Written by Jocelyn Smith, Ed.D., assistant clinical professor, Latino Engagement Institute program coordinator, Latino Educator and Administrator Development Program coordinator, University of Notre Dame, Alliance for Catholic Education, jsmith89@nd.edu
In Catholic education, we often speak proudly of how we “welcome all as Christ.” This phrase is woven into our mission statements, our enrollment materials, and our daily language. It reflects who we believe ourselves to be and the promise we make to families who entrust their children to us. Yet the question remains: Does every member of our school community genuinely feel seen, valued, and able to thrive? The difference between saying “all are welcome” and creating a culture where “all truly belong” can be profound. It requires more than hospitality at the door; it demands continual reflection, intentional design, and courageous conversations. That is the purpose of a culture audit. It is a genuine, mission-rooted examination of the practices, perceptions, and policies that shape the everyday experience of students, families, and staff.
Belonging vs. Including: A Crucial Distinction
Inclusion means a student is allowed to be in the room. Belonging means that student’s presence changes the room for the better. A culture of belonging recognizes that diversity, cultural, linguistic, socioeconomic, academic, and spiritual expressions, is not a challenge to manage but a gift to receive. Belonging moves beyond tolerance toward mutual transformation.
Catholic schools have a vibrant history of serving immigrant, working-class, and marginalized communities. This legacy is part of our DNA. Today’s landscape has changed and so must our models of hospitality. Classrooms now include families from a wide range of cultural backgrounds; students who are emerging bilinguals; children with diverse learning needs; and parents whose life experiences may differ significantly from those of previous generations. When structures remain static, the message (however unintentional) can become clear: “You are welcome here, as long as you adapt to how we’ve always done things.”
Belonging requires the reverse. We adapt in order to strengthen community for all.
Why Conduct a Cultural Audit?
A cultural audit is not about criticism or blame; it is about growth and alignment. It helps leaders examine whether school culture reflects Catholic social teaching. When conducted thoughtfully, a cultural audit does several important things. It centers student voice, allowing leaders to understand what daily classroom life actually feels like. It elevates parent insights, recognizing families as experts in their own culture, values, and needs. It invites reflection on leadership practices that shapes tone, communication, and expectations. It also examines curriculum, rituals, and traditions to ask an essential question: Whom do these practices reflect, and who might they unintentionally exclude? Ultimately, a cultural audit becomes a roadmap, not just for improvement, but for thriving. It helps ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow academically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Where to Begin: Questions that Matter
Catholic school leaders can begin this work with simple yet transformative questions.
For students:
- Do I see myself in lessons, books, images, and celebrations?
- Can I speak about my culture, language, or identity without fear of ridicule or dismissal?
- Whom do I go to when I face challenges, and do I feel genuinely heard?
For families:
- Do school communications assume English fluency, consistent technological access, or particular cultural norms?
- Are parents invited to contribute their gifts, or merely expected to comply with established expectations?
- Does the school actively ask what families need in order to succeed?
For staff and leadership:
- Who is included in decision-making, and whose voices are missing?
- Do policies promote equity, or do they unintentionally create barriers for certain students?
These are not boxes to check. They are lenses through which transformation becomes possible.
Visible Hospitality: Beyond the First Impression
Many Catholic schools excel at welcoming families during enrollment events, open houses, and orientation days. But belonging must be visible every day, not only at entry points. A cultural audit invites leaders to evaluate how welcome feels in ordinary moments: school signage and language access; celebrations of heritage and saints from various cultures; participation in Mass that reflects the diversity of the student body; parent volunteering opportunities that honor different schedules, skills, and capacities; and discipline systems that emphasize restoration, relationship, and growth rather than punishment alone. When students consistently see their stories reflected in the spiritual, academic, and communal life of the school, they receive a powerful message: I am not just allowed here. I am valued here.
Deepening Mission through Belonging
A cultural audit ultimately deepens a school’s fidelity to the gospel. Jesus did not merely invite people to follow Him; He formed a community where backgrounds, flaws, and strengths became part of the mission itself. In the same way, belonging is not the responsibility of one program or one leader. It is shared work that is carried by teachers, families, administrators, parish partners, and students together. By courageously assessing where we excel and where we must grow, Catholic schools honor both tradition and transformation. We roll out a true red carpet of dignity not because it is fashionable, but because it is sacred. When every child and family can say, “I matter here, and I can thrive here,” our schools do more than educate, they evangelize.
That is belonging. That is Catholic education at its best.
Learn More
Register for the NCEA webinar, Rolling Out the Red Carpet: Auditing Catholic School Culture for Belonging and Thriving, on March 10, 2026 at 12 PM ET. Jocelyn Smith will explore the “Red Carpet” Audit, a structured, reflective, and practical framework designed to help Catholic school leaders and educators critically evaluate their school’s culture through the lens of belonging and thriving.
