Catholic Schools, Diversity and Equity in

Context of Diversity in Catholic Schools

Catholic schools in the United States were established to serve the Catholic immigrant population from Europe in the late 19th century. Catholic immigrants sought refuge in Catholic schools from the religious intolerance they experienced in public schools. Changes in immigration laws in 1965 allowed an increasing number of non-European immigrants to come to the United States. As communities became more ethnically diverse, so did Catholic schools. In the late 1980s and 1990s, educators in Catholic schools began to recognize that diversity in Catholic schools had to go beyond ethnic diversity. The Catholic school community acknowledged that in order to provide a culturally relevant education, diversity in gender, religion, socioeconomic status, and learning abilities had to be incorporated into the learning and teaching process. The Catholic school system educates diverse students in the largest urban centers of the United States, such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Catholic school diversity changed dramatically between 1920 and 2010. Data from the National Catholic Educational Association reveal that enrollment in Catholic schools peaked in the 1960s. In that period, there were about 13,000 Catholic schools in the United States with a combined enrollment of approximately 5.5 million students. Enrollment in Catholic schools has steadily declined since the 1970s. It is important to note that major reforms in the Catholic Church happened in the late 1960s and early 1970s with the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II). By 2010, there were only 7,000 Catholic schools across the United States with a combined enrollment of 2.1 million students.

The decrease in enrollment in Catholic schools did not, however, mean a decrease in diversity. In 1970, about 3% of Catholic school students were non-Catholic. By 2010, non-Catholics made up 15% of the student population. Ethnic minority student enrollment jumped from 10% to 30% during the same time period. The largest ethnic groups enrolled in Catholic schools are students who have roots in Latin America, although Catholic schools enroll a sizeable population of African Americans and Asian Americans.

Catholic social teachings recognize diversity as a gift. However, educators have been challenged to find ways to educate all children in an equitable manner. The diversity in student population is not always mirrored in the diversity of the staff of Catholic schools. Thus, challenges arise in the development of more culturally inclusive curriculum, acknowledging religious diversity while still maintaining a Catholic identity, and providing students with different learning abilities to access the curriculum. While Catholic schools have a legacy of providing women access to high-quality education, they have also struggled with addressing other diversity issues, especially sexual orientation. Many Catholic educators have a difficult time reconciling the perceived contradiction between the teachings of the Church and the need to serve students who are either questioning their sexual orientation or perceived to be gay or lesbian. Despite these challenges, Catholic Church teachings serve as a foundation for promoting equity in diverse Catholic schools.

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