St. Joan of Arc School

Executive Summary Results Analysis
Diocese of Joliet

Introduction
The results gathered in this survey of Parents, Students, Staff and Parishioners will give the Educational Leaders in the Diocese of Joliet a great deal of data to guide their decisions. This summary will highlight some areas to make note of as well as recommend some initial areas to focus improvement efforts.

It should be noted that this executive summary and results analysis is based on aggregate results from all schools, elementary and secondary, and parishes surveyed.

Staff Data
The staff members participating in the survey strive to be good Catholic role models and value being part of the Catholic mission of the schools. Areas where teachers feel the schools could improve include:
•    Helping students with special needs
•    Improving clergy involvement in the schools
•    Increasing common planning time for teachers

Parent Data
The parents who participated in the survey are very satisfied with the education their children are receiving. Over 90% of the 3,428 parents who took the survey would recommend their school to a friend moving into the area. They indicate most schools are safe and the buildings and grounds are well kept. Parents give high marks to all staff members including Support Staff, Teaching Assistants, Teachers, School Administration, School Board and Parish Staff.

Parents are also pleased with the quality of the Religious Instruction, English Literature/Language Arts, Math, Social Studies and Science. They also appreciate the display of Christian images, the opportunity for reception of Sacraments, preparation for reception of Sacraments, and reinforcing Catholic teachings.

Areas where parents believe the schools could improve include:
•    Technology
•    Helping students with special needs

Student Data
92% of Students responding to the survey indicate that their school has done a good job in teaching about the Catholic faith. Students gave the schools high marks in quality, especially in the areas of Math, Extra-curricular Athletic Programs, and English/Literature/Language Arts. Students indicate that the environment is safe and secure, the academics are demanding and that they are well prepared for high school and college. Areas of concern for students include:
•    tuition costs
•    helping students with special needs
•    preparation for adult life after school

Parishioner Data
Over 92% of Parishioners responding to the survey feel that Catholic schools make a positive contribution to the well-being of the Catholic Church and to the well-being of society. They indicate that the Catholic Schools are an effective way to help parents educate their children in the Catholic faith.

Parishioners responding to the survey believe in the importance of providing students with competent and caring teachers, a safe and secure learning environment, and preparation for high school and college. Although Parishioners who do not send their children to Catholic schools generally rate the quality of the schools lower than parents who do choose to send their children to Catholic schools, this is not uncommon. Parents will often rate their own children’s schools higher than other schools.

School Choice Criteria
The survey provides insight into how parents make decisions about where to send their children to school. Parents responding to the survey indicated that the most important curriculum areas are Math, English/Literature/Language Arts, Science, Social Studies and Technology. This was true for both parents who choose Catholic schools and those who do not. We also learned that parents place a high value on:
•    Competent and caring teachers
•    Safe and Secure learning environment
•    Preparation for the next level of education
•    Communication between school and parents

Once again, this list was true for both parents who choose Catholic schools and those who do not.

Parents who choose public schools over Catholic schools for their children list many reasons for this choice. The most common reasons for this choice were tuition costs and a weaker academic program.

Conclusion
Overall, the perceptions of both the schools and the faculty in the Diocese of Joliet are good. There are specific areas where targeted communication about the quality of the programs needs to be implemented. There are also specific areas where program improvements could be made to improve the perceptions of parents, students, staff and parishioners.

Executive Summary Results Analysis
Saint Joan of Arc School

The results of the survey of the families, students and staff at SJA correlated with the diocesan results. The overall satisfaction, reflected in the parent survey, was high as is seen in the following results:

This school is doing a good job preparing my child academically.
98% agree
I would recommend this school to a friend moving into the area.
95% agree
Our school has done a good job helping me understand the school’s religious mission and my role supporting it.
94% agree
This school educates the whole child (body, mind, spirit).
92% agree

Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey. We very much appreciate your consideration and affirmation. If we had unlimited finances, space and time, we would be able to implement all your suggestions and maximize many programs. But in the light of reality, we feel we are able to make the following changes:
•    The pastor will continue to enhance involvement and visibility in the school.
•    The parish will review the sacrament preparation program.
•    The Athletic Board will review the process for selection of coaches and team members.
•    The physical education teacher will research and suggest creative ways for the homeroom teachers to incorporate movement in the classroom. The wellness and fitness component of the physical education program will be enhanced. A survey will be going home to get your opinion on the number of times a week the various grades should have gym class.
•    We will be looking into the possibility of installing Astroturf in the play areas.
•    In the area of technology, we will enhance the student’s keyboarding skills, review the current curriculum taught at all grade levels and continue to upgrade our equipment. There was some concern expressed that we over-emphasize technology, but we must remain conscious of how rapidly technology changes and our responsibility to keep our students current.