Studies show that Catholic school students are back on track in post-pandemic academia.

Despite the deficits in student learning caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Catholic schools across the nation are finding that their strategies for getting students back to normal as quickly as possible are paying off, a press release stated. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, Catholic school students are scoring higher in math and reading than their public-school counterparts and enrollment is climbing.

More than 90% of Catholic schools opened in person safely five days a week with hybrid options during the pandemic. This is compared to about 56% of public schools, resulting in increased enrollment according to a 2021–22 report by the National Catholic Education Association.

Locally, Notre Dame Preparatory High School in Scottsdale has not only experienced a record increase in enrollment the past two years, but is also seeing that student performance is catching up to prepandemic levels, the release stated.

“We worked quickly in 2020 to keep our students learning through online, hybrid and on-campus methods,” NDP President Jill Platt said in the release. “We invested a lot in technology and sanitation, and by January 2021, we were completely on-campus teaching in the classroom and helping our students flourish and feel somewhat normal in a very challenging time.”

At the beginning of the 2021–22 school year, NDP leaders moved forward with a strategic tiered plan to open the school to all students without requiring masks. The tiers involved meticulous contact tracing and quarantine methods to ensure the safety of students and teachers alike.

“Our students craved normalcy and we tried to provide it as safely as possible,” added NDP Principal Brie Dragonetti, who was in constant contact with the health department at the time.

The pandemic was a catalyst for change at NDP as administrators and teachers found effective ways to help students close gaps in their education, build confidence, improve test scores and increase their overall social and communication skills, the release stated. According to Tracey Heisler, NDP’s assistant principal for student learning, the need for academic support plans nearly doubled for those who attended junior high during COVID.

“Those numbers are beginning to level off now and our programs seem to be working,” she said.

The school implemented the following procedures to improve student learning:

• Teachers were tasked with recording lessons for each class so students who were sick or quarantined could keep up with their daily work. They continue to do this now for all illnesses and family emergencies.
• In 2020, NDP administrators created a COVID Response Guide for faculty and staff that offered advice for instruction, assessments and self-care.
• They provided special professional development about technology and alternative testing.
• WIN (What I Need) Time was implemented in 2021 so that teachers could offer intervention support during the school day for any student struggling to master a required skill.
• The Academic Resource Center at NDP opened in 2022 and is staffed with interventionists who specialize in core subjects to help students succeed.
• NDP offers all students small-group instruction and tutoring every day after school.

NDP math teacher Cindy Kirk said she sees that the gaps in learning attributed to COVID are closing.

“Our classes are small and we were able to take each student as they were individually,” Kirk said in the release. “What they need is important to us. Win Time was a great addition and has been helpful for teachers to help close those gaps.”

NDP is a Catholic diocesan college preparatory high school with a co-ed enrollment of 975 students. In 2022, it was recognized by the United States Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School and has received national recognition for the caliber of its academic, arts and athletic programs. The school is located at 9701 E. Bell Road in Scottsdale.