Platform for Excellence
2025-2030 Strategic Plan
A Strategic Approach to Achieving Our Vision
Five strategic platforms structure the work that needs to be done to achieve our vision of excellence and ensure a vibrant future for Holy Family Catholic Schools for generations to come.
Our Strategic Platforms:
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Visionary Goal:
Inspire faith-filled servant leaders through authentic Catholic programming, student-led service and small-group discipleship. By strengthening family connections to parish life, supporting faculty faith development and nurturing spiritual growth, we will prepare students to make a meaningful impact locally, nationally and globally.
Key Initiatives:
- Sequence local, national and global service offerings, including student-driven youth-leadership opportunities, K-12.
- Ensure curriculum and programming is authentically Catholic for all students EC-12.
- Provide opportunities for faculty to grow in their understanding of the Catholic faith and support them in their missionary vocation of teaching the faith to students.
- Strengthen collaboration and communication between Holy Family Catholic Schools and supporting parishes.
Visionary Goal:
Grow enrollment to 1,800 students, TK-12, by fostering a welcoming, faith-centered educational experience that inspires an enduring dedication to the Golden Eagle community among students and families.
Key Initiatives:
- Develop a flexible enrollment strategy to accommodate growing demand within current facilities.
- Assess and review Transitional Kindergarten (TK) for expansion.
- Update and implement a detailed TK-12 student retention plan.
- Establish seamless processes for onboarding transfer students.
Visionary Goal:
Foster a culture of high achievement through research-backed instructional practices, rigorous academic standards and continuous improvement goals. By investing in innovative practices, we will deliver on academic excellence across all grade levels.
Key Initiatives:
- Create dedicated time and resources for teacher planning and development that support the system’s commitment to excellence.
- Research and enhance innovative programming opportunities, such as medical exploration, artificial intelligence, career and technical education and classical learning.
- Earn third-party recognition with entities such as Leader in Me and Blue Ribbon Schools.
- Set ambitious standards to foster a culture of high achievement and continuous improvement in all areas of the educational experience, K-12.
- Establish and implement a shared vision for comprehensive, high-quality language education across all grade levels, ensuring alignment and continuity, K-12.
- Create a coach onboarding experience with clear expectations for supporting our Catholic faith and the fundamentals of excellence in all athletics and activities.
Visionary Goal:
Develop a long-term facilities plan to expand Central Campus capacity for enrollment demand and holistic student growth – mind, body and spirit – while managing operational revenues and expenses, aligning tuition increases with cost-of-living adjustments, and funding future capital improvements.
Key Initiatives:
- Build capacity for enrollment growth at Central Campus.
- Design and implement athletic facility improvements for all programs, including strength and cardiovascular training, recovery rooms, and expanded indoor/outdoor competition facilities.
- Improve efficiency and optimize resources through streamlined central office operations and facilities.
- Finalize St. Joseph the Worker Early Childhood renovation through a phased approach.
- Centralize food service operations.
- Diversify revenue sources through endowments, grants and planned giving, to reduce parish reliance and build sustainable funding for long-term growth and the strength of our Catholic mission.
Visionary Goal:
Position Holy Family as Dubuque’s education employer of choice by fostering a supportive, Christ-centered and innovative work environment, advancing our commitment to competitive pay and benefits and providing robust opportunities for professional growth and collaboration.
Key Initiatives:
- Partner with local organizations, housing developers, or community initiatives to improve the availability and affordability of housing for new and relocating teachers, with a lens for both international and domestic hires.
- Establish partnerships with teacher preparation programs, Catholic universities, and professional networks nationwide to increase the pipeline of skilled teachers, supporting long-term staffing stability and talent diversity.
- Conduct cross-training and succession planning for staff leadership.
- Create a pathway for visiting teachers from Spain and culture assistants to retain proper work authorization, meeting all necessary salary and housing obligations.
Goal Metrics:
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Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP)
GOAL: 100% Proficient with 35% “Advanced”
Current, as of Spring 2024:
- ELA: 94% proficient, incl. 25% advanced
- Math: 89% proficient, incl. 25% advanced
- Science: 86% proficient, incl. 12% advanced
Iowa Seal of Biliteracy
GOAL: 50% of Graduates
- Current: 14%
Post-Secondary Degrees
GOAL: 85% Earning degrees
- Class of 2018: 78% earned a degree within 6 years
Wahlert Service Cord
for 200+ volunteer hours
GOAL: 25% of Graduates
- Current: 11%
In all areas of operational vitality, Holy Family will strive to meet or exceed expectations within the Archdiocese of Dubuque metrics for success.
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