New Research Shows Catholic Schools Outpace Charter and Public Schools in Educating Students Living in Poverty

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May 13, 2014, 03:30 ET

LOS ANGELES, May 13, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New research from the Loyola Marymount University School of Education shows that inner-city Los Angeles students attending Catholic schools graduate high school at a much higher rate than their peers in comparable public and charter schools and 92 percent of the group attended college.

The study, conducted by SOE's Center for Catholic Education, followed a group of nearly 600 students who entered Los Angeles Archdiocesan high schools in 2008 with tuition assistance from the Catholic Education Foundation. Researchers found that 100 percent of those students, who came from families living at or below the poverty line, graduated high school and 96 percent were accepted into either two- or four-year colleges.

By comparison, the high school graduation rate in the same year was 79 percent for California public school students and 67 percent for Los Angeles Unified School District students. Comparable college acceptance and attendance data for public and charter schools are not available.

Catholic schools achieved their superior results by better preparing students for college coursework. Researchers found that 68 percent of the Catholic school students completed the courses required by four-year colleges in California versus 62 percent of youth in charter schools and only 37 percent in public schools. They also took the SAT and ACT tests at higher rates than their public school counterparts.

"This study makes a compelling case for including Catholic schools – a proven model with a long track record of success, particularly for our society's most marginalized and vulnerable members – in the national conversation on education reform," said Shane P. Martin, dean and professor for the LMU School of Education and a co-author of the study. "Ensuring that Catholic school education is affordable and accessible will provide benefits to all of society by opening the doors of opportunity while providing young people from challenging circumstances with a path to success."

This is the third phase in a longitudinal study that was first published in 2008. This latest research examined the experiences of a new group of students and the data show that their rates of achievement are consistent with those of previous research groups.

"Our findings support and expand upon earlier research suggesting that urban Catholic schools benefit students living in poverty," said Karie Huchting, lead author of the study and an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership. "The unfortunate reality is that these same students cannot afford tuition."

The Catholic Education Foundation was established to ensure that underserved children in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles would have access to a Catholic school education. Since 1987, the CEF has given more than 132,000 tuition assistance awards to students totaling more than $136 million. There are currently 5,000 eligible students on the CEF waiting list to receive funding assistance.

"The 100% graduation rate and 96% college acceptance rate found in LMU's study testify to the tremendous impact that our Catholic schools and the Catholic Education Foundation have on students of color living in the poorest areas of Los Angeles," said Denise Martin, executive director of the Catholic Education Foundation. "For most of the families we serve, Catholic schools represent the best option for a quality education."

This study is one of several ongoing research projects in the Center for Catholic Education, which serves as a pillar of leadership and support for Catholic schools both regionally and nationally in the areas of leadership development, teacher preparation, research, and professional development and outreach.

About Loyola Marymount University
Located between the Pacific Ocean and downtown Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a comprehensive university offering 60 major programs, 36 master's degrees and a doctoral degree in education from four colleges, two schools and Loyola Law School. Founded in 1911, LMU is ranked third in "Best Regional Universities/West" by U.S. News & World Report. LMU is the largest Jesuit Catholic university for undergraduates on the West Coast with more than 5,900 undergraduate students and more than 3,000 graduate and law students. For more LMU news and events, please visit www.lmu.edu/news.

Need an expert for your story? Visit www.lmu.edu/experts to find the right faculty or staff member. For more LMU news and events, go to www.lmu.edu/news.

SOURCE Loyola Marymount University