The future of CBA is rooted in our rich history and legacy. The opportunity for our current and future students arises from our ability to create and execute strategic plans that consider our past and inspire our future. Throughout our history, we have been committed to the mission of our Founder, Saint John Baptist de La Salle, and approached challenges and opportunities with creative fidelity to our founding story and the CBA mission. This next strategic plan and vision embraces the spirit that has inspired our history while continuing to respond to the current needs of the students who are entrusted to our care. I would like to thank CBA Trustee Kathleen O'Connor for steering this project and Christopher Harrigan '90, Chair of our CBA Board of Trustees, for his outstanding vision and leadership of our Board.
2015 Strategic Plan
In 2015, the CBA Board of Trustees approved an ambitious strategic plan. The school faced the declining presence of the Christian Brothers, the declining enrollments at Catholic elementary feeder schools, and necessary general building and campus upgrades and maintenance. The 2015 Strategic Plan prioritized the school’s commitment to the Lasallian mission to ensure every stakeholder understood and embodied that mission. That year, the school adopted and implemented its current president/principal leadership model as its first step toward lay leadership.
As the enrollment at the diocesan Catholic elementary schools declined, the natural enrollment pipeline slowed. The Board recognized that CBA had to appeal to students educated at local public schools. To appeal to traditional public-school families, CBA had to be an attractive option for families attending good public schools with excellent facilities and no tuition. CBA initiated a comprehensive review of the entire campus and facilities. This review resulted in the Facilities Master Plan, which addressed all aspects of the physical plant – classrooms, library, cafeteria, kitchen, offices, athletic facilities, HVAC systems, etc. CBA also needed to increase its financial assistance to support families not used to paying tuition for education.
CBA launched the “Our Mission, Their Future” campaign to address many of the campus deficiencies identified in the Facilities Master Plan, increase the endowment, and increase annual financial support for operations by improving participation in the Annual Fund. The campaign raised $13,764,386. As a result of the plan and campaign, the school increased its endowment, increased participation in the Annual Fund, and upgraded its cafeteria to the Dining Center and library to the Learning Commons. The school created an Engineering Maker Space and upgraded classrooms. It committed funds to projects identified as necessary maintenance, repairs, and replacements to school facilities, such as windows, masonry, and the HVAC system. The school also renovated its entry and added displays and technology to recognize its history and honor its graduates.
Current State of the School
The 125-year commitment and vision of countless trustees, faculty, staff, administrators, and benefactors has enabled CBA to thrive in the Lasallian Catholic educational mission. As caretakers of the Lasallian charism, the school has committed significant resources to supporting the Lasallian formation of its faculty and staff. Despite the last Christian Brother leaving CBA in 2023, planning and formation have led to a community of Lasallians who are fully committed to the mission of our Founder. While the Brothers no longer offer a presence on campus, a rigorous internal formation program and consistent participation in District and Regional formation opportunities have ensured that the school remains passionately committed to the Lasallian mission.
CBA students continue to excel academically. In 2019, CBA was recognized as one of 50 nonpublic schools and the only Catholic school nationwide to receive the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence designation, an honor that lasts for seven years. In 2024, CBA earned the Advanced Placement Platinum Award, the highest honor given by the College Board. To achieve this recognition, 82% of the CBA Class of 2024 completed an AP course, 64% earned college credit by scoring three or higher, and 20% of the graduating class participated in five or more AP courses at CBA. In 2024, 232 students completed a total of 533 AP exams. U.S. News & World Report evaluates public schools using a hybrid metric known as "College Readiness." The top-performing public school in Central New York scored 64.4, while the Syracuse City School District scored 9.3. In contrast, the CBA Class of 2024 achieved a score of 76.5. CBA consistently sees 100% of its graduating seniors accepted into four-year colleges, and the CBA Class of 2024 earned $32.6 million in merit scholarships.
Since completing “Our Mission, Their Future,” CBA has completed several additional facility updates, including a new e-Lab that offers advanced computer science and programming courses and a competitive e-sports team. The main athletic turf field and track were replaced during the summer of 2024, and the lower athletic field is scheduled for replacement during the summer of 2025. These projects were financed entirely through fundraising and supplemental revenue and did not impact tuition.
