Choosing a Catholic school for your children can provide a unique educational experience that goes beyond academics. Here are some aspects to consider:

Religious Education

Catholic schools integrate religious education into the curriculum, and students typically participate in Mass, prayer, and religious activities. If you’re not Catholic, be sure to understand how this aspect aligns with your values and preferences.

At San Carlos School in Monterey, California, children of all faiths are welcome but are required to participate in daily religion classes. According to spokesperson Carolyn Schanzer, Marketing and Development Director: “We teach traditional Catholic beliefs and respond to God’s call by welcoming culturally, economically, and religiously diverse families. We collaborate with parents, the first educators, to foster the holistic development of the learners, create an environment in which diversity flourishes, and help students unveil their full potential. We encourage students to share their faiths with their classes, which enriches the curriculum and reinforces an atmosphere of equity and inclusion.”

At Santa Catalina in Monterey, students of all faiths are welcome and attend a once-monthly Mass.

Values-Based Education

Catholic schools emphasize values such as compassion, community service, and moral development. If you are interested in having these principles reinforced in your child’s education, it can be a positive aspect of the experience.

At Palma School in Salinas, students are challenged to develop spiritually, intellectually, morally, physically, and socially—accomplished by offering opportunities focused on each of these disciplines.

Academic Excellence

Catholic schools have an earned reputation for academic excellence. According to Niche.com, the Catholic schools in Monterey County are overwhelmingly rated as “A” schools, with the vast majority of students going on to college after high school graduation.

At Santa Catalina, the emphasis of the Lower School curriculum is educating the whole child. While offering an excellent academic program, the Lower School also emphasizes the arts, music, physical education, technology, and character education.

When researching schools for your child consider the school’s academic programs, resources, and any special offerings. Look at the school’s performance on standardized tests and graduation rates.

Community and Involvement

Catholic schools often foster a strong sense of community among students, parents, and teachers. Look into the level of parental involvement encouraged by the school and how it aligns with your preferences.

Community outreach is another important facet of a Catholic school education. At Palma School, a nationally recognized program offers students the opportunity to provide and experience compassion and fellowship through literature and reflection at Soledad State Prison.

At San Carlos, students have participated in the HUG project, made an angel tree for those needing prayers, routinely made cards for families battling cancer in the community, and hid painted “Love Rocks” to spread love throughout the school and community.

Other projects range from making placemats for Meals on Wheels to contributing to The Crayon Initiative to assisting in the Cleaning the Earth project.

They also commit as a school community to a Thanksgiving Food Drive. The goal is to fill the principal’s office with bags of groceries so that she cannot reach her desk. Collected food is distributed to several food pantries on the Monterey Peninsula.

As early as pre-K, Santa Catalina students learn to lead by example and see themselves as effective change-makers. Through participation in service projects, they strive to make an impact on communities near and far. Throughout the year, students prepare for, implement, and reflect on a variety of service opportunities. These range from school-wide service projects to Projects of Passion adopted by each classroom.

Recent projects include Christmas caroling at local senior living facilities, participation in the JDRF One Walk in support of type 1 diabetes research, food drives for the Food Bank for Monterey County, coat drives for the Salvation Army, and Braxton’s Toy Drive.

Tuition and Fees

In general, Catholic schools are considered private schools and do charge tuition, although they can be less expensive than many typical private schools. They also offer financial aid. At Santa Catalina, for instance, 45 percent of families received financial aid in the 2022–2023 school year. The financial aid comes in the form of grants, not loans, which means a real reduction in the cost of education.

Before making a decision, visit the schools you are considering several times, meet with teachers and administrators, and ask questions to ensure that the school aligns with your values and expectations for your child’s education.

Catholic Schools Week offers a unique opportunity to investigate Catholic education to find out if it is a right fit for your family. Catholic Schools Week begins on the last Sunday in January and runs for an entire week. In 2025, it will be celebrated from January 26 to 1. Many area Catholic schools are offering open houses or other special events. Contact the school you are interested in for additional information.

To read more about our recommended Monterey County Catholic schools.