Investing in Xavier will produce returns

By Tom Keating

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Since 1998, Xavier High School has provided the Cedar Rapids/Marion metro area with an outstanding Catholic education opportunity for its high school-age students. We proudly stand on the shoulders of those schools providing that same opportunity before us: LaSalle, Regis, St. Patrick, ImmacWulate Conception, St. Joseph, St. Wenceslaus and St. Patrick in Fairfax.

As with any faith-based school, Xavier has an entire community to thank for its support in helping make Catholic education a viable alternative to the outstanding education options provided by our public school districts.

In addition, Xavier, through its annual Business Appeal, has realized significant support of the business community in the Cedar Rapids/Marion metro area. Through this campaign in the coming weeks, volunteers will call on businesses to make an investment in our mission “to develop the total person in a Catholic environment.”

The fair question is, “What is the return on that investment?” What does the community gain?

The immediate returns include Xavier students who demonstrate that they are prepared to face the challenges that lie ahead. Academically, all of our students graduate. Based on information compiled from our alumni, 96 percent of students go on to postsecondary education and 91 percent earn a degree within five years of graduating from Xavier. Our ACT average is 24.5 with 95 percent of our students taking the exam. Compare this to the state average of 22.2 with 58 percent of students taking the exam.

Our Iowa school percentile on the ITED ranges by class from

94 percent to 99 percent. Xavier students took 145 Advanced Placement exams in 2010 and scored an average of 3.14. All of our students enjoy opportunities to explore, deepen and share their faith. All of our students perform community service. Ninety percent of our students are involved in our outstanding activities programs.

More important, the major dividends are often realized in the long term. By planting the seeds of faith and ministry at Xavier, it is our goal that alumni maintain a strong commitment to the Catholic faith, that they take an active role in their own parish communities and that they seek ways to minster to those in need.

We will only place ourselves in position to fulfill our mission by continuously evaluating what we do. To that end, we embarked on a comprehensive visioning process - interviewing 24 focus groups for information to help us improve. The process has led to a five-year strategic plan.

We commit to you that Xavier High School will continue to find ways to best prepare our students to become productive and contributing members of their communities.

Tom Keating is in his seventh year as principal at Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids. Comments: tkeating@cr-cath.pvt.k12.ia.us