The Catholic School Advantage

BRIDGING THE EDUCATION GAP

The “Catholic School Advantage” is a large body of research that has consistently shown that students in Catholic and other private schools demonstrate higher academic achievement than students from similar backgrounds in public schools. This same body of research has shown that the poorer and more at-risk a student is, the greater the achievement gains in Catholic schools. While the students at San Juan Diego Academy face many challenges that can interfere with learning, our rigorous academic program and supportive environment helps our students overcome these challenge and achieve academic success! Annual test scores show consistent improvement in student performance across all subjects. 

Additionally, San Juan Diego Academy students consistently outperform their charter and public-school counterparts on Standardized Testing in the areas of Math and Reading. The charts below show test scores for students at San Juan Diego Academy and similar students at nearby charter and public schools.

(Internal data for San Juan Diego Academy students in 2023 shows that, on average, our students are performing below the national academic norm upon starting their education - but are excelling by the time they are ready for high school.)

The academic success of our students is the result of an educational approach that encourages collaborative learning, nurtures our students’ critical thinking skills, and helps them develop a lifelong love of learning. The strong academic program at San Juan Diego Academyprovides students with a strong foundation that helps them succeed in high school and beyond. Over the last several years, one hundred percent of our graduating eighth grade students have been accepted into Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School, a school known for its rigorous academics and the first STEM certified school in the state of Michigan. All 24 students from our 2022 graduating class are currently attending Grand Rapids Catholic Central.