Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Invests $1.1M in L.A. Archdiocese Catholic Schools

The Department of Catholic Schools (DCS) of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has been awarded a $1.1 million grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, providing critical funding to build on the foundation’s previous investments in school network initiatives within the Archdiocese.

“The Hilton Foundation has been a loyal benefactor to thousands of our Catholic school students, and this year is no exception,” said Paul M. Escala, Senior Director and Superintendent of Schools. “Through its generosity, we will continue to advance our innovative school networks, including our well-established Dual Language Immersion and STEM networks, plus our newer Microschool and Early Colleges networks which provide specialized systems for student success.”

The four-year grant, which will run from October 2025 through August 2029, will allow DCS to sustain the progress of its network schools through various strategies, including:

• Expanding principal and teacher capacity-building and mentoring at network schools;
• Fostering new Early College partnerships, including a new “College Promise” initiative providing guaranteed admissions to partnering universities and colleges for high school graduates
• Broadening tuition support for the most vulnerable students via the Hilton Scholars program;
• Promoting cross-network collaboration to amplify effective practices learned from network schools to all schools in the Archdiocese;
• Deepening the network model to improve academic outcomes and ensure an equitable education for those most in need.

Our school networks not only expand opportunities and open pathways for student achievement, they develop global citizens who are bilingual, culturally and ethnically aware, STEM literate, and prepared for college,” Escala said. “And, because our students are educated in the Catholic faith, they develop a moral compass with which to build fulfilling lives and become leaders in their communities.”

“The new funding will help DCS achieve its goal of becoming the highest performing system of Catholic schools in the nation by 2030,” Escala added. “On behalf of everyone at the Department of Catholic Schools – and especially our students, who will benefit the most – we thank the Hilton Foundation for its unwavering commitment to our mission, our students, and to Catholic education.

About the Department of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Since 1851, Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles have been committed to educating, inspiring, and supporting students within a vibrant, Christ-centered community. With nearly 250 schools in three counties – Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara – the Department of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is the largest Catholic school system in the United States serving over 65,500 students PK-12. Students learn passionately, serve faithfully, and grow toward their highest potential. To learn more about the Department of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, please visit https://lacatholicschools.org.

About the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

International hotelier Conrad N. Hilton established the grantmaking foundation that bears his name in 1944 to help people living in poverty and experiencing disadvantage worldwide. More than eighty years later, the work continues, concentrating on efforts to ensure healthy early childhood development and sustainable livelihoods for youth and refugee populations, support young people transitioning out of foster care, improve access to housing and support services for people experiencing homelessness, identify solutions to safe water access, and lift the work of Catholic sisters. Additionally, following selection by an independent, international jury, the Foundation annually awards the $3 million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize to an organization doing extraordinary work to reduce human suffering. The Foundation is one of the world’s largest, with approximately $7.3 billion in assets. It has awarded grants to date totaling more than $3.6 billion worldwide, and nearly $300 million in 2024. Please visit www.hiltonfoundation.org for more information.

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