The 2024 construction of the Dan Byrne ’70 Performing Arts Center fulfilled one of the goals in the 2015 facilities master plan study. The 300-seat auditorium features a complete stage and state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems. This addition benefits our current students who are passionate about the performing arts and positions CBA to expand its arts offerings. Since 2015, approximately $20 million has been invested in facility upgrades, which were achieved without incurring any long-term debt.
Over the past ten years, campaign pledges from “Our Mission, Their Future," prudent financial management during the COVID-19 pandemic, and improved fundraising efforts have contributed to the endowment's growth from $11,752,000 to $21,192,563. This achievement has allowed financial assistance to exceed $1.6 million annually, benefiting approximately 51% of the current student body. The increase in financial aid and the commitment to keeping tuition increases minimal have ensured that CBA remains accessible to well-qualified students.
Over the past decade, K-12 student enrollment in New York State has decreased by 8.4%. This decline, along with several other factors, has contributed to nearly a 19% drop in Catholic school enrollment nationwide. Nevertheless, CBA has maintained full enrollment despite these reductions, proudly boasting a student count of 751. This success can be attributed to remarkable academic performance, a commitment to Lasallian values, a strong sense of community, and excellence in extracurricular activities. The school has enhanced the diversity of its student body in both ethnic and religious aspects while upholding its core mission of providing a “human and Christian education.” CBA remains the premier choice for families seeking a safe, nurturing environment that encourages each student to achieve personal and academic excellence according to their unique gifts and talents. While CBA's current status is strong, the years ahead will present new challenges.
Challenges Ahead
Recent closures of Catholic elementary schools and expected further restructuring within the Diocese will continue to diminish the traditional pipeline of prospective students to CBA. Additionally, overall affiliation with the Catholic Church has also decreased. These challenges occur against the backdrop of overall demographic declines in the United States. While these obstacles highlight CBA's crucial role in providing a primary faith experience for our students, a strong strategic vision is essential to reallocate resources for recruiting and educating students who come to CBA through other pathways.
Our mission calls us to educate young people in the Lasallian Catholic tradition, regardless of their ability to pay. The City of Syracuse ranks among the cities with the highest child poverty rates in the United States. While we have increased our financial aid, we still cannot meet the financial needs of all our accepted students. Access to a CBA education for low and middle-income families will only be possible through a significantly larger endowment than our currently available funds.
While we have consistently invested in our facilities, we remain challenged by our school building’s original scope of construction - 9th through 12th-grade males. The addition of grades 7 and 8 and the transition to coeducational continues to require essential renovations. A strong facilities masterplan that addresses this history, plans for annual investments in routine maintenance, and allows CBA to be responsive to educational changes in curriculum and technology is essential to ensuring that our community has the resources for continued success.
To remain passionate caretakers of the Lasallian mission, the school must continue to strategically approach the formation of all faculty, staff, and trustees. Throughout New York State, there has been a significant decline in teachers and administrators. A clear vision to attract, retain, and develop committed lifelong Lasallians will ensure that the mission remains vibrant across our community.
Vision 2030: Creating our Future
As a result of our new strategic plan Vision 2030, alumni will experience a vibrant, faith-based community that honors their legacy. They will also continue to discover meaningful ways to engage with the school's mission through authentic interactions with fellow graduates, students, faculty, and staff members.
The strategic plan will ensure that students receive a transformative education that fosters intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth as they prepare to lead with compassion and integrity. Students will benefit from a rigorous and holistic education that encourages them to excel and equips them for a constantly changing world. They will be surrounded by peers who share a passion for faith, learning and service—individuals who would thrive at any institution but choose CBA to challenge themselves to be their best.
Parents will witness a school that cultivates a supportive and inclusive environment where their children thrive in faith, knowledge, and character while actively engaging in the Lasallian mission. They will be involved partners in their children's experience and recognize the transformative impact of a Lasallian education.
Together, we will be passionate heirs to the Lasallian mission at Christian Brothers Academy, continuing to touch hearts and inspire minds!
