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    •  Catholic School Data

    United States Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools
    2010-2011
    The Annual Statistical Report on Schools, Enrollment and Staffing
     
    Online Synopsis  (full report available)
     
    Dale McDonald, PBVM, Ph.D.
    Margaret M. Schultz
     
    Executive Summary
    This annual report presents national data on Catholic elementary and secondary schools. Enrollment patterns, regional geographic trends, types and locations of schools, student and staffing demographic characteristics and student participation in selected education programs are reported. Where data permit, the exhibits compare information across the last decade as well as the past five years.
     
     
     
    Highlights
     
    Enrollment:
    •      Total Catholic school student enrollment for the current academic year is 2,065,872.
                            1,467,694 elementary/middle school; 598,178 secondary school
    •      Minority student enrollment is 624,878 which is 30.2% of the total enrollment.
    •      Non-Catholic enrollment is 307,458 which is 14.9% of the total enrollment.
     
    Schools:
    •      There are 6,980 Catholic schools: 5,774 elementary; 1,206 secondary.
    •      34 new schools opened; 172 consolidated or closed.
    •      1,822 schools have a waiting list for admission.
     
    The student/teacher ratio is 13.6:1
     
    Professional Staff:
    Full-time equivalent professional staff numbered 151,473: 
           96.3%: Laity                      (Lay women: 73.9% Lay men: 22.4%)
            3.7%: Religious/Clergy    (Sisters: 2.5%; Brothers: 0.5%; Clergy: 0.7%)
     
     
     Schools
    Regional Distribution
    Exhibit 9 presents the number of schools within each of the regions with the percentages of the distribution. Almost half of all the schools (47.6%) are located within the Mideast and Great Lakes regions.
     
     EXHIBIT 9
    Regional Distribution of Catholic Schools

                                                                              2000-2001                2005-2006                        2010-2011

     

    Totals of all Schools
    Number
    %
    Number
    %
    Number
    %
    New England
    546
    6.7
    495
    6.5
    427
    6.1
    Mideast
    2,185
    26.8
    1,976
    26.0
    1,668
    23.9
    Great Lakes
    2,030
    24.9
    1,817
    23.9
    1,656
    23.7
    Plains
    931
    11.4
    884
    11.6
    841
    12.0
    Southeast
    1,005
    12.3
    972
    12.8
    969
    13.9
    West/Far West
    1,449
    17.8
    1,445
    19.0
    1,419
    20.3
    United States
    8,146
    100.0
    7,589
    100.0
    6,980
    100.0

     

    Location of Schools
    Although there has been a significant decrease in the total number of Catholic schools during the past four decades, the church has not lost sight of its commitment to educate children, particularly those of the poor, within the inner cities and urban areas.  Schools in these areas remain a significant presence: four decades ago 46.5 % were located in urban and inner city areas, today 43.0% of the schools are still in urban/inner city locales despite population losses and great financial difficulties in maintaining them.  During that same period of time, suburban schools increased from 25.0% to 35.9% of the total.
     
    EXHIBIT 10

    Location of Schools 

                                    Elementary/Middle          Secondary                 National Totals 

     
    Number
    %
    Number
    %
    Number
    %
    Urban
    1,720
    29.8
    482
    40.0
    2,202
    31.5
    Inner-City
    680
    11.8
    119
    9.9
    799
    11.5
    Suburban
    2,092
    36.2
    418
    34.7
    2,510
    35.9
    Rural
    1,282
    22.2
    187
    15.5
    1,469
    21.0
    Total
    5,774
    100.0
    1,206
    100.0
    6,980
    100.0

     

     

    Single Gender Schools

    The 2010-2011 data indicate that 1.2% of all Catholic elementary schools are single gender and 32.8% of secondary are single gender. Exhibit 13 illustrates their distribution.

