Test Scores / College Acceptance

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has about 6,400 students in 8th grade. For the core subjects of Reading, Language, and Math our average grade equivalency is 9.6, which means an average 8th grade student in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is performing as though they are mid-way through freshman year in high school in core subjects.

The National Percentile Rank (where students are compared to similar students across the country) is 65 meaning that an average 8th grader performs better than 65% of 8th graders in the country in core subjects. Finally, just under 70% of our students perform in the top two quartiles. This measure most closely matches the public school measure of proficiency.

In all of these areas, the Elementary students within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles do significantly better than their counterparts in public schools

Please see the blue rows at the top of the 8th Grade Test Scores PDF file below to view the summary of the data for each subject area.

Loyola Marymount University (LMU) Study

From 2001-2005 The Loyola Marymount University (LMU) School of Education engaged in a pilot phase of a research initiative to examine the success factors of students attending inner-city Catholic schools in the Los Angeles Archdiocese. This pilot study was focused only on a particular set of students in Los Angeles Catholic schools that received funding from the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) for a specific period of time. The results of this pilot study indicate that Catholic schools are making a major contribution in Los Angeles to ethnic minority and low SES students. While further phases of study are needed, these data support the axiom that “Catholic education is an advantage for life” – not just for the individual but also for society.

By entering into a historic agreement with the Catholic Education Foundation and the Department of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles (DCS), LMU was able to conduct a study that explored the promise of Catholic Schools for educating the future of Los Angeles.

Preliminary Results of the Phase I CEF-LMU Catholic School Study December 11, 2007

Continuation Rate Continuation rate is defined as the percentage of students who were enrolled in 8th grade in 2001 and continued on to 9th grade in 2002. Each student was enrolled in a Catholic school and was a CEF funded student in 8th grade during 2001. The sample size was 603 students. 100% CEF students continued from 8th to 9th grade.

ETHNICITY Count Percent Asian 21 3.5 Black/African American 43 7.1 Hispanic/Latino 454 75.0 Pacific Islander 6 1.0 White/Other 76 12.6 Total 600 99.2% Female = 350, Male = 250, Declined to state = 3 Special 8th Grade Students • 100% continuation rate (sample size of 134) SOS Awarded Students • 100% continuation rate (sample size of 22)

Graduation Rate Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of students who were enrolled in 9th grade in 2002 and graduated with a high school diploma in 2005. The sample size was 205 students.

ETHNICITY Count Percent Asian 6 3.0 Black/African American 9 4.4 Declined to State 2 1.0 Hispanic/Latino 163 79.5 Pacific Islander 1 .5 White/Other 24 11.7 Total 205 100.0% Female = 112, Male = 82, Declined to State = 1 Special 8th Grade Students • 113 Special 8th grade students graduated with a diploma • 1 graduated with a GED • 99% graduation rate SOS Awarded Students • 9 SOS students graduated with a diploma • 100% SOS graduation Rate

Graduation and drop-out rates: • 97.5% (200) graduated with a high school diploma • 0.5% (1) received a GED • 1% (2) dropped out • 1% (2) declined to participate

Initial findings from the LMU study include:

• CEF tuition awardees are succeeding academically despite many personal and
financial difficulties

• Parents of CEF tuition awardees perceive Catholic schools as partners in raising
their children

• CEF alumni believe that Catholic schools have a profound impact on their lives
and society

• Catholic school principals confirm that CEF tuition awards are key to keeping
many urban schools open

• CEF alumni are committed to social justice