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St. John of the Cross in Western Springs gets Blue Ribbon
Updated: October 14, 2012 1:29PM
WESTERN SPRINGS — St. John of the Cross Parish School in Western Springs has been recognized as one of 50 private schools nationwide with a 2012 National Blue Ribbon Award.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the honor based on the school’s overall academic excellence in student academic achievement levels.
St. John of the Cross qualified for the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program by being an exemplary high performing school. High performing is defined as “the achievement of the school’s students in the most recent year tested which places the school among the highest performing schools in the nation in reading (or language arts) and mathematics as measured by a nationally normed test.”
The Blue Ribbon Committee not only examined recent test scores, but the scores of students over the last five years.
“Our excellent teachers, staff and administration, both past and present, provided and continue to provide a high quality of education,” said Principal Kathleen Gorman. “Our staff has always gone above and beyond in providing for the individual needs of each of our students. This award certainly reflects their dedication and commitment to Catholic education.”
To select National Blue Ribbon Schools, the Council for American Private Education nominates private schools. A total of 417 public and private schools nationwide may be nominated, with allocations determined by the numbers of kindergarten through 12th-grade students and schools in each jurisdiction. The Secretary of Education invites nominated schools to submit an application for possible recognition.
The school will host a variety of events to celebrate this achievement including a recognition ceremony and an all parish Mass.
Gorman and the Rev. David Dowdle, a teacher, will attend the official awards ceremony will be held Nov. 12 and 13 in Washington, D.C.
