Non Catholic Christians going to Catholic School

gracendantho26

Anyone send their kids to Catholic School as a non-Catholic?

Opinions? Experiences?

dnagal

We haven't, but in NYC it's a regular thing.  Lots of non-Catholics and even non-Christians going to Catholic school---the tuition is lower than NYC private schools, and believed to be better quality than the public schools.

eclaires

I'm a Catholic who went to Catholic schools, but we had several kids in school who were non-Catholics.  Their involvement in religion classes at the grade school and middle school level depended on what their parents preferred.

At the high school level, our religion classes were required for graduation, so they were required to participate.  However, our religion classes were not necessarily Catholic in nature - we had Scriptures, which was basically Bible history and knowing what was in the Bible, and we had a Moral/Ethics class where we basically discussed hot topics.  Nothing that was really strictly Catholic, you know?

In grade school, we had church once per week and everyone went, although I wouldn't be surprised if a parent requested their child not go, that it would be fine.  In high school, we didn't have church as frequently - more like once per month.

Personally, I think the Catholic schools are very good at educating and keeping religion separate.  They are frequently the only other affordable option besides public schools in a lot of areas, and to remain competitive, they need to be able to accommodate non-Catholics.  This will vary, of course, by parish/school, but you can probably get information from local people on that, and will probably get a feel for it yourself if you check out the school.

GL!

 

xbrooklyngrl

ditto Dna. I will think about Catholic school when B is going into Junior High or High School.

ETA: oh I'm Jewish. Although DH is Catholic but neither of us is religous and B isn't Baptized.

Mrs Manners

We are considering it for ds. Most private schools here in the 'burbs are religiously oriented. The best one that's in our county is Catholic. There's a private Christian school in a neighboring county that's about the same distance from our house though so we're going to look at them both for next year (although we live in a great public school district so we're not totally convinced that we need to go private).

skippy2310

eclaires:

I'm a Catholic who went to Catholic schools, but we had several kids in school who were non-Catholics.  Their involvement in religion classes at the grade school and middle school level depended on what their parents preferred.

At the high school level, our religion classes were required for graduation, so they were required to participate.  However, our religion classes were not necessarily Catholic in nature - we had Scriptures, which was basically Bible history and knowing what was in the Bible, and we had a Moral/Ethics class where we basically discussed hot topics.  Nothing that was really strictly Catholic, you know?

In grade school, we had church once per week and everyone went, although I wouldn't be surprised if a parent requested their child not go, that it would be fine.  In high school, we didn't have church as frequently - more like once per month.

Personally, I think the Catholic schools are very good at educating and keeping religion separate.  They are frequently the only other affordable option besides public schools in a lot of areas, and to remain competitive, they need to be able to accommodate non-Catholics.  This will vary, of course, by parish/school, but you can probably get information from local people on that, and will probably get a feel for it yourself if you check out the school.

GL!

 

Ditto everything. DS preschool is also Catholic and there are quite a few non Catholic families. They do use the Catechesis of the Good Shepard program so the kids are exposed to Catholic teaching, but it's definately not forced on them or even something they discuss daily.

eclaires

hi, sbp! 

You do bring up a good point about priority - I think that is pretty common because I know it was how my own grade school and high school were (high school gave priority to deanery students - so kids that had parents who were members of the parishes in a particular diocese - because there were several grade schools and one high school).  It's the same where we live now.  Jackson is in preschool at a particular parish's preschool and we're members there to give him priority.  When it's time for grade school, he'll have priority there + a discount for us being members.  I think he may even have a discount we would be eligible for now, but the paperwork was due at the beginning of the year and I had Scarlett right around then so I didn't pay close attention or submit the paperwork.

veloelle

I went to Catholic K-12, went to school w/ a ton of sinners. kidding, kidding. Honestly, unless you're part of some wackado family, the kids don't even notice who is/isn't Catholic, no one talks religion outside of class. They sat through religion class in K-8. Once in HS, if they didn't want to do religion, they had an alternate period. besides, past freshman year, it's more about morality and world issues that straight up catechism. I had a Muslim in my world religions class, and it was fascinating. We had 4 male teachers on school grounds, so she had a special uniform made w/ pants and a head scarf for those classes (it was an all girls school).

The schools I went to were about education and religion, in that order, so obviously they welcomed any faith to attend.

gracendantho26

Thanks for all of the input. There is an additional fee for being non-Catholics at a Catholic school..I think it amounts to $1000'ish. Oddly I feel like this might be easier if we were not part of a Christian Church..if you ask anyone at our church where their kids go it's almost always one particular Christian school which is not a fit for us. I believe I was told that no special treatment was given to Catholics (other than the fee) but testing scores etc. does impact wether you are a "fit for the school." There is a waiting list for DS's grade already but DD would probably be good to go in the Fall.

There is regular mass and religious classes for the kids and I believe they are mandatory. I think even if they weren't the kids would not want to be singled out by not going. From what I understand the focus is on bible versus.