St. Louis Catholic School in Clarksville, Howard County, was named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education earlier today, becoming the 14th Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Baltimore to receive the honor. The designation is the highest academic honor bestowed upon a school by the U.S. Department of Education.
“St. Louis’ remarkable achievement underscores the value Catholic schools serve to the children of our community,” Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien said. “Catholic schools can compete at the highest levels of education and excel because they strive heroically to meet the needs of every student. I am proud of St. Louis and congratulate the students, teachers, parents and the entire parish community on this outstanding honor.”
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high school that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement to high levels. The schools will be honored at a ceremony in Washington, DC, later this year and will receive a plaque and flag signifying their status.
“I am extremely proud that our school has been named a Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education,” Principal Terry Weiss said. “It is a testament to the quality of our faculty and staff, to the hard work and creative effort of our students, and the supportive leadership of our pastor. It is very gratifying to have the commitment and dedication of our entire school community recognized. To be a Blue Ribbon School is a tremendous honor and establishes a standard we will continue to build upon as we move forward with the pride that comes from acknowledged achievement.”
Monsignor Joseph Luca, Pastor of St. Louis Parish, said, “This is obviously a great honor for our school. Over the years I have regularly heard from high school principals that our students are among the best in their schools because of the foundation they receive at Saint Louis School. Now to be acknowledged by the United States Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence confirms the great education our students have been receiving.”
St. Louis joins the following Catholic schools in the Archdiocese to be named Blue Ribbon schools.
Mercy High School, Baltimore, 1984-85
Notre Dame Preparatory School, Towson, 1984-85
Calvert Hall College High School, Towson, 1984-85 and 1988-89
Loyola Blakefield, Towson, 1986-87
St. Rita, Dundalk, 1986-87
Archbishop Keough High School, 1987-88
Mount St. Joseph High School, Irvington, 1988-89
Trinity School, Ellicott City, 1989-90 and 1998-99
Archbishop Spalding High School, Severn, 1992-93
The John Carroll School, Bel Air, 1995-96
St. John the Evangelist, Severna Park, 2008-09
Resurrection-St. Paul School, Ellicott City, 2009
St. John School, Frederick, 2009
St. Louis Catholic School has a current enrollment of 505 students. Students in grades three through eight far exceeded the national average on standardized tests taken last fall. It is one of 70 Catholic schools serving students in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.