Hope in the New Year: Catholic Schools 2026-27
The beginning of a new school year always brings me hope. That hope comes from knowing that our children are being formed in wonderful schools, learning the beautiful truths of our Catholic faith. In addition to the traditional academic subjects, our students are taught the virtues and habits that make life meaningful and vibrant. As many graduates from Catholic schools will tell you, those life lessons create the foundation for careers, marriage and family, and a lifelong commitment to faith and service to others.
The beginning of a new school year always brings me hope. That hope comes from knowing that our children are being formed in wonderful schools, learning the beautiful truths of our Catholic faith. In addition to the traditional academic subjects, our students are taught the virtues and habits that make life meaningful and vibrant. As many graduates from Catholic schools will tell you, those life lessons create the foundation for careers, marriage and family, and a lifelong commitment to faith and service to others.
We are blessed to have nearly 14,000 students enrolled in our 47 Catholic schools and early childhood centers. We proudly rank as the 39th largest diocese (out of 176) for Catholic school enrollment in the United States. While enrollment nationwide has declined by 12.6% over the past decade, it has grown by 10.6% in our diocese. And we are on target to open our newest Prek-8 Catholic school, Mater Dei, in August 2027, next to St. Anne Catholic Church in Ruskin.
Our Catholic schools have an impressive academic record. On the 2026 TerraNova Assessment, our average eighth-grade score was at the 77th percentile, meaning that our students scored better than three quarters of their peers across the country. In addition, our high school graduates score well above state and national averages on the ACT, SAT, and Advanced Placement exams, and continue to be admitted to the finest universities. In fact, it’s common for our graduates to report that college is significantly easier than their Catholic high schools.
Over and above any of our other achievements, our Catholic schools form the hearts and souls of our students. In his recent book, The Meaning of Your Life, Harvard professor and Catholic, Arthur Brooks, talks about a “meaning gap” that many young people experience in modern society. This is an area where our Catholic schools excel. We teach that it’s not enough to simply pursue knowledge or material success; the true measure of our lives is in how we love God and one another.
On a last and personal note, this year presents a new reality for my wife and me as it’s the first time in 20 years that we won’t have children in a Catholic school. Our son is in the United States Air Force, and our daughter will start college this fall. My advice to younger parents is this: give gratitude every day for the joy, excitement, and yes, the madness and exhaustion that comes with being a mom or dad of school-aged children. It is one of God’s greatest gifts!
As we begin this new school year, we celebrate the growth, excellence, and faith that define our Catholic schools. I ask for your prayer for our students, teachers, parents, pastors, and all who dedicate their lives to leading young people to a deeper relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christopher Pastura is Superintendent of Catholic Schools and Centers in the Diocese of Saint Petersburg serving nearly 14,000 students in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus Counties.
