How a Catholic Education Can Empower Your Child

Most parents are aware that a private education is beneficial for their child, and these beliefs are often based on the smaller teacher-to-student ratio and a greater emphasis on academics. A Catholic education reaches beyond those statistics to truly empower your child with greater skills inside the classroom as well as after graduation. Read the information below to learn how Polk County Catholic schools are a better choice for your child’s short-term and long-term education goals.Public schools teach math, science, reading, and social studies without much emphasis on character development. A Catholic education often consists of an integrated curriculum beginning with Mass in the morning followed by academics, combined with moral virtues and lessons.By stimulating a love of learning into each subject, students are able to grasp the material more readily and develop a lifelong desire to learn. This correlates with higher graduation rates. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops report, Catholic school graduation rates are 99%, far exceeding public school graduation rates, and there is a higher propensity for students, not only to enroll in a college or university (85% compared to 62.5% of public school graduates), but also to graduate with a bachelor’s degree or better (61.9% compared to 31.1%).The Catholic philosophy of developing the mind, body, and soul is evident in the abundance of activities other than standard academics. Students participate in a wide variety of sports, art, music, clubs and organizations, yearbook and newspapers, and service projects throughout the community. All of these activities contain evidence of the Catholic faith and show students how God can work through them and others.Catholic schools tend to be a community with students and teachers more likely to rely and depend on one another. This community environment leads to greater levels of teacher commitment as well as student engagement. When students are more engaged in their learning, test scores improve. Likewise, when students believe they are an important factor in their school community, attendance rates escalate.Graduates of Catholic schools are better prepared to be productive citizens in their communities. Catholic graduates are more likely to vote, give to charities, and are more tolerant of beliefs that differ from their own.The guidance from Catholic school teachers and administrators empowers students at every turn. When students understand God’s guidance, they are more likely to have faith in themselves. This faith spills over from the classroom into daily activities to help Catholic students recognize they can make a difference in the lives of others. Give your child the advantage of a Polk County Catholic school education by calling 407-248-4800.