Philly's Outstanding Catholic Schools To Be Honored

Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez, D.D. Archbishop of Philadelphia, will celebrate over 40 Archdiocesan parish and regional elementary schools and private Catholic schools that have been selected as National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence by the United States Department of Education since the program’s inception in 1982.

Each school was invited to attend the celebration with a delegation of pastors, administrators, and student representatives.

Monday, October 2, 2023

11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
 11:00 a.m. Liturgy of the Word (Lower Church)

Approximately 11:45 a.m. Reception (Shrine Center)
 Shrine of Saint John Neumann at Saint Peter the Apostle Parish
 1019 North 5^th Street
 Philadelphia, PA 19123
 

Following the Liturgy of the Word there will be a reception at the Shrine Center. Andrew McLaughlin, Ed.D., Secretary for Elementary Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will be present along with other senior administrators from the Office of Catholic Education. 

On Tuesday, September 19, 2023 Saint Philip Neri Catholic School in Lafayette Hill (Montgomery County), Saint Mary Interparochial School in the Society Hill Section of Philadelphia, and Saints Philip and James School in Exton (Chester County), were selected as part of the 2023 cohort of National Blue Ribbon Schools in an announcement made by Miguel Cardona, Ed.D., Secretary of the United States Department of Education.

With the addition of the 2023 cohort, Blue Ribbon status has been awarded 51 times to parish and regional elementary schools in the five-county Archdiocese since the program’s inception in 1982. Saint Genevieve Catholic School in Flourtown (Montgomery County) has received this honor more times than any other school in the Archdiocese (2000, 2006, and 2016). 

The United States Department of Education will hold a recognition ceremony for this year’s Blue Ribbon Schools on November 16 and 17, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Representatives from Saint Philip Neri, Saint Mary Interparochial and Saints Philip and James will be formally recognized at that time.

For information about Archdiocesan parish and regional elementary schools who have been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, please visit

www.aopcatholicschools.org/elementary/blue-ribbon-schools.

Background Information on the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program 

Founded in 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students perform at very high levels or where significant improvements are being made in students' academic achievement.  Since the program's founding, the United States Department of Education has bestowed this coveted award on more than 9,700 of America's schools. For a complete list of 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools, please visit https://nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov/. 

Note: For more information about Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please visit www.aopcatholicschools.org/.