THE STANDARD OF CATHOLIC PREP EXCELLENCE

Share this article with a friend.

June 14, 2026

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Educating the whole child: why Catholic education endures — and why Notre Dame Prep leads the way.

On Sunday, May 17, Notre Dame Prep's 32nd Commencement began with  the celebration of Baccalaureate Mass on the school's Pontiac campus. Photos: Brian Dooley ND'85

Parents today have more educational choices than at any other time in American history. Public schools, charter schools, private academies, online programs and homeschooling options all compete for the attention of families seeking the best future for their children.

Yet despite this abundance of choice, one question remains at the heart of nearly every enrollment decision:

What kind of person will my child become?

The answer, according to two significant studies examining family school-choice decisions, extends far beyond academic rankings, standardized test scores and college admissions statistics.

Those conclusions are supported by dissertation research from Duquesne University, Why Parents Choose Catholic School: A Social Theory Understanding, and the National Catholic Educational Association's Catholic School Choice National Market Research Study (2018), two comprehensive examinations of what families seek when selecting schools for their children.

Together, the studies reveal a striking reality: parents are looking for more than academic success. They are looking for schools that help young people become individuals of character, faith, purpose and service.

Those findings help explain why Catholic education continues to flourish across the country — and why Notre Dame Prep remains one of Southeast Michigan's premier educational institutions.

What do parents say matters most?

One of the most revealing conclusions emerged from Why Parents Choose Catholic School: A Social Theory Understanding, which examined the motivations behind families choosing Catholic education.

The research found remarkable consistency across socioeconomic levels, with parents placing the greatest importance on their children's moral and ethical development.

In fact, the study concluded:

"No matter what the income level ... parents chose as their number one answer the fact that school teaches values and morals."

The same study found that parents highly valued schools that offered "a family atmosphere," "a strong sense of belonging in the community," strong behavioral expectations, safety and a clearly defined spiritual mission.

Those findings challenge a common assumption that parents select schools primarily based on academic metrics alone.

Instead, families appear to be searching for environments that shape both the mind and the character of a child.

That desire lies at the heart of Catholic education.

The Catholic school difference

The National Catholic Educational Association's Catholic School Choice National Market Research Study (2018) reached a similar conclusion.

While parents ranked academic preparation as a top priority, the study’s authors found that they also wanted schools capable of developing "individuals with a sound moral base."

The study identified critical thinking, communication skills, college readiness and workforce preparation as important educational outcomes, but it emphasized that parents increasingly seek schools that help students become ethical and responsible adults.

Researchers further concluded that Catholic schools possess a unique advantage in this area because of their longstanding emphasis on character formation and service.

The report noted Catholic education's "proven track record for developing 'good citizens'" and encouraged Catholic schools to highlight that distinction when communicating with prospective families.

Similarly, the study found that Catholic schools are widely recognized for fostering volunteerism, community engagement and service to others.

In many respects, these findings describe the very mission Catholic schools have pursued for generations: educating the whole child — academically, spiritually, morally and socially.

For just-graduated Marcelino Shabo, that mission was reflected in the daily culture of Notre Dame Prep and in the values that extended beyond the classroom.

“It’s really about the values behind everything,” he said. “For me, it’s about being present for others, staying grounded, and genuinely caring about the people around you.”

More than what students learn

At Notre Dame Prep's 2026 commencement ceremony, Head of School Andy Guest offered a reflection that mirrors the conclusions of both studies.

"As a Catholic and Marist school, we are rooted in a tradition that values not only academic excellence, but compassion, humility and a deep, enduring faith in God," Guest told graduates and attendees.

He then summarized what makes Catholic education distinctive:

"That foundation is what makes your education here unique. It's not just what you have learned, but it is also who you have become."

That statement echoes the central finding of Why Parents Choose Catholic School: A Social Theory Understanding.

Parents are not simply purchasing an educational service.

They are investing in a community that will influence their children's values, relationships, habits and worldview.

Notre Dame Prep's Catholic and Marist mission intentionally embraces that responsibility.

Students are encouraged to pursue academic excellence while also developing faith, compassion, leadership skills and a commitment to serving others. For NDP rising sophomore Zeta Adamski, those qualities became apparent the moment she visited campus.

“I knew Notre Dame Prep was prestigious, but you don’t really realize what all that means until you visit," she said. “I saw myself excelling here more than at the other school I was considering.”

