Catholic Secondary Schools

Key Messages
Updated August 2011

1.   Catholic secondary school education is comprehensive and transformative, giving emphasis not only to what students must learn, but what they can become.

·         We prepare students to reach their full potential as active participants in their faith communities and in the marketplace.

·         Catholic secondary schools impart the essence of Catholic intellectual tradition, where learning is a virtue to be pursued and fulfillment is found in the development of one’s capacities to their fullest, expressed in the world through action.

·         Values that promote understanding and service are an important part of a Catholic education. We teach students to respect and celebrate multiple perspectives and a diversity of thought.

·         Our graduates are prepared to take advantage of the opportunities that come their way and face challenges with confidence in their learning, their faith and their Church.

·         The success of Catholic graduates is measured not only by their degree of knowledge, but also in the expression and demonstration of attitudes, values and actions.

2.   We prepare students to be successful at top colleges and universities across the country.

·         West Catholic and Catholic Central High Schools are two of the top performing academic high schools in the region.

o   Our students score significantly above national averages on standardized testing.

o   Our schools produced seven semi-finalists and seven commended in the National Merit competition for 2010-11.

o   ACT composite scores: Catholic Central (24.1/36) and West Catholic(23.4/36) scored  among the top 5 schools regionally in 2011.

o   Our students in 2011 were offered more than $12 million in scholarships from universities across the country.

·         High standards, effective discipline, motivation and a caring, supportive environment promote excellence and culminate in a high degree of student academic performance.

·         The secondary Catholic school community is grounded in a shared passion for learning, for valuing understanding and respecting differences, and for holding the lessons of the Gospels sacred.

·         Our faculty is unsurpassed in their content knowledge and ability to teach, creating a learning environment where a comprehensive curriculum and high expectations produce successful students.

·         We are committed to the development of the whole student – mind, body and spirit - generating a healthy sense of competition, creating a spirit of cooperation, and fostering both leadership and creativity.

3.   Catholic secondary schools continue to play a key role in the growth and development of Grand Rapids/West Michigan.

• Catholic secondary schools have been integral to the framework of Grand Rapids for more than 100 years. Our two high schools today educate nearly 1,300 students.
• We educate students from across the socio-economic spectrum and strive to be open to all who seek our values.
• We are a Catholic community, a community of learners, a source of moral authority and an institution committed to supporting our Church and its mission in Grand Rapids.
• We prepare our students for leadership and service roles in our church, our communities and the marketplace.
• People seek us out for our vision and quality.
• Many of our nearly 30,000 alumni are part of the fabric of Grand Rapids, living, working and providing leadership as business owners, community leaders and professionals.

4. A Catholic secondary school education is a good return on investment.

·         Catholic Schools represent affordable excellence; there is an emphasis on efficiency and accountability. 

·         Your tuition dollars are an investment that pays a lifelong dividend.