Catholic Schools

Testimonial

“There are precious few places remaining in our society where we can be sure that the core values and faith that we seek to instill in our children are being reinforced. Catholic schools may be the greatest such institution outside the Church itself to provide that environment."

- David Pulliam, Catholic school parent

Diocesan School Improvement Efforts

Every year, the Diocese of Des Moines Catholic schools and teachers focus on improving their classroom practices using research based strategies. They encounter different professional development opportunities as a diocese or within Professional Learning Communities.

Each year, all teachers and administrators develop goals. They base these goals on the professional development goals of their individual schools and the Diocese of Des Moines. Progress monitoring, guidance, and resources are provided to ensure all goals are met.

The Diocese of Des Moines is also working on the implementation of the Iowa Core Curriculum Essential Concepts and Skills. This initiative has been mandated by the State of Iowa to ensure all students are receiving a quality and equitable curriculum across the state. Updates related to the Iowa Core Curriculum in the diocese will be forthcoming in the months and years ahead.

Continuous Improvement Newsletter

Each month, the Schools Office provides a newsletter that focuses on the professional growth and faith formation for which our school administrators and staff are involved. The newsletter provides parents with information about the professional work happening in the schools, and will update parents on topics, strategies, and progress throughout the year. In the Diocese of Des Moines, our leaders and teachers are committed to professional growth because they believe in offering students the best education possible.