Catholic schools thriving under Florida’s reign as most pro-school choice state

Thanks to robust school choice policies, Catholic education is thriving in Florida.

The Archdiocese of Miami recently reported enrollment in K-12 Catholic schools had risen more than 8.2% in the past 10 years.

While interest in non-public education peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic, Miami’s data reflects a larger trend.

“We have definitely been in growth mode for the last few years,” Jim Rigg, the Archdiocese’s Superintendent of Catholic Schools, told local media. “At this point, over half of our Catholic schools in South Florida are full with waiting lists, and the remainder, nearly all of them, are growing.”

Rigg credited Catholic schools’ success to demographic shifts, school choice and a reputation for academic excellence.

“We’re truly blessed that our schools perform well and seem to have strong reputations that represent a draw for families,” he said.

And the proof is in the pudding.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) found Catholic school students were far more advanced than their peers.

In the 2024 testing cycle, Catholic students were 10 points ahead in 4th grade math, 16 points ahead in 4th grade reading, 21 points ahead in 8th grade math and 20 points ahead in 8th grade reading.

But while Miami Catholic schools continue to grow, the same isn’t true for their government-run counterpart – Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

Miami-Dade is the third-largest district in the nation with more than 300,000 students. But enrollment is rapidly falling, as the district lost about 13,000 students last year and is expected to lose another 8,000, according to the Miami Herald.

While many factors are contributing to the nationwide exodus from public schools, some of the credit goes to school choice. 

Whether it’s a form of public school choice – such as charters or open enrollment – or state-funded scholarships for private school or homeschooling, more families are looking for alternative education pathways for their children.

Florida is one of the leading states with more than half a million students using a school choice program. Additionally, more than 50% of its total K-12 population is educated outside a traditional, government-run public school.

And Superintendent Rigg reported more than 95% of Miami’s Catholic school students use some sort of state funding.

While opponents of school choice argue the programs only benefit the wealthy elite, analysts say otherwise. 

“Florida Catholic schools are now as diverse as Florida’s public schools,” Step Up for Students, a Florida school choice organization, observed in 2024. “The number of students using special needs scholarships rose by 37% this past year alone.

“And over the last decade, the percentage of non-Catholic students climbed from 13% to 19%. The numbers suggest a wide array of families want what Catholic schools offer – and Florida’s Catholic schools are embracing them.”