Academic excellence and character formation

One of the more interesting findings from the National Catholic Educational Association's Catholic School Choice National Market Research Study (2018) is that many parents underestimate the academic strength of Catholic schools. Researchers identified persistent misconceptions that Catholic schools emphasize religious formation at the expense of academic rigor, despite substantial evidence to the contrary.

Notre Dame Prep's outcomes tell a different story.

The Class of 2026 achieved an average GPA of 3.944 and an average SAT score of 1520, placing the class among the highest-performing groups in school history. As of May 17, the day of commencement, graduates had earned about $6 million in scholarships, gained admission to 137 colleges and universities and included 20 International Baccalaureate Diploma candidates and 10 valedictorians.

Those accomplishments continue a pattern of success.

The Class of 2025 earned more than $7.4 million in scholarships and achieved a 100 percent college acceptance rate.

The Class of 2024 received more than $5 million in scholarships and gained admission to 124 colleges and universities.

The Class of 2023 earned nearly $7 million in scholarships and received acceptances from 138 colleges and universities.

Yet Guest challenged graduates to understand that statistics tell only part of the story.

"Academics is only one measure of how you do in life," he said. He continued:

"A strong work ethic, a determination to succeed, an entrepreneurial spirit, the ability to see and create things in unique ways, the gift of playing an instrument, performing on stage or competing in a sport, the ability to communicate, being able to work as part of a team, a caring and compassionate heart and a loving relationship with God are other measures of success."

His remarks reflect another major theme emerging from both studies: families want schools that prepare students not only for college acceptance, but for lifelong success.

The importance of belonging

Researchers in Why Parents Choose Catholic School: A Social Theory Understanding repeatedly identified community as a defining strength of Catholic education.

Among the highest-ranked factors influencing enrollment decisions were "a family atmosphere" and "a strong sense of belonging in the community."

That sense of belonging remains one of Notre Dame Prep's greatest strengths.

Students participate in retreats, service projects, liturgies, athletics, performing arts, academic organizations and leadership opportunities that create meaningful relationships with peers and faculty members alike.

The goal is not simply to educate students.

The goal is to know them, support them and help them discover their unique gifts.

For many graduates, those relationships become one of the most lasting aspects of their educational experience.

Faith, integrity and purpose

Research also highlights the importance families place on a school's spiritual mission.

According to the research from Duquesne University, parents consistently ranked a school's religious foundation among the most influential factors in choosing Catholic education.

Guest addressed that reality directly during his commencement remarks.

"Hold fast to your integrity. And remember your faith."

He encouraged graduates to remain connected to their faith communities, deepen their understanding of Catholic teaching and live their values with confidence and conviction.

His message reflects a defining characteristic of Catholic education: preparing students to navigate an increasingly complex world with a clear moral compass.

That emphasis on character formation continues to resonate with current students.

“What makes NDP different from other schools is the emphasis it puts on strong values," said Vanessa Artinian, a rising junior. "This school truly encourages us to lead with compassion and purpose in everything we do.”

Preparing young people to lead

Near the conclusion of his graduation address, Guest shared a lesson and quote passed down from his father.

"Don't tell me how smart you are, tell me how well you get along with others."

The wisdom resonates with another conclusion found in the National Catholic Educational Association's Catholic School Choice National Market Research Study (2018): families want schools that produce not merely successful students, but engaged citizens and compassionate leaders.

Guest's final challenge captured that ideal perfectly:

"Stay kind. The world does not suffer from a lack of intelligence. It suffers from a lack of compassion."

In many ways, that statement summarizes the enduring value of Catholic education.

And the research is clear. Families are looking for schools that combine academic excellence with character formation, intellectual rigor with moral purpose and achievement with compassion. They want environments where students are challenged to excel, encouraged to serve and supported as they grow into thoughtful, responsible adults.

Those aspirations align closely with the mission that has guided Notre Dame Prep for decades.

Its academic accomplishments are impressive, as evidenced by exceptional college acceptance rates, scholarship awards and student achievement. Yet the school's greatest success may be found in something less easily measured: its commitment to developing young men and women who lead with integrity, serve with humility and approach the future with confidence, faith and purpose.

For students, that growth is often measured not only by academic achievement but by personal development as well.

“Since coming to Notre Dame Prep, I definitely feel more independent, more confident, and better able to advocate for myself," said Deonna Franklin, a rising junior at NDP. “I’ve figured out more about myself and about the person I want to be.”

For families seeking an education that prepares students not only for college but also for the responsibilities of life, Notre Dame Prep represents the very qualities that research suggests parents value most — and the very best of what Catholic education is intended to provide.

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org

About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."

Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at www.ndpma.org.