Mater Dei Catholic School – Why it matters
This article is adapted from one that appeared on the Gulf Coast Catholic website
Over 13,000 students are enrolled in 46 Catholic schools and early childhood centers in the Diocese of Saint Petersburg. These schools, located in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus counties, rank as the 39th largest diocese (out of 196) for Catholic school enrollment in the United States. While Catholic school enrollment nationwide has declined by 13.2% over the past decade, our diocese has grown by 7.7%. Many of our schools now have waitlists at one or more grade levels.
Schools in the Diocese of St. Petersburg consistently score above the national average on the TerraNova, a nationally norm-referenced standardized assessment. By the time students are in the eighth grade, their grade equivalent scores are about three years above grade level on average in English, language arts, and mathematics. Nationally, the story is the same. According to the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Catholic school students outperform their peers across all categories. If Catholic schools were a state, they would rank first in the nation in both math and reading for grades four and eight. These outcomes hold true even among low-income students, who perform far better in Catholic schools than in their assigned public schools.
“As we begin this new school year, we celebrate the growth, excellence, and faith that define our Catholic schools. Rooted in our Catholic faith, we will continue forming students to live as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ,” said Chris Pastura, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Diocese of St. Petersburg.
