There has been Catholic education in the Diocese of Parramatta since before the Second World War. There are 76 Catholic systemic schools in the diocese (54 primary and 22 secondary) with a total student population of around 41,000. There are also six non-systemic or congregational (independent) Catholic schools. History Early expansion A growing population saw many schools open in the years before the Second World War. Built and staffed without government financial assistance, the schools served Catholic communities in Blacktown, East Granville, Guildford, and Castle Hill. Baby-boom years Australia’s population grew rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s. An ambitious school building program was successfully pursued to cater for new families in many developing areas, including Lalor Park, Seven Hills, Westmead and Kingswood. Government support Some financial relief came to Catholic schools in the 1960s with the funding of science and library facilities. However it was the 1970s that brought a new era of Australian Government funding for all Australian schools, based on the principles of equality and diversity. Many new schools opened in the decades that followed. These served numerous parishes, including Winston Hills, North Rocks, Kenthurst, Cranebrook and St Clair. Education Schools Bede Polding College, Windsor South Bethany Catholic Primary, Glenmore Park Caroline Chisholm College, Glenmore Park Catherine McAuley, Westmead CathWest Innovation College, Mt Druitt/ Emu Plains Cerdon College, Merrylands Chisholm Catholic Primary, Bligh Park Christ the King Primary, North Rocks Corpus Christi Primary, Cranebrook Delany College, Granville Emmaus Catholic College, Kemps Creek Gilroy College, Castle Hill Good Shepherd Primary, Plumpton Holy Cross Primary, Glenwood Holy Family Primary, Granville East Holy Family Primary, Emerton Holy Family Primary, Luddenham Holy Spirit Primary, St Clair Holy Trinity Primary, Granville Marian Catholic College, Kenthurst Mary Immaculate Primary, Quakers Hill Mary MacKillop Primary, Penrith South Penola Catholic College, Emu Plains Nagle College, Blacktown South Oakhill College, Castle Hill Our Lady of Lebanon College - Primary, Harris Park Our Lady of Lebanon College - Secondary, Harris Park Our Lady of Lourdes Primary, Baulkham Hills South Our Lady of Lourdes Primary, Seven Hills Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta Our Lady of Mt Carmel Primary, Wentworthville Our Lady of the Nativity Primary, Lawson Our Lady of the Rosary Primary, Kellyville Our Lady of the Rosary Primary, St Marys Our Lady of the Way Primary, Emu Plains Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary, Greystanes Parramatta Marist High, Westmead Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield