According to a recent report from the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), Catholic school enrollment grew by 0.3% during the 2022-2023 school year. While this is a small increase from the 2021-2022 school year, it is a significant reversal in the downward enrollment trends that Catholic schools were experiencing prior to the pandemic. 

To keep this momentum going, Catholic schools must continue to attract and retain families. Many Catholic schools are achieving this goal, in part, because they have expanded their curriculum to include courses and formats that better meet the needs, demands and interests of students today. With the right strategy, you too can expand your course offering in thoughtful and valuable ways that are sure to boost enrollment. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Offer an independent study program

For many high school students, independent study programs are a way to reach their full potential and proactively advance their talents and studies. These programs provide students with a unique opportunity to customize their learning experience, dive deep into an interest area, explore different learning modalities, test drive a potential major, fuel a passion, earn college credits and more. 

By offering an independent study option, you’re creating a pathway for students to personalize their learning experience and access enrichment opportunities outside of your regular offering. For certain students and their parents, an independent study program is incredibly attractive and can help your school stand out in their minds. Just remember to support students in their journey by giving them the tools they need to succeed, including access to a mentor or advisor who can provide program oversight, guidance and recommendations. Also, consider partnering with an accredited, Catholic online-learning provider to ensure students have access to challenging and quality courses.

Embrace online learning and remote teaching

According to a recent report from the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, there are more than 36,500 teacher vacancies in the United States and over 163,500 positions filled by underqualified teachers — and these are conservative findings. Expanding your curriculum in this environment is not easy, especially when your talent pool is confined to your own geographic area.  

One way to overcome teacher shortages and skill gaps is to make online learning part of your curriculum. Let’s say students express interest in a computer programming language or Advanced Placement® course, but a qualified teacher is not available in your area. By leveraging teachers outside of your geographical location and allowing them to teach remotely through an online channel, you can drastically expand your talent pool and gain access to subject-matter experts who are qualified to teach the specialized courses students desire. 

Partner with trusted third parties 

Expanding your curriculum to include a greater depth and breadth of courses and formats is great in concept, but it can place an additional burden on your staff and operations. By partnering with a third party, you can outsource the work associated with course development, instruction and more. For example, are there parents, subject-matter experts or local business owners who can help develop courses or lead classes? Can you offer a dual-credit program by partnering with a nearby college or university? Or perhaps, trusted, local establishments can provide hands-on educational opportunities, such as an internship, in exchange for student workers or volunteers? 

Additionally, you can partner with an accredited third party that specializes in Catholic education and will develop the curriculum, provide qualified teachers, supply a reliable technology platform for online learning and handle student communication, grading, technical support and more. You can focus your efforts on providing program direction and oversight — and they’ll do the rest. 

Help parents overcome their hesitations

Expanding your course offering may require embracing new approaches and learning modalities. Change can feel uncomfortable for everyone involved, especially parents. To help parents overcome their hesitations with a new method or approach, help them see the benefits. 

For example, many parents worry that the quality of education or personalized support may suffer with online learning. But in reality, with the right teacher or content, an online class can be more engaging than an in-person class. Online learning can free up in-class time for more personalized support and strategic thinking. Teachers have more flexibility, which helps with retention. Furthermore, we’re living in a digital world. The majority of professions and higher education require digital prowess of some degree. According to Best Colleges, it has become increasingly common over the past twenty years for students to take their courses online. In fall 2021, about 6 in 10 college students took at least one course online. Ensuring high school students are prepared for the digital realities of their future is a critical factor in their future success. 

While online learning is sometimes met with resistance, there are many ways it can enhance the overall Catholic school experience. For more information on this topic, we encourage you to check out our recent blog on the topic. 

You have a partner in Catholic Virtual 

Catholic Virtual is the online partner that hundreds of K-12 Catholic schools worldwide trust to help them take their curriculum to new and exciting places. As a Cognia-accredited Catholic school partner, we are committed to providing students with the same high-quality Catholic school education they receive within your classroom walls. We offer a wide range of online courses and work with your school to develop a customized program that will allow you to offer the courses and educational experience that are best suited for you and your students. 

To learn more about Catholic Virtual, please visit catholicvirtual.com or call 772-362-1754 today.