Why Are We Here?

Catholic elementary and secondary schools simply do not exist in the Portland and West End neighborhoods of Louisville, Kentucky.

In addition three equally significant factors intersect to explain the reasons behind our founding and faith-inspired work:

• the lack of access to a quality education and socioeconomic barriers that challenge the community;
• the fact Louisville-area Catholic schools have demonstrated a remarkable track-record in preparing youth for educational success and building community at the same time. 
• the imperative of Catholic tradition and social teaching that Catholic education be available and present in underserved communities.

The Hard Facts on Equal Access to Education and Poverty in West Louisville

The Portland and the West End neighborhoods of Louisville, Kentucky are wonderfully diverse inner city communities with a rich history.  Unfortunately, like most inner city communities across the United States,it is deeply challenged with the lack of access to quality education (for an excellent analysis see Jonathan Kozol’s book Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s Schools (New York: Harper Perennial), 1991. 2010

Kentucky school test scores
No Child Left Behind and Kentucky Core Content Test scores

By any measure of educational performance, the Portland and West End schools are well behind our closest neighbors, the State of Kentucky, and the US.

• Elementary schools serving the Portland community have ranked within the bottom 10 throughout the state of Kentucky based on the CATS standardized exam (Commonwealth Accountability Testing System). 
• Shawnee High School & Western Middle School were named among the 5 lowest performing schools in the state of Kentucky (2009).
• Shawnee High School’s graduation rate is 64% compared to Kentucky at 81% and Catholic high schools at 99.1%.
• Most recently, only 21 % of Jefferson County schools met their No Child Left Behind goals.

According to the US Census 2000, a mere 2% of Portland residents possess a college degree.

These gaps are unacceptable and point to the immense challenges these students face. Furthermore, Portland and the West End are challenged by high rates of families living in poverty, unemployment and lower-than-average measures of earning capacity.

Catholic Tradition & Social Teaching on Education

Catholic social thought is filled with insight into the need for quality education and the role of Catholic schools in serving the poor.

Below is an excerpt from the United States Catholic Bishops (USCCB) document “Renewing Our Commitment to Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools in the Third Millennium.” (2005) The full document can be found at http://www.usccb.org/bishops/schools.pdf

“Young people are a valued treasure and future leaders of our Church. It is the responsibility of the entire Catholic community – bishops, priests, deacons, religious, laity – to continue to strive towards the goal of making our Catholic elementary and secondary schools available, accessible and affordable to all Catholic parents and their children, including those who are poor and middle class.

Young people of the third millennium must be a source of energy and leadership in our church and in our nation. Therefore, we must provide young people with an academically rigorous and doctrinally sound program of education and faith formation designed to strengthen their union with Christ and his Church. Catholic schools collaborate with parents and guardians in raising and forming their children as families struggle with changing cultural and moral contexts in which they find themselves. By equipping our young people with a sound education, rooted in the Gospel message, the Person of Jesus Christ, and rich in the cherished traditions and liturgical practices of our faith we ensure that they have the foundation to live morally and uprightly in our complex modern world.

Catholic schools are often the Church’s most effective contribution to those families who are poor and disadvantaged, especially in poor inner city neighborhoods and rural areas. Catholic schools cultivate healthy interaction among the increasingly diverse populations of our society. In cities and rural areas, Catholic schools are often the only opportunity for economically disadvantaged young people to receive an education of quality that speaks to the development of the whole person.”

While it is universally recognized that education is one of the cornerstones to building individual and community well being – and overcoming the obstacles and challenges associated with living in poverty - we are faced with the reality that Portland and the West End do not have equal access to a quality educational system.

Catholic schools are suited – and, most importantly, called - to address the dilemma facing people and communities who are underserved.