2024 Catholic Schools Week Supplement
The chosen: two archdiocesan schools named national Blue Ribbon School
(Editor’s note: This story is a shortened version of the original one that appeared in The Criterion on Sept. 29, 2023.)
By Sean Gallagher
Two Catholic schools in the archdiocese were named a national
Blue Ribbon School during this academic year, adding to a 41-year tradition of excellence.
St. Charles Borromeo School in Bloomington and Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis are the latest recipients of the honor from the
U.S. Department of Education.
Only 11 schools in Indiana received the recognition, with only three private schools among them.
With St. Charles and Bishop Chatard earning the distinction this year, schools in the archdiocese have now received 39 Blue Ribbon School honors since the program was started in 1982.
Blue Ribbon schools are recognized for their academic excellence. To receive the honor, they have to be nominated by their state’s secretary of education and pass through a rigorous application process.
“We are extremely excited for the St. Charles Borromeo and Bishop Chatard school communities for being honored among the highest-performing schools in the country,” said Brian Disney, superintendent of Catholic schools in the archdiocese. “In addition to academic excellence, both schools are committed to teaching and living their Catholic faith every day.”
John Hasty, Bishop Chatard’s principal, viewed the Blue-Ribbon honor as “an amazing acknowledgement of the selflessness and commitment that so many people here have made to something far greater than themselves—teachers, parents, students, staff across the board. It affirmed what I already knew was happening that makes this place special.
“Our parents are invested in that partnership. They’re invested in our kids-first teachers. They share with us their responsibility of human, spiritual and academic formation of their children. That’s a lot. I’ve been blown away by the amount of trust and support in that partnership. It’s a powerful community.”
Victoria Arther, St. Charles’ principal, viewed the Blue Ribbon honor as a reflection of the sacrifices that the school’s students, teachers and administrators made in the fall of 2020 when, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, it re-opened its doors when surrounding public schools remained closed.
“We kept on going as usual and did not see a learning loss,” Arther said. “Our kids kept pressing forward and did a great job. It’s why we were able to get this Blue-Ribbon recognition.”
At the same time, Arther knows that the foundation for academic excellence at St. Charles was laid long before the pandemic.
“We do well, year in and year out,” Arther said. “Even before being a Blue Ribbon School, we knew that we had something really special here at
St. Charles. This is now going to allow us to really highlight that with others. It’s a distinct honor to be a Blue Ribbon School.” †