Jacksonville, Fla. – Since 1974, National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. This year the celebration is January 29 – February 4. The theme is “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.”
Schools typically observe the annual celebration week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members. Through these events, schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities and our nation.
In the Diocese of St. Augustine, we have much to celebrate:
- St. Joseph Academy in St. Augustine celebrates its 150th anniversary as the oldest Catholic High School in Florida.
- Bishop Kenny High School, Jacksonville celebrates their 65th anniversary
- Bishop John J. Snyder High School, Jacksonville celebrates their 10th anniversary
- Morning Star School broke ground on a new special education high school
- Guardian Catholic Schools broke ground for a new school combining the students of St. Pius V and Holy Rosary schools
- Three local teachers selected for special training at the University of Notre Dame’s Trustey Family STEM Teaching Fellows Program
“By equipping our young people with a sound education, rooted in the Gospel message of Jesus Christ, together with our rich faith traditions, we ensure that our students have the foundation to live morally and uprightly in our complex modern world,” said Deacon Scott Conway, superintendent of Catholic Schools.
“This unique Catholic identity makes our elementary and secondary schools ‘Schools for lifelong learners’ and helps them fill a critical role in the future life of our church, our country and our world,” he said.
Providing a Catholic education is not always easy financially – but for most families, the long-term benefits far outweigh the cost.
Today in Florida there are options for families who want a choice for their children but can’t afford the full tuition. The Florida School Choice Scholarship program (Step Up for Children) has been providing hope and opportunity to thousands of low-income students since 2001.
Since its inception, the Step Up for Students program, funded by corporate donations, has provided parents with choices for the best educational setting for their children. It is based on their needs and not their ability to pay.
The scholarships are used toward private or out-of-district public schools that can better address a child’s individual learning needs. Many of these children are among the lowest performing but improve greatly once they find the right school.
“Catholic schools were among the first nonpublic schools to embrace scholarship programs such as this one to extend opportunities to families which otherwise might be pushed to the margins of society,” said Michael Sheedy, executive director of the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Of the nearly 11,000 Catholic school students (Catholic and non-Catholic) in the diocese, about 12 to 15 percent receive financial assistance. This year, nearly 3,250 students received scholarships accounting for more than $5.5 million in tuition costs.
To learn more about Catholic schools and to find the right fit for your child, call (904) 262-0668 or visit www.dosafl.com and click on the “Find a School” icon on the home page.
By the Numbers
A snap-shot of Catholic Schools located in Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Johns, Middleburg, St. Augustine, Fernandina Beach, Gainesville, Palm Coast and Lake City.
- 6 Stand-alone preschools
- 24 Elementary schools including pre-kindergarten
- 4 Secondary schools
- 1 Special Education elementary school
- 1 Special Education high school
- 20 Schools participating in McKay Scholarship Program
- 27 Schools participating in Step Up for Students Program
- 24 Schools participating in VPK School Year Program
- 11 Schools participating in Personal Learning Scholarships Accounts
- 6 Schools participating in School Readiness