Prep Talk

Catholic High School Grads Make More Money (Among Other Benefits)

Posted January 18th, 2016

The performance statistics of Catholic high schools are compelling. According to a report from the Department of Education, students who attended Catholic schools were about twice as likely as those who attended public high schools to graduate from college. The study followed (for a decade) a representative sample of more than 13,000 Americans who were sophomores in high school in 2002. Here are some of the stats:

• 61.9 % of Catholic high school grads went on to earn a bachelor’s degree or higher, as opposed to 31.1% of public school graduates, and 57.1% of non-Catholic private schools (by the time they were eight years out of high school).
• Unemployment rates were very low for those earning Bachelor’s degrees: only 5.2% for those with degrees, 29% for high school drop-outs and 15% for those who did not attend post-secondary school.
• 33% of those with bachelor’s or higher degrees earned an income of $40,000 or more.

The diagram below from a PEW study illustrates the value (in 2012 dollars) for young adults achieving a Bachelor’s degree. Something to think about during those all-important high school years:

While a college education does not guarantee a higher income for everyone, you can see that it’s certainly a competitive advantage in the job market, especially in hard times, when employers can be choosy. However, choosing where to send your child to high school isn’t just about increasing their earning potential.

Money Isn’t Everything

As much as we want our children to succeed in life, money isn’t everything. Parents list a variety of reasons for choosing a Catholic high school education for their children, including:

• Reinforcing the importance of kindness and charity
• A closer sense of community
• Independence building
• A loving mixture of traditional and current teaching styles
• Encouraging Spirituality

Want more proof of the benefits of a Catholic high school education? Below are some comments from those who chose an education at St. Augustine Prep.

From Parents:

“There is no other institution in the South Jersey area that educates and helps to form boys into fine, well-rounded, respectful young men as well, or in the same way, as the Prep does. Couldn’t be happier, as a proud alumnus (’85), to have my son enter the brotherhood as a member of the Class of 2018. ~ J. Huscher”

“As I approach the graduation of my 2nd son, I can say unequivocally the 8 years of my two boys going to the Prep have been the greatest investment I have ever made! There is no parallel to what boys get out of this school. It is the opportunity of a lifetime, and allows them to reach heights they would have never reached anywhere else. ~ R. Wolf”

From Students:

“I made this decision early on for two main reasons: my older brother’s experience and the outstanding athletic programs. My brother was a very shy and awkward person before he went to school at the Prep. He nervously traveled to the Prep on his first day, not knowing any of the other boys. He had fleeting thoughts of transferring to a different school where his old friends were going, but after he came home from his first day of school, it was set in stone; he was committed to attending the Prep. Now, six years later, my brother has flourished into an outgoing, well-spoken, and empathetic junior at Johns Hopkins University. Witnessing what a fine gentleman my shy brother evolved into, I know that St. Augustine is a spectacular school, and I look forward to achieving similar results. ~ C. Kuhn”

“What makes the Prep special? I think it starts with the Faculty, from Father Reilley on down to administration, you build good relationships with them. That’s what makes the Prep so special. ~ C. Lindsay”

Indeed, relationships developed in High School (both with faculty and other students), has a big impact on our adult lives moving forward. At St. Augustine Prep, Brotherhood is stressed as the foundation of building those relationships. One of the best illustrations of why students and parents chose an education at the Prep is this video that shows the importance of The Brotherhood that students establish, which stays with them well beyond their high school years:

Is a Catholic high school education right for your child? There are many things to consider beyond the statistics that prove the worth of this investment, such as character building, spiritual growth, a challenging curriculum, athletic opportunities, and a closely-knit sense of community. Take a look at the choices you have. Talk with your child about their choices, and about what they want to accomplish beyond high school. Most importantly, visit the schools in your area. Many have a “shadowing” program where prospective students can get an inside view of life at the school.

For more information on the Prep’s admissions program, visit: https://www.hermits.com/admissions