About Us

Plan estratégico para las escuelas católicas

In the fall of 2017, the Archdiocese released Renewal and Hope: A Strategic Plan for Catholic School Vitality. This plan is our roadmap for the future of our Catholic schools. Within the plan are targeted goals and initiatives to foster quality and sustainability in the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese. The plan was constructed over 18 months, and incorporates the feedback of thousands of parents, benefactors, staff members, and others. The executive summary of the plan can be accessed here.

As part of the planning process, several “Collective Commitments” were defined. These Commitments are:

Evangelizing Mission

Catholic schools exist to evangelize, to foster a relationship between each student and Jesus Christ and His Church. The mission of evangelization and discipleship should remain the top priority for our schools.

Schools as a Priority

A Catholic school is the optimal comprehensive setting for religious education, and the Church and society benefit from strong Catholic schools. Therefore, sustaining and growing high-quality schools are priorities for the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Best Possible Quality

Each Catholic school must provide the best religious and academic quality possible, driven and supported by excellent leadership.

Access to Catholic Schools

Each geographic grouping of parishes in the Archdiocese should have reasonable access to at least one high quality Catholic elementary school.

Connection to Parishes

Catholic schools benefit parishes, and parishes benefit schools. When possible, schools should maintain formal sponsorship by parishes, and they should mutually work to achieve a close, vibrant relationship

The strategic plan addresses five focus areas, each with supporting initiatives and metrics. These focus areas are:
  • Catholic Identity,
  • Academic Excellence,
  • Leadership,
  • Governance, and
  • Financial Vitality.
 
The top seven takeaways from our strategic plan are:
  1. Catholic school education is, and will continue to be, a priority for the Archdiocese of Chicago.

  2. Our evangelizing mission is at the heart of our schools, and must be prioritized and enhanced, working with local parishes and the Church as a whole to address declining trends in Mass attendance and active participation in the Catholic faith.

  3. Catholic school education must be the highest possible quality.

  4. The school principal is the most important determinant of school success. We must be extremely intentional about recruiting, forming, retaining and supporting leaders.

  5. We must intensify our efforts to build a sustainable future and establish vital schools.

  6. There are several key factors that can improve the economics of our schools (e.g. marketing, tuition management, right-staffing, etc.). The Archdiocese will more closely engage, in some cases, to drive positive change.

  7. In spite of our challenges, there continues to be demand for Catholic education, and many examples of thriving schools. We are a Church of hope, and we have hope for the future!