The Best Catholic High Schools Display These Traits

Did you know that Catholic school graduates consistently demonstrate higher levels of academic achievement than public school peers?

The tenets of Catholic social teaching have – time and again – proven to contribute to greater levels of academic, personal, and professional success among students of diverse backgrounds and abilities. That’s why many parents choose to enroll their children in Catholic schools.

In the United States, it is estimated that roughly 1,200 Catholic schools are currently educating over half a million high school students. Each of these academic institutions serves its community in its own way, and students at these schools benefit differently from the many different educational approaches taken by faculty and staff.

St. Agnes Academy is one such institution that Houston parents trust to educate their high school-age daughters. If you are currently considering enrolling your child in a Catholic school, read on to discover some of the key traits displayed by the best Catholic high schools. Also, learn how St. Agnes Academy exemplifies these traits.

Find out what healthy and vibrant Catholic high schools look like.

The best Catholic schools go to great lengths to build a sense of community on campus. Catholic schools like St. Agnes Academy generally operate more as communities rather than bureaucracies, so students and their families feel empowered to take a more active role in the educational experience.

At St. Agnes, students are encouraged to celebrate their peers rather than compete with one another. Our collaborative educational environment contributes to a heightened sense of sisterhood and community among students – past, present, and future.

Many parents are surprised to learn that the best Catholic schools are deeply invested in celebrating and fostering diversity.

Despite the fact that Catholic schools are founded on certain religious principles, Catholic high schools like St. Agnes are committed to creating safe learning environments for students of all faiths, races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. In fact, research suggests that roughly 17.4% of Catholic school students do not identify as Catholic, and almost 20% of Catholic school students are part of a minority population. 

With these statistics in mind, St. Agnes Academy works tirelessly to create a welcoming environment for all students and their families. Our Office of Community Culture provides students with resources and training to engage in supportive and respectful dialogues that celebrate our differences.

Additionally, our academic curriculum keeps social justice issues at the forefront to help our students develop a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by the communities that make up the world around them.

Even while striving to embrace diverse perspectives and belief systems, the best Catholic schools honor their roots by keeping faith and spirituality at the heart of everything they do. As a result, young women who attend Catholic schools are more likely to pray daily, attend church, and donate to religious institutions.

St. Agnes stands firm in the Catholic, Dominican tradition, as evidenced by our school’s motto. Veritas, the Dominican motto meaning “truth,” permeates the educational endeavors at St. Agnes.

As part of our school’s Dominican faith, we specifically emphasize our commitment to social justice and championing the marginalized in society. We encourage our students to embrace the role of social justice warriors to make a difference in their communities.

Through weekly Mass, school-wide Liturgical Celebrations, theology courses, and faith-centered extra-curricular opportunities, St. Agnes Academy provides students with a safe environment where they can dig deeper into their relationship with God, religion, and spirituality.

St. Agnes Academy strives for excellence in all aspects of academic life. We are dedicated to preparing students for a wide array of academic, professional, and personal challenges and experiences.

Our rigorous academic curriculum and varied extra-curricular offerings provide students with an educational environment where they can safely explore the many different facets of their interests and abilities.

If you are looking to enroll your daughter in a Houston-area Catholic school, the team at St. Agnes Academy would love to support your child on her educational journey. We welcome the opportunity to learn more about your daughter’s unique needs and are here to help in any way we can.