choosing catholic
choosing catholic schools Metro Detroit has many options By Joyce Wiswell Some 38,000 children in Metro Detroit are donning uniforms and attending Catholic schools this year. A popular choice for the Chaldean community, Catholic schools offer a traditional education along with a good dose of religion. “Catholic schools integrate our faith and Gospel values into every part of the educational experience, whether a student is in the classroom, on the athletic field or in the chapel,” says the Archdiocese of Detroit’s website. “A student learns to think and act according to the mind and heart of Jesus Christ.” The Archdiocese of Detroit has 76 grade schools and 25 high schools. Though the Archdiocese does not run the schools, they must have its permission to function. Each school is sponsored by a parish (called an archdiocesan school) or a religious order like the Jesuits. Not all students are Catholic; most, in fact, in Detroit schools are not Catholic while in most of the suburbs, the opposite holds true. Catholic schools around the nation have seen a dramatic drop off in enrollment, and the Detroit area is no exception. Just 10 years ago, the Archdiocese had 137 grade schools and 35 high schools with a combined total of more than 52,000 students. Three elementary schools closed this year – St. Dennis in Royal Oak, St. Anthony in Temperance and St. Cecilia in Detroit. According to the National Catholic Educational Association, U. S. Catholic school enrollment reached its peak during the early 1960s when there were more than 5.2 million students in almost 13,000 schools across the nation. The 1970s and 1980s saw a steep decline in both the number of A student learns to think and act according to the mind and heart of Jesus Christ. schools and students. By 1990, there were approximately 2.5 million students in 8,719 schools. Between the 2000 and the 2010 school years, 1,603 schools were reported closed or consolidated (19.7 percent). The number of students declined by 533,697 (20.1 percent). The most seriously impacted have been elementary schools – witness Detroit losing nearly half its grade schools since 2000. “The good news that we’re seeing is with high school enrollment,” said Joe Kohn, director of public relations for the Archdiocese of Detroit. “It’s leveled off in recent years.” Several new high schools have opened recently, including the Everest Academy in Clarkston and Detroit Cristo Rey, which is geared toward low-income students who attend four days a week and work the fifth at an internship to help pay their tuition. Brand-new this school year is the St. Catherine of Siena Academy, an allgirls high school in Wixom. Both Worlds Now A former public school teacher, Leila Kello of Bloomfield Township has always had a lot of faith in public education. But her husband, Johny, was a product of Catholic schools and wanted the same for his children. So the two decided to compromise, sending their children to public school in the early grades and then Catholic school when they got a bit older. The two younger Kello kids attend St. Regis in Bloomfield Hills while their 13-year-old is at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School. “The difference we’ve seen thus far is the community. Because everyone goes to church together everyone knows each other more. The networking is stronger and you get to know the families better that your kids are playing with,” said Leila Kello. “Volunteerism never lacks in the Catholic schools and the parental involvement is really amazing.” Kello also likes the structure of a Catholic school. “It’s a little stricter in some senses,” she said. “An organized classroom and desk allows you to really concentrate on what’s important and what you need to concentrate on.” But, she noted, some Catholic schools are slower to embrace modern teaching innovations. “At the public schools they were using the materials I was taught to use when I got my master’s in reading,” she said. “It’s definitely more the traditional way in the private schools.” Regardless of the method, Catholic school students often score higher than their counterparts in public schools, says the Archdiocese of Detroit. In 2005, Catholic elementary students in the Archdiocese ranked 20 or more points higher than national norms and 10 or more points higher than private school norms on IOWA Achievement Tests, according to the AOD. Ninety-eight percent of 2005 Catholic high school graduates went on to attend a college or university. Mike and Marianne Sarafa like Catholic school for their kids. “They tend to be more nurturing and do a much better job in terms of antibullying,” said Mike Sarafa, who attended St. Michael’s in Southfield (now closed) and Brother Rice. “The sacraments are very important for Chaldeans and you can get that done through school. And they teach proper behavior and manners.” 28 CHALDEAN NEWS SEPTEMBER 2010
