Five Catholic Elementary Schools Named Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced the 342 National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2017. Among those schools are All Saints Catholic Academy in Bayonne, Hoboken Catholic Academy in Hoboken, Our Lady of the Lake School in Verona, St. Peter Academy in River Edge, and The Academy of Our Lady of Peace in New Providence. The award is based on overall academic excellence. The schools in the Newark Archdiocese have been recognized as, “Exemplary High Performing Schools.”

All Saints Catholic Academy in Bayonne, Hoboken Catholic Academy in Hoboken, Our Lady of the Lake School in Verona, St. Peter Academy in River Edge, and The Academy of Our Lady Of Peace in New Providence join the other 18 schools in the Archdiocese of Newark who have received such a distinction since 2011.  Thus far, 33% of our Catholic elementary schools have been recognized, and we look forward to more receiving this distinction in years to come.

“”National Blue Ribbon Schools are active demonstrations of preparing every child for a bright future,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.”You are visionaries, innovators and leaders. You have much to teach us: some of you personalize student learning, others engage parents and communities in the work and life of your local schools and still others develop strong and forward-thinking leaders from among your teaching staff.”

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap. The award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content. The National Blue Ribbon Schools flag gracing a school’s building is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning. National Blue Ribbon Schools are an inspiration and a model for schools still striving for excellence.

Now in its 35th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed recognition on more than 8,500 schools. On Nov. 6-7, the Secretary and the Department of Education celebrated with the honorees at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

The Department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) nominates private schools. A total of 420 schools nationwide may be nominated each year.