Saving Catholic Schools

The Thomas B. Fordham Institute in Ohio has issued a report, "Who Will Save America's Urban Catholic Schools?" This is interesting reading for anyone interested in saving Archbishop Walsh High School.

Of particular note, seen in the executive summary on case-study findings (Page 5), is the idea that the primary causes of massive Catholic School closures have been demographics and economics.

While some cities actually are opening new Catholic high schools (as recently announced here in Austin, TX), demographics and economics are decidedly large factors in such growth.

In the case of AWHS, if the large circumstances of demographics (too few students, fewer parishes) and economics (higher costs for salaries and for fuel to warm facilities and run buses), the question remains: What next? What say you?