In 2017 four Catholic schools serving Native American students in the Diocese of Gallup began a four-year program to help them improve their long-term strategies, finances and enrollment.
The schools could not have known just how essential the program would be when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived.
Catholic Extension Society offers the program to struggling Catholic schools in Extension dioceses through our Catholic School Sustainability Initiative. The program is operated by Catholic School Management Inc., a division of Christian Brothers Services. It works with school leaders to promote long-term viability of schools by improving the effectiveness of school boards, communications, fundraising and enrollment management.
The schools, all located in New Mexico, operate in some of the poorest areas of the United States, where the unemployment rate is as high as 80 percent. They include Sacred Heart Catholic School in Gallup, St. Anthony School in Zuni, St. Joseph Mission School in San Fidel and St. Teresa of Avila School in Grants.
These institutions offer an excellent education and build spiritual foundations for their pupils, who are mostly Native American students.
They also incorporate and celebrate native language and cultural traditions in the curriculum.
Catholic Extension Society has stood in solidarity with these communities during the chaos and uncertainty of the pandemic, which struck these communities particularly hard. Through the generosity of our donors, Catholic Extension Society provided aid to parishes and schools to allow them to reach out to families with food, learning packets for students and other essential supplies.
Already struggling before the pandemic, student enrollment at the four Catholic schools plummeted as families on the reservations faced some of the highest rates of COVID-19 infections in the country and an inability to conduct remote learning due to poor internet access.
However, these schools were not left alone in these devastating circumstances. Through the ongoing consultation services provided through the Catholic School Management program, school leaders developed strategies to overcome these significant challenges.
Thanks to the initiative, all four schools have remained financially solvent and returned to pre-pandemic levels of enrollment.
Sister Marsha Moon, RSC, principal of St. Anthony School in Zuni, said,
During this in-depth study of our school, we were able to develop a strategic plan, which not only speaks to now, but also projects into the future. This study has given us tools to use in our future self-studies and our school’s growth and development.”
These schools are not alone in their success. Catholic Extension Society has helped 64 institutions take part in this transformative program.
By supporting these Catholic schools on their path to improved financial, marketing and enrollment strategies, our donors have helped thousands of children in poor regions of the U.S. grow and learn in these outstanding, faith-filled educational environments.
