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2019 - 2020 Dr. Melanie B. Palmisano, Superintendent
Catholic schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge continued to focus on the vision of Evangelizing Hearts, Educating Minds, Encouraging Talent, and Embracing the Future during the 2018-19 school year. Our annual report is filled with news of the good work that Catholic schools have provided in the development of students, strengthening of community, and building of Church.
Schools focused on the four-part vision in their plans for continuous improvement in conjunction with ongoing requirements for national accreditation status. In addition, administrators and board members joined together to update long-term strategic plans this year. Such collaboration and planning truly resulted in exceptional educational initiatives for growth.
Growth in Focus Areas:
- Evangelizing Hearts: The Assessment for Catechesis and Religious Education demonstrated above-national norms in all faith knowledge domains, and students logged more than 200,000 hours in service to others to illustrate their understanding of service before self. Teachers of all subject areas continued to earn certification in religious education to better infuse Catholic Identity throughout the curriculum.
- Educating Minds: The academic growth for students in Catholic schools can be charted yearly as the ACT Aspire results continue to rise, and the Class of 2019 scored well above both state and national averages on the American College Test in accord with previous graduating classes in the diocese. Much of the success in academics is attributed to faculty and staff members who engage in professional development, and their daily implementation of rigorous and relevant educational experiences within a growth mindset have challenged students to develop habits of higher level thinking as they prepare for futures in a global community.
- Encouraging Talent: Catholic schools foster the development of the whole child through various programs in sports, performing arts, club programs, and extra-curricular activities. The expansion of the Special Education Blessed Margaret of Castillo REACH Program has blessed both families of students enrolled in the program as well as the school sites where the program operates.
- Embracing the Future: The commitment to innovation has resulted from dedicated staff and volunteers who support the educational ministry. Technology continued to expand during the year, with many schools providing one-to-one technology and STEM programs.
Our annual report is filled with the Good News of Catholic Education, which could not be possible without the support of Bishop Michael Duca and clergy, school personnel, families, and community members in the diocese. With strong stakeholder support, Catholic schools will continue to be gifts to generations!
Blessings,
Dr. Melanie B. Palmisano
The schools of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at its schools. They do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.