Catholic schools are educational institutions that teach the Catholic faith and ethics alongside standard academic curriculum. Sometimes, the phrase "Catholic school" is used broadly to refer to any school within the Catholic education system, but there are also more specific terms that can be used as synonyms. One such term is "parochial school," which refers to a school that is associated with a particular parish or church. Another term is "diocesan school," which refers to a school that is sponsored by and accountable to the local diocese. Other possible synonyms might include "religious school," "faith-based school," or "denominational school".