Chapter 4: Catholic Schools’ Enduring Presence in Urban America: From Conversion to Mediation

The popular media in recent years has placed close scrutiny on the Catholic Church. One significant concern highlighted by media outlets across the country is the declining number of Catholic schools able to sustain operations in urban centers. What is not being discussed is the impact urban Catholic schools have had on the American society since their inception. Indeed, inner-city Catholic schools are in the unique situation of being both highly successful and highly endangered. Youniss and Convey (2000) highlight the fact that Catholic schools have provided significant benefits to many poor, urban students, but the daunting challenges facing these schools threaten their existence. Cattaro (2002) argues that to maintain a presence in urban America, Catholic school leaders need to seek other ways to meet the educational needs of children in urban areas. Without the construction and development of new paradigms for inner-city Catholic education that do not rely primarily on tuition to meet costs, opportunities for inner-city students to attend Catholic schools, and thus have a chance at ending the cycle of poverty, may continue to diminish.