Catholic elementary and secondary schools in the United States are known for their academic excellence, safety, discipline, good communication, and a Christ-centered focus that permeates the school culture. However, there many unseen challenges to maintain these hard-won benchmarks that school leaders face daily. Ever escalating costs and limited funding streams, rising expectations of families, divisive culture battles, conflicting and sometimes mutually exclusive views of Church teachings and beliefs chipping away at the core mission, a growing and hostile secularism all contribute to some of the challenges confronting this largest private school system. TheSurvivability of Catholic Schools: Vigor, Anemia, and a Diffident Flock guides readers through some of the undetected trials and joys of keeping Catholic schools faithful to their mission by candidly acknowledging some of the headaches while encouraging parents, alumni, and stakeholders to reinvigorate this pearl of great price.

Michael P. Caruso, SJ, is the president of Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, IL. He was formerly an associate professor of education and the chair of the leadership department at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA. He has written and lectured on the legacy and importance of Catholic schools.