Playing the Game: How Catholic Schools Are Learning to Survive in a Competitive Landscape

• In Event: Making Sense of Innovations and Interventions in Catholic Pre-K–12 Schools

Abstract

As charter schools expand across the Unites States, Catholic schools face challenges in recruiting and retaining students. The purpose of this case study is to examine the Catholic School sector in New York City, the largest school district in the U.S. Over the last two decades, the number of Catholic School students in New York City decreased from almost 150 to around 77 thousand (Manhattan Institute, 2020). Notably, private independent and Jewish schools significantly increased enrollment over this same time, suggesting that charter schools have disproportionately affected Catholic schools (Berends & Waddington, 2018). Our findings reveal that Catholic school leaders are keenly aware of charter school competition and parents-many of whom are identifying Catholic Latinx—are grappling with school choice.

Authors

• Stephen Kotok, St. John's University

• Catherine C. DiMartino, St. John's University