Whereas Catholic schools in the United States are internationally acclaimed for their academic excellence and provide students with more than an exceptional scholastic education; Whereas Catholic schools instill a broad, values-added education emphasizing the lifelong development of moral, intellectual, physical, and social values in young people in the United States; Whereas Catholic schools serve the Nation by providing a diverse student population from all regions of the country and all socioeconomic backgrounds a strong academic and moral foundation, including 41.4 percent of students from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds and 19 percent from non-Catholic families; Whereas Catholic schools are an affordable option for parents, particularly in underserved urban areas; Whereas Catholic schools produce students strongly dedicated to their faith, values, families, and communities by providing an intellectually stimulating environment rich in spiritual, character, and moral development; Whereas Catholic schools are committed to community service, producing graduates who hold helping others among their core values; Whereas the total Catholic school student enrollment for the 2017–2018 academic year is almost 1,900,000 and the student-teacher ratio is 12 to 1; Whereas the Catholic high school graduation rate is 99 percent, with 86 percent of graduates attending 4-year colleges; Whereas in the 1972 pastoral message concerning Catholic education, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops stated, Education is one of the most important ways by which the Church fulfills its commitment to the dignity of the person and building of community. Community is central to education ministry, both as a necessary condition and an ardently desired goal. The educational efforts of the Church, therefore, must be directed to forming persons-in-community; for the education of the individual Christian is important not only to his solitary destiny, but also the destinies of the many communities in which he lives.