Diocese of Bridgeport
STATE OF THE SCHOOL ADDRESS
JANUARY 6, 2016
Topics to be addressed:
1. General Statistics
2. Mission of Catholic Education
3. Enrollment
4. School Finances
5. Bishop’s Scholarship Fund
6. Tuition Assistance Committees
7. Strategic Planning
1. General Statistics
 Number of Catholic schools: 31
 20 Elementary Level (PreK to 8)
 3 Elementary Level (PreK to 5)
 1 Middle School (Grades 5 to 8)
 5 Secondary Schools (Grades 9 – 12)
 Catholic Academy of Bridgeport (4 campuses, PreK – Grade 8)
 Saint Catherine Academy (School for Students with Special Needs)
Total Number of Elementary School Students: 6,400
Total Number of Secondary School Students: 2,474
Number of active alumni: 118,757
1. General Statistics
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Number of Faculty: 781
638 Faculty teach full-time
144 Faculty teach part time
490 faculty members hold advanced degrees in their field (beyond
bachelor’s degree)
Number of Advisory Boards for Elementary Schools:22
336 Total Members who serve on these Advisory Boards
Number of those who “support” Catholic education: 112,172
2. Mission of Catholic Education
Key Elements:
I. Living, Learning and Sharing Our Catholic Faith
II. Christian Service
III. Rigorous Academic Program
IV. Vibrant Student Life
V. Integrated Use of Technology
2. Mission of Catholic Education
I. Living, Learning and Sharing Our Catholic Faith
2. Mission of Catholic Education
I. Living, Learning and Sharing Our Catholic Faith
Through Mass:
• Attend Mass weekly
• First Friday Mass
• Eucharistic celebration hosted by individual grades
• Singings, reading and serving
• Altar serve
Through prayer:
• Students engage in prayer throughout the day in their classrooms
• Praying a decade of the rosary
• Morning prayer to center each day
• Afternoon prayers written by students
• Pray the Angelus
• Pray the Act of Contrition at the end of the day
• Stations of the Cross
• Living Stations
• May Crowning
• Faculty prayer (daily, weekly) together
In classrooms:
• Gospel values are an integral part of our instruction
• Learning the lives of saints
• Learning the teachings of Church
With one another (in our communities)
• In Prayer
• At Mass
• In Service
• On Retreat
• Recognizing students and teachers monthly for embodying gospel
values
• Big Sisters & Big Brothers between grade levels
• Vocation Day
• In Confession
• Celebrating Holy Days
• Teaching Religious Education
2. Mission of Catholic Education
II. Service as an outgrowth of Catholic Faith:
100% of students provide service to the community:
◦ The value of service is emphasized in every grade
◦ Service is typically required from grade 6 to 12
◦ Sample Service projects include: food and clothing drives,
fund raisers, prayer groups, parish service projects, etc.
130,167 hours of service were provided by our students to
the parish, school and larger community
2. Mission of Catholic Education
III. Rigorous Academic Program
• Differentiated instruction
• Accelerated Math Grades 4 – 8
• Language instruction in French, Spanish & Mandarin
• Emphasis on Reading and Math readiness
• Block schedule
• STEM
• Full day PreK
• 21st century learning emphasis on communication, collaboration and higher
order thinking (public speaking and presenting)
2. Mission of Catholic Education
III. Rigorous Academic Program
 In Reading on average Diocese of Bridgeport students test 2.8 grade levels
higher than their current grade.
 In ELA on average Diocese of Bridgeport students test 3.2 grade levels higher
than their current grade.
 In Math on average Diocese of Bridgeport students test 1.3 grade levels higher
than their current grade.
(Source: 2015 Terra Nova Grade Equivalent Report Grades 3-7 ELA, Reading and Math.
Terra Nova is a national achievement test that measures mastery in core subjects. )
2. Mission of Catholic Education
III. Rigorous Academic Program: University partnerships
• University of Bridgeport (Art)
• Fairfield University English Department (Poetry, STEM)
• Fairfield University Science Department
• Housatonic Community College
• Monroe College
• Sacred Heart University (Math, STEM)
• Southern Connecticut State University (Reading)
• University ECE Program (US History, European History, and Physics)
• Western Connecticut State University (STEM)
2. Mission of Catholic Education
Key Benchmarks:
◦ Over 50% of elementary schools were awarded the National Blue
Ribbon from the US Department of Education.
◦ 98% of 8th graders are admitted to the high school of their choice
◦ 99% of all high school seniors are college bound
◦ National Honors:
◦ 344 National Honor Society Members; 201 National Junior Honor Society, 2
National Merit Semi-Finalists and 6 National Merit Letter of Commendation
◦ $55 million awarded to the HS graduating class of 2015
2. Mission of Catholic Education
Key Benchmarks (cont.)
• AP Courses offered: 17
• Bio, Chem, Physics I, Physics II, English Comp, English Lit, US History,
Government, Psychology, Calc AB, Art Virtual: Calc BC, Prob & Stats,
French, Spanish, Economics, Music Theory
• AP Scores of 3: 162 students
• AP Score of 4: 112 students
• AP Score of 5: 70 students
2. Mission of Catholic Education
IV. Vibrant Student Life
• 348 different clubs and activities offered in our schools
• 193 sports teams (total)
• 25% of students perform in one sport (*School reported)
• 70% of our students perform in Fine Arts & Music offering
2. Mission of Catholic Education
IV. Vibrant Student Life: Arts & Music Offerings
Art Club
Jazz Band
Art Camp
Chorus
Liturgical Choir
Art Show
School Play
Talent Show
Spring Musical
Band
Select chorus
Art History
Piano
Guitar Club
World Music
8th Grade Play
Poetry
Acting
Drama Club
Advanced Drawing
2. Mission of Catholic Education
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IV. Vibrant Student Life: Awards and Championships
Fordham University Recognition For Outstanding Service, May, 2015
State Award for Odyssey of the Mind. Participation in Iowa Nationals.
GSOC - State Champ, HALO - Multiple awards for Musical
Connecticut State Science Fair finalists; Zaner Bloser national handwriting award.
One 2015 graduate placed 2nd in the Knights of Columbus essay contest for the State of CT and placed 2nd on the
International Level.
A 4th grade student placed 2nd in the Danbury Fire Prevention Contest.
Connecticut Invention Convention
Connecticut Science Fair
State Championship Spelling Bee
State Geography Bee
Students Selected as Winners for the Stratford Library Hispanic
Black Heritage Essay Contest, Student Selected as the Sheehan Center "Girl of the Year"
The Halo Award for Theater Best Duo
Class State Diving Championship
City Championship in Football
City Championship in Baseball
Knights of Columbus Spelling Bee
Stamford Public Library's Literacy competition. Our students also designed and painted a City owned electric box near UBS on
Washington Blvd.
Modern Woodsmen oratorical regional award
5 State Athletic Championships
1 National Athletic Championship
Mock Trial competed at the State Level.
We have had students consistently place 1st , 2nd and 3rd at the regional Knights of Columbus Spelling Bee (for grades 4-6)
and two years in a row, had students place at the state level. Our students have also placed at the regional level for the
Modern Woodman Oratorical Contest and in past years, have placed at the state and national levels as well.
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Knights of Columbus Spelling Bee
Diocesan and New England Basketball Champions
Lauralton Hall Science Olympics
Girls Basketball - Third Place Regional Tournament
Gold Level Achievement MathCounts
Varsity Boys Basketball League Champions
Boys Varsity basketball won St Ann League
American Woodmen State Speech Contest - first place
Fire prevention Art award
School safety essay
Women of Connecticut Historical essay contest
Breakfast of Champions;
DAR-Writing/Social Studies
Science-Pathways to STEM
Girls Varsity New England CYO Basketball Champions
Student Winner of the VFW Patriot's Pen Essay Contest
Each year we have students who receive the Rotary Club of Trumbull's Student of the Month award.
We have had students consistently place 1st , 2nd and 3rd at the regional Knights of Columbus Spelling Bee
(for grades 4-6) and two years in a row, had students place at the state level.
Our students have also placed at the regional level for the Modern Woodman Oratorical Contest and in past
years, have placed at the the state and national levels as well.
Last year, we had 1st and 2nd place finishers in the State of Connecticut Women's History Month 6th Grade
Essay Contest sponsored by our state representatives
Last year, we had 1st and 2nd place finishers in the State of Connecticut Women's History Month 6th Grade
Essay Contest sponsored by our state representatives
we have students who receive the Rotary Club of Trumbull's Student of the Month award.