    EXHIBIT 13

     
    Number
     
    %
               Elementary/Middle
    72
     
    1.2%  of elementary schools
               Secondary
    395
     
    32.8%  of secondary schools
               Total Single Gender
    467
     
    6.7%  of all schools
     
               Enrollment

    Enrollment by Grade Level                                                                          

    EXHIBIT 15
    Enrollment by Grade Level
     
                                                                     2000-2001                      2005-2006                         2010-2011
    All Schools                                            Number           %             Number            %              Number         %   
    Preschool
    155,742
    7.7
    146,327
    8.5
    152,846
    10.3
    Kindergarten
    218,981
    10.8
    175,331
    10.2
    145,395
    9.8
    Grade 1
    219,953
    10.9
    174,572
    10.2
    145,828
    9.8
    Grade 2
    216,268
    10.7
    174,859
    10.2
    146,409
    9.8
    Grade 3
    213,607
    10.6
    175,490
    10.2
    145,599
    9.8
    Grade 4
    210,534
    10.4
    174,378
    10.2
    146,700
    9.8
    Grade 5
    207,060
    10.3
    176,384
    10.3
    148,707
    10.0
    Grade 6
    202,571
    10.0
    176,259
    10.3
    150,417
    10.1
    Grade 7
    189,956
    9.4
    170,120
    10.0
    148,554
    10.0
    Grade 8
    181,198
    9.0
    169,403
    9.9
    155,714
    10.5
    Ungraded
    3,554
    0.2
    1,891
    0.1
    3,237
    0.2
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    * Total Preschool - 8
    2,019,424
    100.0
    1,715,014
    100.0
    1,489,406
    100.0
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Grade 9
    171,215
    27.3
    161,881
    26.5
    150,673
    26.1
    Grade 10
    161,952
    25.8
    156,835
    25.7
    145,197
    25.2
    Grade 11
    150,096
    23.9
    148,477
    24.3
    144,197
    25.0
    Grade 12
    142,954
    22.8
    142,650
    23.4
    135,700
    23.5
    Ungraded
    1,660
    0.3
    363
    0.1
    699
    0.1
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    * Total 9 - 12
    627,877
    100.0
    610,206
    100.0
    576,466
    100.0
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    GRAND TOTAL
    2,647,301
    100.0
    2,325,220
    100.0
    2,065,872
    100.0
     
    * NB: Because some elementary schools have a ninth grade and some secondary schools have grades 6-8 in their totals, this distribution does not match that in Exhibits 16 and 26.
     
     
    Enrollment by Region
    The national enrollment data, charted by region in Exhibit 16, show that the Mideast and Great Lakes regions enroll almost half the Catholic school population (47.6%).  This percentage does indicate a decline from 52.6% over the past decade. 
     
                     
    EXHIBIT 16
    Enrollment by Region
     

                                                    2000-2001                 2005-2006                     2010-2011

    All Schools
    Number
    %
    Number
    %
    Number
    %
    New England
    166,703
    6.3
    144,264
    6.1
    121,887
    5.9
    Mideast
    759,146
    28.7
    652,657
    27.6
    514,802
    24.9
    Great Lakes
    631,854
    23.9
    534,959
    22.6
    468,119
    22.7
    Plains
    252,586
    9.6
    234,041
    9.9
    215,101
    10.4
    Southeast
    364,211
    13.8
    347,084
    14.7
    324,281
    15.7
    West/Far West
    472,801
    17.8
    450,215
    19.1
    421,682
    20.4
    United States
    2,647,301
    100.0
    2,363,220
    100.0
    2,065,872
    100.0
                 
    Catholic School Trend Data
     
    U. S. Catholic school enrollment reached its peak during the early 1960s when there were more than 5.2 million students in almost thirteen thousand schools across the nation. The 1970s and 1980s saw a steep decline in both the number of schools and students.  By 1990, there were approximately 2.5 million students in 8,719 schools.   From the mid 1990s though 2000, there was a steady enrollment increase (1.3%) despite continued closings of schools.
     
    Between the 2000 and the 2011 school years, 1,755 schools were reported closed or consolidated (21.5%). The number of students declined by 587,166 (22.1 %).  The most seriously impacted have been elementary schools.
     
    Exhibit 20 details the reported school closures, and illustrates that the elementary schools in the twelve large urban areas of the country have declined by 23.2% of schools since 2003.
     
    Exhibit 22 presents the national and elementary enrollment trend data. Since 2000, elementary school enrollment has declined by 35.4% in the 12 urban dioceses and 22.7% in the rest of the U.S.
     
    Exhibits 20 & 22 are available in the full report, which can be ordered online. Click here to go to the NCEA Online Store.
                     
