Catholic School Spotlight : Holy Family Catholic School
November 22, 2011
Editor’s note: Catholic Schools Spotlight is a series focusing on Archdiocesan schools and their commitment to the mission of the Church — to educate and form the whole person in mind, heart and spirit. Each feature will highlight a different Archdiocesan school and offer an insight into the school’s community and culture.
Nationally, Catholic high schools have a 99 percent graduation rate and 97 percent of those graduates go on to college. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston oversees the largest private school system in Texas. More than 18,000 students are educated in the Archdiocese’s 59 Catholic schools, which includes 44 diocesan grade schools, six private elementary schools and nine private high schools.
GALVESTON — Holy Family Catholic School is one of the oldest Catholic schools in Texas. The school’s present-day site is where, in 1847, the Ursuline Academy was established as the first Catholic school for girls in the state. In 1986, Galveston’s parish schools were consolidated into one and the school was renamed Galveston Catholic School. In 2009, after Hurricane Ike and following the consolidation of all Island parishes, the school was renamed Holy Family Catholic School and became a parish school. The school educates boys and girls in grades pre-kindergarten through 8th grade.
The mission of Holy Family Catholic School is to integrate faith with each student’s culture, environment and values. This integration develops a student’s relationship with God in a Christian community that fosters service to one another. The school’s philosophy is that a good school will provide a child with access to knowledge, but the best school is one that seeks to instill in children a lifelong love of learning.
Student scores at every grade level and outperform national averages on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills.
Students attend weekly Mass in the Ursuline Chapel. Religion is taught every day at every grade level. Curriculum is enhanced with music programming, technology and a journalism elective. Older students may participate in student council and National Junior Honor Society. For its middle-school students, Holy Family offers a varied athletic program that includes soccer, volleyball, basketball, baseball and softball. All students may participate in before and after school programs.
Despite difficult economic times and a shrinking overall population in Galveston, Holy Family has experienced a 35 percent increase in enrollment for the 2011-2012 school year. The increase is seen at all grade levels, especially in the pre-kindergarten program. †
MISSION STATEMENT
Holy Family Catholic School’s mission is to integrate faith with each student’s culture, environment and values. This integration develops a student’s relationship with God in a Christian community that fosters service to one another.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Holy Family Catholic School
Co-Ed PK4-8
2601 Ursuline Ave.
Galveston, TX 77550
409-765-6607
Principal: Paul Diaz
www.hfcsgalv.org
— Information submitted by Mary Beth Bassett