Catholic schools provide religious education alongside traditional education, with a focus on sacramental participation. They are found worldwide, for all levels of education, and often have rigorous curriculums and extracurricular activities. Non-Catholics are usually allowed to attend but must participate in religious exercises. The high cost of attendance can limit diversity.
A Catholic school is a school that is operated by the Catholic Church and aims to provide, in addition to a conventional education, a thorough education in religion and theology. Catholic schools also strongly encourage, if not force, participation in the sacramental aspects of the church. These schools are quite common and can be found all over the world. There are Catholic schools for all levels of education, from preschool to college. In general, Catholic schools tend to be quite expensive as they are not government funded.
Although a Catholic school tends to have a strong religious focus, this focus usually does not come at the expense of other aspects of education. Most Catholic schools are highly selective in their faculty and enforce a rigorous curriculum. Athletics and other extracurricular activities are also an integral part of almost all Catholic schools, as well as in secular schools. Many Catholic schools emphasize discipline with the aim of improving the character of their students. Students are often required to wear uniforms or, at the very least, adhere to a strict dress code.
The treatment of non-Catholics can be a sticking point in a Catholic school. There are very few Catholic schools that do not allow non-Catholics to attend, as most Catholic administrators are eager to spread the faith. Generally speaking, however, Catholic school rules will specify that all students, including non-Catholics, must attend religion classes and participate in other religious exercises practiced in the school. This usually involves attending mass and some other religious ceremonies.
Required religion classes usually make up the bulk of a Catholic school’s religious education. Such classes cover topics such as Christian morality, biblical studies, and ethics. Sometimes the curriculum is decided by the diocese, or administrative area, to which the school belongs. Other times, the school or specific religion teachers decide what to teach. Classes aim not only to educate students in church doctrine, but also to guide them to live the life of good Catholics.
The main complaint most people have about Catholic schools is the price. The high cost of participation prevents many potential students from participating. Sometimes the school will be able to offer a considerable amount of financial assistance, but this is not always the case. When such help is not available, Catholic schools can become somewhat exclusive, serving only those with a certain degree of socioeconomic prosperity. This can lead to a lack of diversity, which many believe defeats the church’s message of acceptance.
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