Metro Detroit Catholic Schools Academy of the Sacred Heart Elementary, Middle and High School 1250 Kensington Road Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 (248) 646-8900 ashmi.org One of 21 Sacred Heart schools in the United States, the 44-acre campus includes an Early Childhood Program through Grade 4; the Knights of the Sacred Heart (boys in Grades 5-8), and the Middle School and Upper School that is home to the Gazelles (girls in Grades 5-12). The Academy is the oldest independent school in Michigan and has a total of 475 students. The high school is known for its outstanding lacrosse team. All Saints Catholic School Elementary and Middle School 48735 Warren Road Canton, MI 48187 (734) 459-2490 allsaintscs.com Accredited by the Michigan Nonpublic Schools Accrediting Association, this co-ed school has a population of 527 students. Special classes are taught by teachers from the Livonia Public School Share Time Program and include foreign language instruction, faith mentoring and the Monthly Outreach to Disadvantaged Communities and Organizations. Bishop Foley High School 32000 Campbell Road Madison Heights, MI 48071 (248) 585-1210 bishopfoley.org Bishop Foley is a co-educational high school accredited through North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Founded in 1965, it has an enrollment of 400 students and offers a wide range of opportunities in academics and athletics. The school has a full-time Campus Ministry Director to foster spiritual activities. Bishop Kelley Catholic School Elementary and Middle School 926 West Nepessing Street Lapeer, MI, 48446 (810) 664-5011 bishopkelleylapeer.org All faiths are welcome at this co-ed school instituted by the Immaculate Conception Parish community. Unique activities include a golf team and drama club. The school was founded in 1950 and has about 270 students. There is also a preschool for children as young as 3. Brother Rice All-Boys High School 7101 Lahser Road Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301 (248) 647-2526 brrice.edu The college-prep Brother Rice is known for its excellent athletic department, having earned 54 state championships in 49 years in various sports. With a total of 45 classroom teachers and 13 AP courses offered, the Brother Rice Warriors also excel in academics. The all-boys school has about 700 students. Christ the King Elementary and Middle School 16800 Trinity Avenue Detroit, MI 48219 (313) 532-1213 christthekingdetroit.org Christ the King Catholic School serves the educational needs of a multi-cultural parish and community. The majority of students are African-American and non-Catholic. The school has about 150 students in grades Pre-K through 8 and is a member of the National Catholic Educational Association. De La Salle Collegiate All-Boys High School 14600 Common Road Warren, MI 48088 (586) 778-2207 delasallehs.com Inspired by the tradition of St. John Baptist de La Salle, this school is dedicated to the Catholic education of its diverse students, including the poor and disadvantaged. The college preparatory school has an all-male population of about 800. Clubs and activities range from choir to robotics. Detroit Catholic Central High School All-Boys High School 27225 Wixom Road Novi, MI 48374 (248) 596-3810 catholiccentral.net This college preparatory high school has an enrollment of more than 1,000 young men. The school dates to 1928 and has relocated a number of times, settling into its current home on 60 acres in Novi in 2005. The school philosophy is that while textbooks are important, much knowledge can be learned only in prayer. Each student is required to complete Christian Service and between 95-100 percent of graduates go onto college. Detroit Cristo Rey High School 5679 W. Vernor Highway Detroit, MI 48209 (313) 843-2747 detroitcristorey.org Detroit Cristo Rey is the only coed Catholic school in the city of Detroit. It opened in August 2008 with an initial class of about 100 students. It is part of the Cristo Rey Network of high schools nationwide. Across the network, 96 percent of seniors graduated and were accepted to college. The school strives to “break the cycle of poverty” in Detroit by offering a college-prep education to low-income, center-city students. Schools contiued on page 30 See the Foley difference during our Open House on November 14th 2010 • 2PM - 5PM “Big enough to offer a wide range of academics and athletics, but small enough for individual attention.” Over 130 course offerings, a wide variety of clubs, extracurricular activities, sports teams, an award winning Fine Arts Department, retreats, masses and daily prayer! Call us at (248) 585-1210 or email us at mainoffice@bishopfoley.org for more information or to schedule a visit. 32000 Campbell Road • Madison Heights • 248-585-1210 • www.bishopfoley.org We Would love to add your honorable name to our list of chaldean families that attend st. anne school. SEPTEMBER 2010 CHALDEAN NEWS 29
