At the conclusion of the 2019-2020 school year, Christian Brothers Academy partnered with Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) to conduct a school climate survey at the Academy.

The survey was completed by 693 parents, which represents more than half of the current families at CBA.

“I want to thank all of you who responded to the CARA survey,” President Br. Frank Byrne said. “The results are very useful in providing us with valuable feedback as we always look to improve the CBA experience.”

High quality of academic instruction, sense of brotherhood and community, character development, extracurricular offerings, and student enjoyment were all noted as the greatest strengths of the Academy by parent respondents.

Below are some highlights of the CARA survey results.

Reasons for sending your son to CBA:

• 99 percent of respondents selected “quality of academic instruction.”
• 97 percent of respondents selected “instruction in moral values.”
• 96 percent of respondents selected “discipline and order.”
• 92 percent of respondents commented that “my son wanted to attend CBA.”

The following aspects of CBA were rated above average or excellent:

• Cleanliness (99 percent)
• Safety (98 percent)
• Sense of community / Discipline and order / Religious instruction / Quality of teaching (each polled at 97 percent)
• Student morale (96 percent)

The following were rated above average or excellent:

• School grounds / Team athletics / Performing arts (each polled at 97 percent)
• Quality of instruction / Clubs and activities (both polled at 96 percent)
• School buildings (95 percent)

Over 90 percent of parents rated the following academic department instruction as above average or excellent: Fine Arts, English, Health & Physical Education, Mathematics, and Social Studies.

The following characteristics of CBA received above average or excellent results:

• 99 percent of respondents believe CBA teaches an “appropriate curriculum.”
• 97 percent of respondents commented that CBA’s education is “better than their district public school.”
• 96 percent of respondents confirmed that CBA was their “first choice.”

The following characteristics of CBA’s environment received above average or excellent results:

• 99 percent of respondents agreed that CBA “provides clear expectations for students and parents.”
• 98 percent of respondents agreed that CBA “supports a sense of self-worth in students.”
• 98 percent of respondents agreed that “non-Catholic students feel included in the school.”
• 98 percent of respondents believe that “students have a positive attitude about CBA.”
• 97 percent of respondents believe that “faculty and staff are committed to academic excellence” at CBA.

In response to elements of the core Lasallian principles:

• 98 percent of respondents believe that “students are encouraged to respect the dignity of all persons.”
• 97 percent of respondents believe that CBA promotes “the ideal of Lasallian education where diversity is respected.”
• 96 percent of respondents believe that “students become more aware of injustice and inequality and how to serve the needs of the poor and vulnerable.”