CV NEWS FEED // Catholic elementary and high schools within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles are kicking off the new school year with expanded programs to aid disadvantaged students.
The tri-county Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which houses the largest Catholic school system in the United States, oversees 250 elementary and high schools which provide a faith-based education to more than 67,000 students. The Archdiocese’ schools span over Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties.
According to an August 13 emailed news release, the Early College Network (ECN) has significantly expanded, now encompassing ten high schools and serving over 500 students in the Los Angeles Archdiocese.
The program, through partnership with major universities like Arizona State and Seton Hill, allows high school students to earn college credits, which enhances high school transcripts, showcases students’ ability to succeed in college-level courses, and reduces overall college costs.
The ECN program has facilitated the completion of 1,088 courses and the accumulation of 3,251 college credits over the past year.
The report additionally shares that the Solidarity Schools initiative, entering its fourth year, supports over 4,000 students by improving literacy and math skills, as well as “by targeting attendance, behavior, and parent and family involvement, giving students valuable skills to help break the cycle of poverty.”
The Solidarity Schools program has already shown notable progress, with key achievements including a 9-point reduction in urgent intervention needs for elementary reading and a 25% increase in early literacy benchmarks.
Senior Director and Superintendent of Catholic Schools Paul Escala said in the news release, “As we embark on a new school year, we are proud to announce expanded opportunities for our students to grow and excel, both in the classroom, and beyond.”
“Through the growth of our Early College Network and our Solidarity Schools initiative,” Escala continued, “the Department of Catholic Schools continues to demonstrate its commitment to developing today’s students into the successful leaders of tomorrow.”
