A recent study from Brown University showed that Catholic schools are likely to influence the shutdowns of public schools and affect the ways in which schools react to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The study, conducted by Michael T. Hartney of Boston College and Leslie K. Finger of the University of North Texas, found that competition between public and private schools does affect the responses of schools to the current pandemic. 

“The simple fact is that many private schools are in an easier position to reopen because they are not restricted by the same bureaucratic protocols and labor contracts,” the study stated. 

Additionally, because private schools generally have smaller class sizes and bigger outdoor spaces, social distancing is more easily carried out.

Catholic schools make up about 37% of all students in private school and are by far the most popular of religious private schools. Their affordable model also means that they attract more students than other private schools, the study notes.

Because of these factors, Catholic schools are a strong option for families who want their children in school, as evidenced by the increase of enrollment in Nashville Catholic schools during the first weeks of this school year. The same has been true in Boston, where enrollment rates have risen and where classes are being offered fully in person. 

“Because of the relative affordability of parochial schools and the expense of private secular schools, we hypothesized that – to the extent market forces incentivized public schools to avoid closures and reopen as quickly as possible – Catholic schooling options would drive this competitive response behavior,” the study stated. 

There is, therefore, a sizable relationship between the amount of Catholic schools per student and the chances of the public school district reopening completely rather than resorting to online learning. 

“ ... we find no relationship between the density of private secular schooling options in a locality and public school district reopening behavior," the study concluded.