200 Catholic Schools Closed Since 2019

(from Cato Institute) New data on Roman Catholic school enrollment confirms that private schools, especially Catholic schools, are hurting during the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Catholic Educational Association just announced a 6.4% enrollment drop in Catholic schools between the 2019–20 and 2020–21 school years. That is roughly equal to private schools generally, according to Cato Institute research. The NCEA reports that more than 200 Catholic schools closed or consolidated since the 2019–20 school year, and they make up most of the closures tracked by Cato. Declining numbers of low‐​cost clergy faculty, Catholics becoming “mainstream” and feeling more comfortable in public schools and priest scandals are factors, but Cato surmises these closures may simply be getting more attention due to the larger profile of a diocese versus individual independent schools. 

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