    Tuition and Costs
     
    Tuition fees paid by families constitute a portion of the actual per pupil expenses.  The average per pupil tuition in elementary schools is $3,383 which is approximately 62.2 % of actual costs per pupil of $5,436.  About 93% of elementary schools provide some form of tuition assistance. 
     
    The secondary mean freshman tuition is $8,787 which is approximately 81.3% of actual costs per pupil of $10,808.  About 97% of secondary schools provide some form of tuition assistance.
     
    The difference between the per pupil cost and the tuition charged is obtained in many ways, primarily through direct subsidy from parish, diocesan or religious congregation resources and from multi-faceted development programs and fund-raising activities.
     
    EXHIBIT 24

    Average Tuition and Per Pupil Costs

    Elementary
    Mean parish school tuition:              $3,383.              Per pupil cost:  $5,436.
     
    Secondary
    Mean freshman tuition:                    $8,787              Per pupil cost:  $10,808.
     
    The average public school per pupil cost of $10,297, as reported by the National Center for Education statistics, includes both elementary and secondary schools. (On average, secondary school costs are higher than elementary, but are not reported separately.)
    Based on the public schools cost, Catholic schools provide a 21.3 billion dollars a year savings for the nation.
     
    Student Ethnicity
    The percentage of minorities in Catholic schools has increased significantly in the past 40 years.  In 1970, the minority population accounted for 10.8% of the Catholic school population, in 1980 it had increased to 19.4% and in 2011 it is at 30.3%.
    Minority enrollment patterns are: Hispanic, 13.1%; Black/African American, 7.4%; Asian American, 4.6%; Multiracial, 3.9%.
                                                                                
    EXHIBIT 26
    Catholic School Enrollment and Percentages by Ethnic Background
     
                                                         Elementary/Middle                            Secondary                              All Schools
    National
    Number
    %
    Number
    %
    Number
    %
    American Indian/ Native Alaskan
    5,821
    0.4%
    2,020
    0.3%
    7,841
    0.4%
    Asian
    67,736
    4.6%
    26,462
    4.4%
    94,198
    4.6%
    Black
    102,985
    7.0%
    49,332
    8.2%
    152,317
    7.4%
    Hispanic
    197,209
    13.4%
    73,838
    12.3%
    271,047
    13.1%
    Native Hawaiian/ Pacific islander
    12,742
    0.9%
    5,698
    1.0%
    18,440
    0.9%
    Multiracial
    60,964
    4.2%
    20,071
    3.4%
    81,035
    3.9%
    White
    1,008,848
    68.7%
    410,155
    68.6%
    1,419,003
    68.7%
    Unknown
    11,389
    0.8%
    10,602
    1.8%
    21,991
    1.1%
    Total
    1,467,694
    100.0%
    598,178
    100.0%
    2,065,872
    100.0%
     
     
     
     
    Enrollment of Non-Catholics
    Most Catholic school students are Catholic.  However, non-Catholic student enrollment has risen from 2.7% in 1970 to 11.2% a decade later and today is 14.9% as shown in Exhibit 27.
     
    EXHIBIT 27
    Non-Catholic Enrollment 

                 Elementary/Middle                    Secondary                       All Schools

      
     
    Number
    % in Region
    Number
    % in Region
    Number
    % in Region
    ,
    New England
    12,397
    15.6%
    8,237
    19.3%
    20,634
    16.9%
    Mideast
    58,722
    16.8%
    30,212
    18.3%
    88,934
    17.3%
    Great Lakes
    41,109
    11.8%
    20,193
    17.0%
    61,302
    13.1%
    Plains
    14,279
    8.8%
    6,056
    11.3%
    20,335
    9.5%
    Southeast
    31,850
    13.7%
    16,505
    18.0%
    48,355
    14.9%
    West/Far West
    36,098
    12.2%
    31,800
    25.1%
    67,898
    16.1%
    United States
    194,455
    13.2%
    113,003
    18.9%
    307,458
    14.9%
                            
     
     
    National Totals           Number           %
    Catholic                      1,731,421        83.8%
    Non-Catholic                307,458         14.9%
    Not Reported                  26,993           1.3%
    Total                            2,065,872        100.0%
     
    Staffing of Catholic Schools
     
    In 2010-2011, the total, full-time equivalent (FTE) teaching staff in Catholic elementary/middle and secondary schools is 151,473. Over the past decade, the lay faculty percentages increased from 93% to the current 96.3%.  At present, 3.7% of the professional staff are religious and clergy.  Exhibit 28 presents the FTE data by category and percentage.
     
