Catholic education is more important and more affordable than ever.
At the Catholic Schools Office, we often hear from principals that many parents say they want to send their children to our schools but the cost of the tuition, coupled with the cost of living and other expenses, makes it too difficult. But in fact, we believe that all families who want to provide their children with a Catholic education should have the opportunity. And that’s because we believe Catholic school is transformational. We have 71 schools across 23 counties in northeast Nebraska, and we work with school leaders to provide environments where students are formed to view the world through a lens of mercy, justice, service, and respect for others.
It’s a turbulent time in our society.
As parents consider educational options for their families for the coming school year and beyond, we invite you to approach your local Catholic school to discover what opportunities may be available for you. We’ll share how to make Catholic school affordable and debunk some other myths that surround Catholic education.
MYTH #1: Catholic schools are too expensive for the average family.
In the Archdiocese of Omaha, financial aid is available from a number of private and parish-based programs including grants, endowments, and reductions in tuition based on each individual’s needs. We understand Catholic school may be out of reach for some families, but we are very proud to provide millions of dollars in financial aid each year. Beginning April 1, we also launched year five of our ‘Welcome’ Grant program. This tuition grant is not based on financial need, but invites new elementary students from public, home, or other private (non-Catholic) schools into one of our participating schools for a discounted tuition—up to $1,500 grant spread over two years. The discount represents an approximate 30-40% average tuition discount in year one. We welcomed more than 200 new students into our schools through this program and it’s available now for students to enroll for the 2019-2020 school year.
What’s more is that, each year, Catholic schools save taxpayers and public school districts a large amount of money. We are happy to provide an excellent education while being good stewards of the tuition dollars we receive.
MYTH #2: Catholic schools are too rigorous for the average child.
While you may hear about our schools’ high ACT average in comparison to other students in the state and other statistics about our graduates’ success, Catholic schools are most proud of the whole education students receive. In our Catholic schools, academic achievement in the classroom alone does not define success. In fact, success requires teaching to both the mind and the heart. In this way, your child is uniquely enriched by a more complete education. Service projects and character development are major parts of our curriculum—just as important as
the required academic pieces and standardized testing.
We also heard from one parent recently who said,
I continue to choose a Catholic school for my daughter because I see real value in how she’s becoming someone for others. I further love how it’s changing our whole family and how involved we can all be in the education process.
MYTH #3: Catholic schools only accept Catholic students
A growing percentage of non-Catholics are seeking a faith-based education for their children. Our Catholic schools are places where families can trust that children: work together to become real-world problem solvers, treat themselves and others with respect, and study topics like mercy, inclusion, and forgiveness. All of this, while also learning the signs and symbols of the Catholic faith and becoming part of a larger, global community. If you’re curious about making a change, visit our website to find a school near you, as well as read more information about the Welcome Tuition Grants, now available.
