Latino Enrollment Institute Continues to Grow, Serve Latino Families and Catholic Schools

Yvonne Schwab from St. James the Less Catholic School in Columbus, Ohio, is a mentor principal in the Latino Enrollment Institute. To see the rest of her story, and to learn more about the LEI, visit the program page.

"It was an honor to be selected to come to the LEI conference. It helped us to solidify everything that we have already been doing in our efforts to get the Latino community enrolled in our school." – Kevin Clarke, Holy Name, Omaha

The Latino Enrollment Institute (LEI) has become an integral part of the Alliance for Catholic Education's mission to give disadvantaged children the educational opportunities they need and deserve. In just its fifth year, the LEI has become the hallmark of the Catholic School Advantage Campaign as more principals focus on the opportunity to increase Latino enrollment in Catholic schools.

With demand at an all-time high, two LEI's were held this summer for the first time in the program's history. Through careful evaluations of applications, phone interviews, and additional information gathering, 63 schools were selected to comprise the fifth—and by far the largest—cohort. 

Armed with the strategies and techniques garnered from the LEI, principals and school leaders left Notre Dame's campus ready to welcome Latino families into their buildings. Latino children all over the nation are now preparing to receive the gift of a Catholic education, when just a short time ago that might have been thought of as impossible for so many of their families.

Current data reveals a 23% increase in Latino enrollment among participating schools throughout the first four cohorts, with some schools quadrupling their enrollment of this critically important community. With so many Catholic schools facing closure, this increase demonstrates that the future is bright for schools willing to open their doors and extend the gift of a Catholic education to Latino families.

The LEI looks forward to working with many more principals and school leaders in the years to come. For more information on the Latino Enrollment Institute and the Catholic School Advantage campaign, please visit catholicschooladvantage.nd.edu.