     
    EXHIBIT 28
    Full-time Equivalent Professional Staff
    2010-2011
     
     
    Elementary
    %
    Secondary
    %
    All Schools
    %
    Sisters
    2,678
    2.6
    1,052
    2.1
    3,730
    2.5
    Brothers
    119
    0.1
    633
    1.3
    752
    0.5
    Clergy
    274
    0.3
    812
    1.7
    1,086
    0.7
    Female Lay
    85,827
    83.8
    26,131
    53.2
    111,958
    73.9
    Male Lay
    13,467
    13.2
    20,480
    41.7
    33,947
    22.4
    *Total
    102,365
    100.0
    49,108
    100.0
    151,473
    100.0
    *Adjusted totals to reflect weighted averages 
     
    Lay: 96.3 %
    Religious: 3.7%
     
     
    Full Report:
     
     
    United States Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools 2010-2011 The Annual Statistical Report on Schools, Enrollment and Staffing
    Dale McDonald, PBVM, PhD 
    Director of Public Policy and Educational Research
    Margaret Schultz
    The National Catholic Educational Association

     

     
    The full 51 page report contains the following topics and is available for purchase from NCEA ($15 member/$23 nonmember) at the NCEA Online Store.
    • Schools and Enrollment History
    • School Staffing History
    • Public/Private School Comparisons
    • Percentage Distribution of Schools by Enrollment Size
    • Percentage Distribution of Private Schools by Typology
    • Percentage Distribution of Students in Private Schools by Typology
    • Regional Distribution of Elementary/Middle and Secondary Schools
    • Location of Schools
    • Schools by Types of Governance
    • Schools with Boards/Commissions/Councils
    • Single Gender Schools
    • School Openings and Closings
    • Enrollment by Grade Level
    • Enrollment by Region
    • Student Enrollment: States with Ten Highest Enrollments
    • Student Enrollment: Dioceses with Largest Enrollments
    • Diocesan Enrollment Patterns
    • Schools with Waiting Lists
    • Average Tuition and Per Pupil Costs
    • Catholic School Enrollment and Percentages by Ethnic Background
    • Non-Catholic Enrollment
    • Full-Time Equivalent Professional Staff
    • Student/Teacher Ratio
    • Non-Catholic Faculty Numbers and Percentages
    • Faculty Numbers and Percentages by Ethnic Background
    • Schools with Extended Day Programs
    • Students Receiving Title 1 Services
    • Participation in Federal Nutrition Programs
    • Students Receiving Government Subsidized/Free Transportation to School
    • Schools with Student Access to Internet
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Financing the Mission: a Profile of Catholic Elementary Schools in the United States 2009
    This biennial report contains financial information regarding tuition, per-pupil cost, cost of instruction materials, fund-raising, salaries, and benefits, endowment funds, pre-kindergarten, and more. This publication is available free, upon request, at http://www.schoolreach.com/ncea/html
     
     
    Dollars and Sense: Catholic High Schools and Their Finances 2011 (Executive Summary)
    by Phillip Robey. NCEA Secondary Schools Department administers the Dollars and Sense survey to create a national portrait of the financial status of Catholic high schools. This executive summary presents both current data as well as recent trends in several areas of finance, governance and administrative organization. The report illustrates the challenges schools face while offering encouraging news about the creative ways schools address those challenges. 2011. ($10 members; $15 non-members). Available soon at the NCEA Online Store.
     
     
     

     Dollars and Sense: A Report on Catholic High School Leadership, Governance & Finance 2011 (Full Report)

    by Mary L. Gautier, Ph.D. and Melissa A. Cicade, M.A. 

     The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University conducted the survey on the Secondary Schools Department's behalf, which builds on previous studies and forms the basis for the Dollars and Sense Executive Summary (above).. This is a comprehensive, 142 page report on Catholic secondary school leadership, governance and finance.

    ($50. members; $75. non-members). Available soon at the NCEA Online Store.

     
     
     

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