Benefits of a Catholic Education

Brevard County Catholic Schools are dedicated to academic excellence and to teaching tolerance and social justice principles to the school community. We accomplish this through:

Faith & Values

Unique to Catholic schools is the opportunity to nurture the formation of each child by emphasizing the Gospel message throughout the curriculum and extracurricular activities, in addition to liturgy, prayer and celebration of Mass. A faith-based orientation is key to integrating the schools into the larger community. The community atmosphere that is vital to Catholic education has been linked with higher levels of teacher commitment, student engagement, and student achievement. (Marks, 2009)

Accreditation

All Catholic schools in the Diocese of Orlando are accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference and meet or exceed all state standards. Catholic high schools are also accredited through Cognia. To further promote our Catholic schools' mission, all schools are evaluated using the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools.

Faculty & Staff

100% of eligible faculty are certified by the State of Florida. Our educators, many of whom hold advanced degrees, are dedicated professionals committed to providing a superior learning experience and supportive learning environment for both student and family. They strive to personally model the core values of our Catholic teachings.

Outstanding Academics

Our Catholic schools’ challenging curriculum meets or exceeds Florida State Standards. We offer the latest in state-of-the-art technology, computer, math, and science labs. Enrichment programs include foreign language, art, and music, along with advanced coursework in middle and high school.

Students in religious schools enjoy a significant academic advantage over their counterparts in traditional public schools and charter schools. Students who attend religious schools score at an academic level about 12 months ahead of their traditional public school counterparts. (Findings from a meta-analysis of 90 studies on the effects of schools conducted by William Jeynes, senior fellow at the Witherspoon Institute in Princeton, New Jersey, and a professor at California State University, Long Beach. The study was published in issue 3 of volume 87 of the Peabody Journal of Education. 2013.)

Health & Well-being

Brevard County Catholic Schools provide a multitude of sports through Catholic Youth Sports League, as well as clubs and activities designed to foster physical development, teamwork and school spirit. Approximately 90% of our students participate in these activities. In addition, the climate and mission of Catholic schools have a positive effect on student attendance and achievement (Bryk, Lee, & Holland, 1993).

Parental Involvement

Parental involvement is a valued component of Catholic education. From home & school associations to extracurricular clubs and athletics, parental support strengthens our school community.

Graduation & College Enrollment

Our schools believe in the importance of a quality education. Approximately 98% of Catholic school students finish high school and go on to pursue a college degree. Melbourne Central Catholic prepares students with a high caliber high school education for acceptance into noteworthy universities throughout Florida and the United States. With a 100% graduation rate, 95% of graduates are accepted into four-year colleges and universities and the Class of 2019 earned $24 million dollars in college scholarships. MCC offers honors and AP coursework, a variety of electives, and courses to seniors for college credits at Florida Tech.

Community Service

Our children are encouraged to share their gifts, time, and talents with others as they live out the Gospel message. Every student participates in community service projects which give him/her an opportunity to serve those in need and support his/her communities while building compassion and leadership skills. The positive experiences students have with community service often stay with them for a lifetime. Graduates from Catholic schools are most likely to be civically engages and committed to services as adults (Campbell, 2001: Wolf, Greene, Kleitz, & Thalhammer, 2001).