In 1960, there were approximately 12,893 to nearly 13,000 Catholic schools in the United States, serving a peak population of over 5 million students. These institutions, which included both elementary and secondary schools, represented the height of Catholic school enrollment in the U.S. before a significant decline in subsequent decades.
Key details:
Total
Schools (Fall 1960): 12,893, including 10,501 elementary schools.
Peak
Enrollment: During the early-to-mid 1960s, these schools served over 5
million students.
Context: These numbers reflect the high point of Catholic education in the U.S., supported by a large number of religious sisters teaching in the schools.
In 1960, there were 12,893 Catholic schools in the United States. This period marked the beginning of a decade where Catholic education reached its historic peak in terms of both the number of institutions and student enrollment.
Key Statistics for 1960
Total
Schools: 12,893
Elementary
Schools: 10,501
Secondary
Schools: 2,392
Total Enrollment: Approximately 5.2 million students
Historical Context
System Peak: The system reached its absolute high point shortly after 1960. By 1964–1965, the number of schools grew to approximately 13,500 to 14,000, educating roughly 12% of all U.S. school children.
Decline: Starting in the mid-1960s, enrollment began a steady decline as Catholic families moved to the suburbs and the number of religious sisters (who provided low-cost labor) decreased.
Comparison to Today: As of 2024, there are roughly 5,900 Catholic schools in the U.S. serving about 1.7 million students—a decrease of more than 50% in school count since the 1960 peak.
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The number of Catholic schools in the United States grew dramatically between 1840 and 1960, expanding from a few hundred in the mid-19th century to nearly 13,000 schools by the 1960–1961 school year.
Growth Timeline and Key Statistics (1840–1960)
1840: There
were roughly 200 Catholic schools in the first half of the 1800s. In New York,
for example, only eight Catholic schools existed around 1840.
1900: The
number of schools grew to approximately 3,500 to 5,000.
1920: The
number of Catholic elementary schools reached 6,551.
1960: By
the fall of 1960, the number of schools reached 12,893, including 2,392
secondary schools.
Peak (Mid-1960s): Catholic school enrollment peaked around 1965 with over 13,500 schools and 5.6 million children.
Key Factors in Expansion
Immigration: The massive influx of Catholic immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries created a demand for parochial education.
Religious Sisters: The growth was largely driven by the work of religious sisters, with over 40,000 sisters teaching in parish schools by 1900.
Parish System: The Church mandated that every parish have a school, leading to a rapid, decentralized expansion of schools.
Baby Boom: The post-World War II, baby boom era saw a surge in enrollment, with 4.5 million elementary students in Catholic schools by the mid-1960s.
Comments
I graduated from a Catholic Parish Elementary School in 1957. The one block property included a well maintained School, Church, Rectory for Priests and a Convent for Nuns. Tuition was free. Church attendance was high. Funding was provided by donations.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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