Bridging the gap: urban Catholic schools addressing educational achievement and opportunity gaps in the United States

Abstract

Urban Catholic schools in the United States have been shown to be particularly effective at increasing student achievement, especially among minority students and disadvantaged students. Unfortunately many of these schools have been forced to close due to financial struggle, as enrollments and parish subsidies decrease and the costs of education increase. This article takes an in-depth look at urban Catholic schools within the greater context of urban education in the United States, with a focus on students, staff, and structure, the challenges schools face, and promising reforms for viability in the future.