulfilling the teaching mission of Jesus Christ and who offer spiritual guidance in a faith-based environment.
We are committed to continuous improvement in this critical mission of our schools. One of the tools that we use to measure the impact of religious education is the Assessment of Catholic Religious Education (ACRE), a nationally-normed questionnaire that is administered annually to students in grades 5, 8 and 11. ACRE measures students’ knowledge about their faith and offers opportunities for students to answer questions related to religious beliefs, practices and perceptions. For more information about religious education curriculum guidelines, please visit www.archlou.org/schools.
Visit any Catholic school and you will notice the spirit of camaraderie among students, teachers and administrators. A Catholic school is a “community within a community” that unites people who share common values and goals.
Within this supportive environment, your child has the opportunity to grow in many ways. A wide variety of extracurricular activities—from academic and social clubs to intramural sports and performing arts—allows students to explore and express their individual gifts and abilities. This atmosphere is supported by teachers who serve as role models, coaches and counselors and who spend many hours outside of school helping with activities, leading retreats, and assisting students with their academic, personal and spiritual growth.
Parents are an important part of this community, and parental leadership and involvement is supported and welcomed in Catholic schools. Parents become an integral part of the school community as they assist with spiritual, academic, athletic and creative initiatives and as they get to know their children’s teachers, peers and other parents.
Catholic schools welcome students from a variety of ethnic, religious and social backgrounds, and programs are based upon a shared sense of respect for the contributions of every student. Nine percent of students who attend Catholic schools are from other faith traditions.
As students mature within the supportive environment of Catholic schools, they are challenged to take that gift of fellowship and give back to the broader community. Students visit the elderly in nursing homes, bring Christmas presents to poverty-stricken areas, build Habit for Humanity houses and raise money for a variety of issues. They visit civic and governmental institutions to learn about systems, how to be good citizens and how to advocate for their beliefs. Last year, students in our Catholic high schools performed more than 200,000 hours of community service.
Catholic schools also offer many programs in which students are encouraged to develop leadership skills and civic responsibility, including service learning programs, pro-life organizations, environmental clubs, student government, mock legislative clubs and parish youth ministry programs. Dozens of Catholic school students are honored each year for unique contributions that they have made to their neighborhoods and communities.
Students emerge from Catholic schools with a strong liberal arts education that is supported by technology and focused on the skills needed for today and tomorrow. Students learn decision-making skills, develop high levels of literacy in language arts and mathematics, apply inquiry-based experimentation and problem solving, and build understanding and appreciation for world history and cultures. They also participate in award-winning visual and performing arts programs, build lifelong habits of fitness, and engage in a variety of high-quality electives and extracurricular activities.
The programs in our school exceed state requirements and are measured through regular testing. These tests show that Catholic school students in the Archdiocese of Louisville score significantly better than state and national averages.
Catholic schools provide a bridge to other life experiences and opportunities. Graduates of Catholic schools are well prepared for college and life, and up to 98% of seniors typically pursue post-secondary education. The class of 2009 earned more than $87 million in scholarships and KEES grants.
Several Catholic schools have been recognized as Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence. This award represents the highest national honor presented to quality schools by the U.S. Department of Education. In addition, a number of schools have won awards for technology innovation, teaching excellence and the arts.
The professionals who teach your children are well-prepared to provide a rigorous and comprehensive education. Catholic school teachers are certified, and three out of four have advanced degrees. In addition, teachers regularly participate in continuing education opportunities to keep current with innovations in education and religious instruction.
2009 Results in Archdiocese of Louisville Catholic Schools
| Reading |
63 |
Reading |
61 |
Reading |
63 |
| Math |
65 |
Math |
59 |
Math |
64 |
| Language |
65 |
Language |
61 |
Language |
66 |
Secondary Achievements and Class of 2009 Report Card
| • |
98% of graduates pursuing college/post-secondary training |
| • |
25 National Merit Semi-Finalists |
| • |
23 National Merit Finalists |
| • |
39 National Merit Commended Scholars |
| • |
66 Governor’s Scholars |
| • |
18 Governor’s School for the Arts |
| • |
Average ACT Score: 23.7 |
| • |
Average SAT Score: 1164 |
| • |
High School Hours of Community Service: 204,626 |
| • |
College scholarships/KEES Awards valued at $87.8 Million |
In his address to educators in the United States, Pope Benedict XVI reminded his audience that education is the heart of the Church and is critical to the Church’s mission to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.
Every day, children and youth in our schools have the opportunity to learn about the person of Jesus Christ, who is the source of our hope and salvation. They are invited to know Jesus personally, to love Him intimately and to serve Him wholeheartedly. This “good news” is the reason our schools exist.
The Archdiocese 
