Notre Dame High School, Chattanooga’s oldest non-public school, was recognized as one of America’s Top 50 Catholic secondary schools by the Catholic High School Honor Roll.
The Honor Roll honors those schools that maintain high academic standards, uphold their Catholic identity and prepare students to engage the world, according to a news release from the school.
Bishop Richard F. Stika of the Diocese of Knoxville announced the honor to students, faculty and parents in a special video message Friday at the school.
“It is due to all of your support, dedication and hard work that Notre Dame received this prestigious honor,” he said. “Know I am so proud to be the Bishop of Knoxville and in particular the bishop of Notre Dame High School. God Bless and Go Irish!”
Notre Dame High School, which has served families in the Chattanooga area for 134 years, is one of only two schools in Tennessee to receive the honor this year, the news release stated. The school is one of only three Tennessee schools since 2004 to receive the honor.
There are about 7,000 Catholic schools in the United States, serving more than 2 million students each year, the news release stated.
Perry Storey, principal of Notre Dame since 1996, called the selection a “validation of our true mission as a Catholic school,” according to the news release.
“The outstanding young men and women who have been part of the Notre Dame experience know the quality of our school and are reaping the benefits of a well-rounded education,” he said. “Our students are academically prepared, civic-minded and formed in their faith. This combination of traits puts them in high demand for colleges and universities.”
Over the last decade, the school has exceeded local, state and national test scores, held a 100 percent graduation rate and averaged a 99 percent college matriculation rate with the remaining 1 percent pursuing military or national service careers, the school news release said.
The Honor Roll is an independent project of the Acton Institute, an international research and educational organization. The Honor Roll was produced in consultation with a national advisory board comprising Catholic college presidents and Catholic scholars.
This is the third national award for Notre Dame High School in the past two years. In April 2010, the school was honored with the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception’s Charity and Social Service Award, and in 2009, the school received the Life Care Centers of America’s Group Volunteer Award.