CV NEWS FEED // A remarkable 78% of the 40 private schools that received the 2024 National Blue Ribbon School award from the U.S. Department of Education have a Catholic affiliation, including five schools from the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
The National Blue Ribbon program, established in 1982, recognizes schools for exceptional academic performance or efforts in closing achievement gaps, according to a report from the Catholic Review.
Of the 356 total recipients of the National Blue Ribbon School award nationwide, only 40 nonpublic schools achieved this honor. Thirty-one of these schools have a Catholic affiliation.
Five of these nonpublic schools were Catholic schools from the Archdiocese of Baltimore; four were from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis; three from the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston; and two were from the Archdiocese of Chicago. The full list featuring the nonpublic schools with Catholic affiliation can be found here.
The Catholic Review reported that the five schools from the Archdiocese of Baltimore—St. John the Evangelist School in Severna Park, Immaculate Conception School in Towson, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Ellicott City, St. Joseph School in Cockeysville, and St. Mary’s Elementary School in Annapolis—were awarded the ribbon in the Exemplary High Performing category.
Superintendent for the Archdiocesan schools Dr. Donna Hargens said the achievement “highlights the exceptional academic standards and the outstanding Catholic education we are committed to providing our students and families across the Archdiocese of Baltimore,” according to the report.
The report shared that each of the five schools has now been recognized twice. Since the beginning of the National Blue Ribbon program, 25 schools from the Archdiocese of Baltimore have been honored. Thirteen earned the distinction within the last decade.
In addition to the five Catholic schools in Baltimore that received the award, St. Andrew the Apostle School in the nearby Diocese of Arlington was also honored with the distinction.
“This achievement is the result of strong leadership and the dedication of so many,” stated Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington, according to a report from the Diocese.
“St. Andrew the Apostle is a truly Catholic community that equips students in developing their God-given gifts, encourages students to develop their relationship with Jesus Christ, and educates students so that they may offer their lives as gifts to others,” he added.
According to the Diocesan report, Dr. Joseph E. Vorbach III, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Arlington, also praised the school and its receiving of the award.
“Saint Andrew the Apostle School is a gem of a Catholic school,” he said, “and I am so happy to see them receive this hard-earned recognition.”