Top 30 Jrs. in State
1 student Connecticut Legislature Youth of the Year
2. Mission of Catholic Education
IV. Vibrant Student Life: Student Character
Wildcats that WOW
Students of the Month
Thankful Project
Make a Difference Club
SADD
Random Acts of Kindness
Think First, Stay Safe
Buddy Programs
Junior Achievement
Cougar Teams
Miracle Workers
Peer Mediation
Little Flowers
Peace Works Club
Student council
Pay-It-Forward Club
2. Mission of Catholic Education
V. Integrated Use of Technology
• Fiber optic technology for increased bandwidth, speed, reliability and security
• Projection and Presentation technology via SMART Boards
• Ample 1:1 student technology: laptops, tablets, minis including Chromebook,
Ipad, or Surface
• Google Classrooms
• Digital Assignments and Digital Textbooks
3. Elementary Student Enrollment
Total Number of Elementary School Students: 6,400
Pre K
908
K
556
Grade 1
588
Grade 2
614
Grade 3
617
Grade 4
635
Grade 5
600
Grade 6
652
Grade 7
598
Grade 8
632
3. Secondary Student Enrollment
Total Number of Secondary School Students: 2,474
Grade 9
631
Grade 10
620
Grade 11
612
Grade 12
611
3. Student Enrollment
Male/Female Ratio: 8,874 students
◦4,526 Female (51%)
◦4,348 Male (49%)
216 International students from 20 different countries
3. Student Enrollment
6413
Elementary and High School Enrollment
8000
7000
7769
6739
6000
5000
6605
6413
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
2009
SEPT 2014
JUNE 2015
2402
2417
2418
2479
2009
SEPT 2014
JUNE 2015
SEPT 2015
SEPT 2015
Elementary School Enrollment
Census 2009
High School Enrollment
Census 2014
Jun-15
Census 2015
3. Student Enrollment
Issues to be considered:
Downward trend is single greatest challenge facing the schools
Financial Challenges are direct result from diminishing enrollment
Retention is different from non re-registration
Need to identify reasons why students withdrew
4. School Financial Analysis
Operational Deficit /Surplus
2015.16 Budgets
Revenue
Expenditures
(Deficit)/Surplus
Elementary Schools
45,366,963
46,505,578
(1,138,615)
High Schools
31,678,938
31,645,358
33,580
Total
77,045,901
78,150,936
(1,105,035)
4. School Financial Information
Elementary School Budget Breakdown
Revenue
2015.2016 Budget
Expenditures
Tuition
81%
Salaries & Benefits
78%
Fundraising
3%
Instructional & Administrative
13%
Operations & Maintenance
9%
Contributions (inc. Diocese) 14%
Other Revenue
2%
4. School Financial Information
High School Budget Breakdown
Revenue
2015.2016 Budget
Expenditures
Tuition
83%
Salaries & Benefits
73%
Fundraising
3%
Instructional & Administrative
10%
Operations & Maintenance
17%
Contributions (inc. Diocese) 8%
Other Revenue
6%
4. School Financial Information
Average Student Tuition/Cost
2015.2016 Budget
Elementary
High Schools
Average 1 child Tuition
6,435
12,162
Average Per pupil cost
7,263
12,724
Tuition vs. PPC Differential
(828)
(562)
4. School Financial Information
Debt owed to the Diocese
Diocesan Debt
7/1-11/30/15
Prior Years
Total
Current Elementary Schools
1,369,908
15,109,257
16,479,165
652,215
4,107,291
4,759,506
2,022,123
19,216,548
21,238,671
High Schools
Total Debt in Operation
4. School Financial Information
Key Barometers for long term Financial Stability:
Using current year revenue to pay current year’s expenses
Each program maintain financial solvency
All diocesan debts be paid in full for each academic year
Amount of uncollected tuition and fees
Money is being raised for “investment” in new programs
5. Bishop’s Scholarship Fund
Tuition Assistance - Elementary Schools:
Needed: $6,400,000+ / Met 65% of need ($4,200,000)
Over 1,900 students awarded
$1,400,000 in private scholarships
$600,000 school grants
Additional $2,200,000 in aid from the Scholarship Fund
Scholarship Fund Impact:
Doubled aid to elementary school families
Almost $2.2M has been awarded for 2015-2016 school year
Over 1500 students received awards
Close to 300 new students received an award
6. Tuition Assistance Committees
Mission
Purpose
Mechanics
Next Steps
Identification of Members for your school’s TAC
Training Session: January 20, 2016 at 7:00 PM (Catholic Center)
7. Strategic Planning Process
NEASC: Long Range Strategic Planning
Education Commission
Viability Templates and Projections
Schools Visits
Tactical Plans
Long range Strategic Planning
Questions and Answers