PROVIDENCE — As schools across the diocese do their part to commemorate National Catholic Schools Week, the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States, the Diocese of Providence is proud to have topped 10,000 students this academic year.
The total enrollment for this school year is 10,110 students, Superintendent of Catholic Schools William F. Klements, M.Ed., told Rhode Island Catholic in an interview.
“That is an increase from last year’s total enrollment of 9,918 students throughout the diocese, a fact of which we are very proud,” he said.
Klements noted that there are a total of 34 schools total in the diocese, with six of those being diocesan, 21 parish schools, and seven independent schools.
One particular initiative of which Klement and his team are especially proud is their work this year on a Diocesan Theology Curriculum Review.
By the start of next school year the diocese aims to be able to present to all of its schools a cohesive K-12 theology curriculum aimed at building upon the successes already taking place in the schools.
“While the Catholic identity and mission of our schools remain at the heart of all they do, work on the theology curriculum will only serve to strengthen our schools’ abilities to form intentional disciples of Jesus Christ,” Klements said.
In 2024, the Catholic University of America selected the Diocese of Providence to participate in a nationwide pilot accreditation program to assess the Catholicity of its schools.
The Institute for the Transformation of Catholic Education (ITCE) at Catholic University partnered with the bishops of the U.S. and other educational leaders to create a framework of guiding principles for K-12 Catholic schools.
Through the pilot program and beyond, dioceses may permit their schools to choose Lumen Accreditation as an alternative to assessment by regional accreditation boards, such as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
“We are on track with our Lumen Accreditation,” Klements said. “All Lumen schools remain fully accredited, and we will be hosting our diocesan visit this coming March. We are hard at work on our self-study and discernment to identify areas of strength throughout the diocese as well as areas for growth. We then plan to take that diocesan level report and use it to develop a strategic plan for schools throughout the diocese.”
Klements was asked to comment on the approaches to school safety that the diocese is following.
“It is unfortunate that we have to worry about this in today’s day and age,” Klements said, “however, all of our school leaders remain in regular contact with the Catholic Schools Office and one another, and we are constantly exploring ways to increase the safety of all of our schools.”
The superintendent said that school safety can be improved through facility upgrades, and also through the use of technology, such as through closed circuit monitoring systems and apps that allow live views of school buildings and grounds.
But hands-on staff training is the most effective means to increase the safe environments of local schools, he said.
“In November when all of our school principals were together for one of our scheduled meetings, significant time was set aside so that we could coordinate with the Rhode Island State Police and discuss best practices, learn from one another, and continue to make our school leaders aware of what town/city specific resources were available,” Klements said.
To enrich the minds of students in the diocese’s Catholic schools, some new academic programs have been added to a number of already successful ones.
Although The Prout School, in Wakefield, has a strong reputation for being one of two schools in Rhode Island and only one of two schools in the country to offer the competitive, International Baccalaureate Programme, Klements said that Prout now also has a growing Inspire Program, which serves schools with learning disabilities.
He also noted that Bishop Hendricken, in Warwick, continues to refine and develop its very popular Business and Technology Pathway, providing students an extra focus on academic areas of passion.
“Additionally, it continues to maintain its Leadership Academy, Arts Academy and its incredibly successful Options program for students with learning needs,” he said.
St. Raphael Academy, in Pawtucket, also has a program for learning differences called the Benilde program, which supports different ways of learning with flexible scheduling during the school day.
They also have a SAINTS period, named for the school’s mascot, which meets regularly during the year to develop and strengthen relationships between and among students and staff.
The superintendent also cited two different pathways offered by Immaculate Conception School, in Cranston—Arts and Innovation—both of which afford students the opportunity to experience hands-on learning with weekly time blocks, culminating in capstone projects so they can share their passions with the school and community.
Lastly, in addition to what he called “robust club offerings, and a continual focus on our faith, a love for Jesus, and building discipleship in every one of our school buildings,” Klements called attention to a growing EAGLE program at St. Joseph’s School, in West Warwick.
“This program focuses on elementary-aged students with certain learning disabilities, all of whom are thriving and making tremendous strides academically and socially,” he said.
