Why Catholic Education?

Every child is a unique gift from God. As a parent or guardian, one of your most important responsibilities is to choose a school that “fits” your child’s personality and learning needs, as well as your family’s practical needs and priorities.
By choosing a Catholic education, you are choosing to blend your child’s academic and spiritual development in accordance with the educational mission and ministry of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church. Equally important is the commitment to an educational approach that nurtures “the whole child” in an environment of spiritual development, academic excellence, moral values, respect and safety.

Specifically, St. Thomas Catholic School provides:

  • A faith-based education based on the rich history of the Catholic Church of America

  • Stressing the development of the student as a whole, including “intellectually, physically, socially, emotionally and of course, spiritually.” (Diocese of Cairns)

  • Developing the Catholic faith in all students

  • Leading all to develop a lifetime of service to fellow students and the community

  • Reinforcing the values and faith you teach your children at home every day in our schools and in our co-curricular activities

  • Providing a disciplined atmosphere enables teachers to focus more time on teaching rather than maintaining order

  • Having preschool and kindergarten classrooms that are not just add-ons or separate programs, but rather are an integral part of the school community

  • Investing in your child(ren)'s future with a Catholic education is an investment with a life-long value well worth the cost

The Catholic Church operates the largest non-governmental system of elementary schools in the world, with a history dating back to the 1580s in Europe. St. Thomas Catholic School is committed to continue this history.

Why St. Thomas?

  • The smaller size of our school community ensures more personal attention to each student.

  • We strive to keep tuition costs low in the Catholic tradition of never turning away any child for financial reasons.

  • Our teachers hold current teaching licenses from the State of Illinois.

  • Our Buddy Program matches younger students with older Buddies, developing relationships that last a lifetime.

  • Students are not only prepared to excel in high school and college, but many become leaders in their high school and college programs.

  • Integrated technology including Chromebooks, iPads, and interactive classroom whiteboards provide multiple opportunities for students to use such devices each day.

  • A robust Parent-Teacher Organization and school families volunteering through PTO-sponsored events helps create a family-centered environment.

  • St. Thomas has something for everyone – academics, athletics, speech, band, choir, etc.

​Independent Research Evidence
Empirical evidence in the U.S… indicates that education performance and attendance are greater in Catholic schools in contrasts to its public counter-parts.…attendance at Catholic schools in the U.S. increases the probability of completing high school or commencing college by 13%. …through comparing previous examination by private and public schools concluded that students in private education outperform those from government schools on all educational, social and economic indicators.   
Francis, Vella (1999), “Do Catholic Schools Make a Difference?”, The Journal of Human Resources (Un Wisconsin Press) Vol. 34, No. 1: 208–224 

America’s parochial schools have often served … Unburdened by the bureaucracy and lethargy that bedevil most big-city school systems, and with a tradition of emphasizing discipline and academic rigor, they have generally been able to turn out better graduates — while often spending less than half the money per pupil.
Time Magazine: Can Catholic Schools Do It Better?, By Sam Allis/Boston Monday, May 27, 1991