SETON EDUCATION PARTNERS is committed to reviving and expanding opportunities for disadvantaged children in America to receive an academically excellent and vibrantly Catholic education. Seton was born of the belief that a tremendous opportunity exists to revitalize urban Catholic schools in America and strengthen the education they provide. The challenges are significant, to be sure, but with an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit, much can and should be done, not only to preserve this national treasure, but also to build on its foundation for the benefit of thousands of children in America’s poorest neighborhoods.
Saving a National Treasure
Despite their well-established “brand name” and demonstrated success building the knowledge, skills, and character of children in America’s poorest neighborhoods for more than a century, Catholic schools have seen enrollment plummet by more than 50 percent over the last four decades. Just since 2000, over 1,400 Catholic schools in America have shut down, accelerating a school closure rate of about 1,000 per decade since 1960. Most of these were elementary schools in our inner cities, serving large numbers of Hispanic and African-American children. If this trend continues over the next two decades, most of the remaining 3,000 urban Catholic schools will cease to exist, leaving over 900,000 children with few if any options beyond the failing public schools in their neighborhoods (and providing urban district schools substantially less competition).
Declining enrollment and rising operating costs are the main causes for this extraordinary collapse of urban Catholic education—a character-building, Americanizing, opportunity-equalizing force.
A national effort to strategically infuse creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship, talented leadership, and public dollars is urgently needed in response to the decline of urban Catholic education.
What Drives Us
Seton is motivated by the following conclusions:
- Catholic schools in America’s inner cities provide an invaluable service to our nation’s neediest children;
- The history, scale, and competitive force of urban Catholic schools are far too important—for disadvantaged families and for our free society—to let slip away; and
- A tremendous opportunity may exist with public charter schools to develop a new, “break the mold” approach to urban Catholic education, making it a competitive, viable, and thriving option for Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
Ultimately, Seton hopes to preserve, and expand, Catholic schooling's rich tradition of discipline, character formation, and high academic achievement for all students, regardless of background.
Our Principles
Four principles guide all Seton activities:
- Results. All initiatives have a strong emphasis on student achievement, as well as on character development, with results that are far superior to most urban public schools;
- Sustainability. All initiatives must be on a steady course to financial sustainability via public funds, tuition, church contributions, and/or philanthropy;
- Catholicity. All initiatives must have as a core mission demonstrating and teaching the Catholic faith; and
- Service to the Poor. All initiatives must be primarily focused on serving children who qualify for the federal free- and reduced-lunch program, a standard measure for students living in poverty.
