2012 Blue Ribbon Schools

This year 269 schools were chosen as Blue Ribbon Schools. Of this number, 50 private schools were selected, of these 44 are Catholic schools. The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) states that “schools were selected either because their standardized test scores in reading and math placed them among the top-performing schools in the nation or state, or  because they served disadvantaged students and made extraordinary progress in improving performance.” Academy of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, in Tenafly, and Visitation Academy, in Paramus merited the award due to their students’ standardized test scores placing them among the top-performing schools in the US and New Jersey.

Each state’s commissioner of education nominates public schools for the award, and CAPE nominates private schools. All winning schools will be honored at an awards ceremony 12-13 November in Washington, D.C. This year’s archdiocesan recipients join the seven schools that received the award in 2011.

US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan praised this year’s recipients of the Blue Ribbon Schools Program saying, “schools honored with the National Blue Ribbon Schools award are committed to accelerating student achievement and preparing students for success in college and careers.  Their work reflects the conviction that every child has promise and that education is the surest pathway to a strong, secure future.”

On behalf of Monsignor Kevin M. Hanbury, Ed.D., Vicar for Education and Superintendent of Schools, and the entire staff of the Office of the Superintendent of Schools, sincerest congratulations to the pastors, principals, teachers, staff, students and parents for the dedication to excellence and the commitment to fostering a school culture that promotes high expectations in education and faith and character formation that has culminated in this award.