Pax Christi makes data-driven decisions

La Purísima, Orange; St. Justin Martyr, Anaheim; in Santa Ana, St. Anne, St. Barbara, and St. Joseph

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER | EDUCATION

La Purisima, Orange

In the Diocese of Orange, a new network of Catholic K-8 schools, Pax Christi Academies, is working to buck falling enrollment.

Pax Christi Academies began after an analysis of the financial health of diocesan schools, which found that in the past 20 years eight schools in the Diocese were closed, and many of the schools in North and Central Orange County were only 60 percent full….

While many diocesan schools were working well under the current governing structure, it became clear that certain schools needed a new governance model to turn the situation around, said Steve Cameron, chairman of the Pax Christi Academies board of directors. Thus, Pax Christi Academies was born.

“Pax Christi Academies will focus heavily on excellence and accountability while supporting teachers and students to reignite their faith and love of Catholic education,” Cameron said. “We think of it as a new way to form saints.”

Pax Christi Academies includes five schools under a stand-alone nonprofit created to support and promote Catholic education in the Diocese of Orange. It has its own governing board of directors and management and raises funds independently.

The Pax Christi Academies schools include La Purísima, Orange; St. Justin Martyr, Anaheim; and in Santa Ana, St. Anne, St. Barbara and St. Joseph….

Unique in the Pax Christi approach is using data to establish measurable metrics. By analyzing data that is constantly collected, Dr. Arellano said she, her team and the board can make data driven decisions swiftly to support program success, improve student performance, analyze enrollment patterns and evaluate faculty effectiveness….