Faith Forward: An Inspiring Future for Catholic Schools

Reversing a decades-long downward trend, Catholic schools in the New Orleans area have experienced stable enrollment, with some seeing significant growth.

To find out what contributed to this upward trend and to be proactive instead of reactive in the decision-making process and future planning for area Catholic schools, the archdiocesan Department of Catholic Education and Faith Formation (DCEFF) formed the FaithForward: Catholic School Innovation and Transformation Committee to look at enrollment fluctuations and trends in local Catholic schools.

“A few years ago, we hired consultants to train us in the process of discerning enrollment fluctuations in our schools,” said Dr. RaeNell Houston, executive director and superintendent of Catholic education and faith formation. “The current committee was born from the initial consultant meetings and is part of the reorganization process in the archdiocese. We are looking at national trends, root causes that have contributed to enrollment (both decline and growth), governance models in other school systems, affordability, tuition rates, changing demographics, population shifts in the archdiocese, urban versus rural schools, disconnect between Catholic faith and discipleship, competition from charter and public schools, operational vitality and any other factors that contribute to enrollment fluctuations.”

Initial research by the committee has found the top 10 root causes of Catholic school enrollment decline are rising tuition costs/affordability crisis, changing demographics in Catholic populations, lack of clear value proposition (differentiating themselves from other schools), disconnect between Catholic faith and discipleship, governance models that limit effective leadership, lack of diversity and under-served communities, increased secularization and cultural shifts, competition from free charter and public schools, operation vitality is uneven and school closures create the perception of instability.

The committee will continue to meet throughout the academic year to gather information and create a clear and compelling vision and model for school system-wide growth and transformation. According to Houston, the committee plans to reframe the way Catholic education operates and governs in the archdiocese.  

“This is going to be an ongoing assessment of the Catholic school system. We will look at enrollment, financial data, operations, etc. through a new lens and perspective,” she said. “We are going to keep meeting until the work is done, and we can present our findings and ideas to the various councils and Archbishop Aymond.”

Committee members include Houston; Father Daniel Green, chaplain St. Mary’s Academy; Father Charles Benoit, vicar for parish pastoral planning; Father Pat Williams, vicar general; Dr. Mark Williams, superintendent Houma/ Thibodaux diocese; Paul Breaux, consultant; Connie Dantagnan, principal, Archbishop Chapelle High School;  Ingrid Fields, associate superintendent of network schools; David Gallo, archdiocese finance council; Cory Howat, executive director Catholic Community Foundation; Adrian Jackson, director archdiocese CYO; Rosie Kendrick, principal St. Stephen School; Michael Kraus, St. Peter School, Covington; Sarah McDonald, archdiocese director of communications and Martha Mundine, deputy superintendent of Catholic schools. 

Houston recognizes that the committee has a lot of work ahead of them and is excited at the prospect of taking these steps to be proactive, innovative, strategic and intentional about how decisions are being made about schools in the archdiocese.

"If  we don’t evolve and grow, we aren’t going to exist anymore. We can’t keep doing things the way we have always done them, we need to meet the needs of the community - our goal is to protect and preserve Catholic education for generations to come,” Houston added. 

“We have to keep an open mind and heart while we analyze all of the possibilities at our disposal to transform our Catholic education system utilizing innovative strategies that accommodate the needs of our students and families.”

To learn more about Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New Orleans visit https://nolacatholicschools.org and follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @nolacatholicschools.