This is the first story in a three-part series sharing how Catholic schools use communications capacity building grants from the Crimsonbridge Foundation to welcome, engage, and serve Hispanic students and families.
In 2023, Academy of the Holy Cross and Elizabeth Seton High School, two Catholic all-girls high schools located in the Archdiocese of Washington, were among the first of eight Crimsonbridge Foundation Award of Distinction recipients for the Bridges for Schools program. This recognition acknowledges these schools’ dedication of five or more years towards fostering inclusive environments that are equipped to welcome and serve Hispanic and Latino students by investing in bilingual communications, family engagement, cultural competency, and more. The journeys of these two schools illustrate how small investments in creating communities of inclusion and belonging can have exponential impact, by demonstrating to schools the immense value added by having fully informed and engaged parents and families.
2018-2019: Bridging the Communication Gap
After both schools applied for a Bridges for Schools grant for the first time in 2018, efforts to increase internal capacity to engage Hispanic and Latino families began with conducting an informal needs assessment and bridging the communication gap for current and prospective parents. This necessitated identifying a bilingual person (or people) who could connect parents to resources and communications from the school. Holy Cross launched a Parent Ambassador Program, which led outreach to elementary schools and parishes to reach prospective parents and translated at school events for current parents. Elizabeth Seton introduced the role of a Latino Liaison, filled by a teacher at the school, who also oversaw a parent-led Latino Parent Ambassador program.
2020-2022: Sustaining and Enriching Programs
Two years later, both schools had thriving outreach and recruitment programs led by bilingual parents and teachers. During this time, Holy Cross expanded its bilingual communications strategies by producing a Spanish-language admissions video, creating Spanish-language website content and social media posts, and conducting a survey of Hispanic families for feedback. Elizabeth Seton started sending home its weekly parent announcements in Spanish and noticed an increase in the participation of Latino parents at school events. The Latino Liaison role was written into the short- and long-term budgets of the school.
2023-Present: Reflecting on 5-Year Outcomes
Since beginning its partnership with the Bridges for Schools program, Holy Cross has increased enrollment of Hispanic and Latina students from 12% in 2018 to 19% in 2023, with 26% of the freshman class identifying as Latina. Elizabeth Seton has maintained steady enrollment of Hispanic and Latina students and launched the ACC program (Access/Climate/Connection) with a special emphasis on Spanish language website and video content, as well as recruitment efforts that leverage its World Language Department, Latina clubs, and Latina Alumnae network. Both schools expanded their bilingual services to support Spanish-speaking parents and family members in navigating the college application process by offering Spanish information sessions and providing resources on financial aid and FAFSA.
The positive impact of bilingual communications and family engagement strategies at Holy Cross and Elizabeth Seton over the past six years goes beyond increased enrollment – families report increased feelings of belonging and involvement in the school communities. For resources and ideas for welcoming and engaging Latino families in schools, visit our new Bridges for Schools website.