Catholic High School Admissions

[blackforest]

This is a bit of a sticky topic, so bear with me.

Is a Catholic secondary education available to pretty much any high schooler who wants it? Or have all of the Catholic high schools gone the way of requiring high test scores, good greats, essays, letters of recommendation, acceptance letters, etc.? Is there still a place at these schools for students who aren’t seeking a “college prep” path but would rather go into the trades? Is there a place for average learners, or perhaps students who would just rather not pursue over-achievement?

My children aren’t teens yet. But as I explore their options for high school, I’m concerned that these schools have taken a turn that is - dare I say it? - elitist. This has certainly been the case with Catholic high schools in both my current and former town.

If I’m judging prematurely or sounding uncharitable, I apologize. I went to a Catholic high school, and there was a place for everybody. I took advanced placement courses, but there were plenty of students who preferred a different path and today work in the trades, small business ownership, etc.

I’m curious to hear from parents and Catholic educators. Is it just me? Or are Catholic high schools changing?

 

[Irishmom2]

Our local Catholic school accepts anyone that wants to enroll. It is a K-12 school. It is a small school, lacking in some things, but academically, it ranks highly. I am not sure how it would be different if someone were to decide on a trade afterward, they would still be required to take the same course load as those going to college, which, by the way, 98% of them choose. Hope that helps.

 

[1ke]

I think this is a question for your local Catholic school(s).

I would imagine this varies greatly. Some Catholic schools are specifically college prep, while others aren’t. Some may be competitive while others have open admission. Some places may have room for everyone, some may have to limit enrollment due to demand vs resources.

This is going to be a local answer. People here can give their own experiences but won’t really mean anything to your situation.

 

[JMMJ]

I went to Catholic high school over 40 years ago. There were several in the geographical area where I was raised, and they were all extremely elitist. I don’t think this is anything new. If your kids are not hoping to go on to a four-year, traditional college, they would probably be better off in the public school system. It will afford many more opportunities they likely won’t have in a Catholic high school.

 

[jlc2k2]

I don’t know if our local Catholic high schools accept people who aren’t on a college prep track. I would imagine they would. However, tuition costs exceed those of our local state college. Of course there are financial aid programs but we generally make too much to qualify on a need basis. So that would likely play a role in the culture of the school as well.

 

[TheLittleLady]

From my experience, Catholic High schools accept any student who is coming from a Catholic grade/middle school. If a High School is reaching their capacity to physically serve students, there might be more stringent acceptance policy for the child coming in from public schools.

The Catholic High Schools in our part of the area discourage trades, one that is a boarding school for boys encourages trades!

 

[IdaCatholic]

Even if it were free, I’d never send my kids to our local Catholic high school. And I went there.

 

[blackforest]

If I’m not opening too big of a can of worms, why is this?

I could gush on and on about my alma mater. But I keep hearing that Catholic high schools have changed.

I think this is a question for your local Catholic school(s).

I’m just feeling out national trends right now. I’m wondering if it’s the same everywhere. I already know that our local Catholic high school is very selective.

I am not sure how it would be different if someone were to decide on a trade afterward, they would still be required to take the same course load as those going to college, which, by the way, 98% of them choose.

Normally I’d be all over this. But this generation is facing a very different scene of tuition and fee over-inflation, with a subsequent questioning over whether college is/should be necessary for absolutely every trade or white-collar career.

One of my children wants to run a business, in which case an apprenticeship may be a more practical choice than a business degree. But a solid and well-rounded education should still be available to kids like this. There’s no harm in welders conjugating Latin verbs or plumbers quoting Shakespeare.

Another thought: I recently watched Race to Nowhere, a documentary about the exorbitant amount of pressure kids and teens are under and whether it’s even worth it. I’d hate to see Catholic schools become part of the machinery of impossible expectations.

 

[HumbleIOughtToBe]

If I’m judging prematurely or sounding uncharitable, I apologize.

Don’t apologize for the truth.

 

[jeannetherese]

In my area we have Catholic High Schools with programs for those with learning disabilities. All students are welcome. There are standard academic requirements with differing classes to support differing needs and abilities.
A.P. courses are available.
Students going into trades will have a solid foundation of math, reading, writing , communication skills to support their focus.
Best wishes your children as they seek ways to glorify God through their labor.
jt

 

[1Lord1Faith]

I’m concerned that these schools have taken a turn that is - dare I say it? - elitist.

I don’t think the ones in my area are becoming that way on purpose. That’s just what’s going to happen when their tuition goes up four fold in one generation. They’ve become unaffordable for most of the middle class, and have been that way for a while.

 

[Xantippe]

I don’t think the ones in my area are becoming that way on purpose. That’s just what’s going to happen when their tuition goes up four fold in one generation. They’ve become unaffordable for most of the middle class, and have been that way for a while.

Yeah, that is an issue. If it’s expensive (and running a high school is unavoidably expensive), then it may not feel “worth it” if the kid doesn’t need or want college prep.

 

[blackforest]

That and . . . I had another and more cynical thought. Most, (if not all), Catholic schools take federal funding and therefore have to meet the feds’ bureaucratic benchmarks. Unlike public schools, they can accept or reject applicants. This becomes convenient when it’s time to declare, “Look at our super high test scores!”

I consider test scores a really superficial measure of the depth and quality of an education. The romantic in me loves the idea of building a Catholic community through schools. But the realist in me is seeing the many obstacles to doing so.

 

[TC3033]

I am not sure how it would be different if someone were to decide on a trade afterward, they would still be required to take the same course load as those going to college, which, by the way, 98% of them choose. Hope that helps.

Here’s my anecdotal (name removed by moderator)ut:

From what I’ve seen/witnessed: Public schools (in my experience) tend to have more “trade” electives outside of the core required courses. Mechanical, Drafting, Apprenticeship, Carpentry are a few elective choices driven towards trades that I can think of from our HS which the Catholic HS 6 blocks away did not offer.

I was done with all but 1 required class by the end of my junior year. My senior year of HS was all electives and one required core English class (only offered to seniors or I would have been ready to graduate at the end of my junior year). If I had so desired, my entire senior year could have revolved around trade classes.

 

[Irishmom2]

I actually would have loved that, myself!

 

[tafan2]

You are correct, definitely a turn towards elitists. Now, around here there was traditionally a big difference between diocesan high schools and the schools run by religious orders. The latter have been pretty much college prep schools for the upper middle class and rich for quite some time. But in the past the diocesan high schools were a little better. Yea, they were still expensive, but a working class family could sacrifice and make it work. On top of that, they had AP and honors courses for the high achieving students and regular classes for others. If you went to one of the parish schools, you pretty much got accepted unless there was a history of behavior problems.
Now, after 20 years of so of tuition hikes doubling and tripling the rate of inflation, they also are out of the price range for most middle class families. On top of that, they started priding themselves on being selective of students. In short, they started thinking of themselves as private schools as opposed to catholic schools. Its a real shame.
Now, there is one bright spot. The Christo Rey schools that have started in various diocese do try to solve this problem. From what I can tell they are helping. When my oldest kids would graduate from the 8th grade at our local parish school, 80 percent of the kids went to the diocesan high school. It got down to probably 25% over the period of 20 years. The rest going to public schools. But the opening of the Christo Rey high school really made a difference and now problaby 50% go to either the Christo Rey or the diocesan high school.