Catholic High School Honor Roll

To Recognize and Encourage Excellence in Catholic Secondary Education

Nation's Top 50 Catholic High Schools announced for 2008

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Nov. 10, 2008) -The National Catholic High School Honor Roll announced its fifth selection of the best 50 Catholic secondary schools in the United States. The purpose of the Honor Roll is to recognize and encourage excellence in Catholic secondary education. It is a critical resource for parents and educators that distinguishes those schools that excel in three categories: academic excellence, Catholic Identity, and civic education.

This year's list includes 10 new honorees as well as eight schools that have earned recognition each of the Honor Roll's five years of existence. 2008 honorees range from newcomer schools such as Knoxville Catholic in Tennessee, to repeat honorees such as Bishop Machebeuf Catholic in Denver and Holy Spirit Preparatory in Atlanta. Texas and Michigan led with six schools selected, followed by California, with four schools. Nine different religious orders sponsor honorees, including the Jesuits, Legionaries of Christ, and Norbertines.

To see a list of the top 50 schools, as well as lists of the 10 honorable mention schools in each category, visit www.chshonor.org.

The Honor Roll is an independent project of the Acton Institute, an international research and educational organization. It is produced in consultation with an advisory board comprised of Catholic college presidents and scholars. Advisory board member Very Rev. David M. O'Connell, President of Catholic University of America, said the Honor Roll's evaluation method is indispensable. "Catholic schools must examine themselves on a regular basis using a well-rounded approach that assesses adherence to the Church's educational calling," he said. "The Honor Roll strengthens schools by encouraging high standards and vibrant Catholicism."

In its five years, the Honor Roll has seen over 50 percent of America's nearly 1,300 Catholic high schools participate at least once. This year nearly 300 schools completed the three detailed surveys that measure a school's adherence to the Church's educational mission. Each school also receives an evaluation to see how it compares to other schools nationwide.

The best schools demonstrate a balanced excellence, which includes an active Catholic culture, sound college preparation and integration of Church teaching in all departments. These schools also display sound moral, catechetical and civic formation that prepares students for vocations in the world as political, religious, scientific, and business leaders.

About The National Catholic High School Honor Roll

The National Catholic High School Honor Roll is a list of the top 50 Catholic high schools in the United States, where schools are examined on the criteria of academic excellence, Catholic identity, and civic education. The purpose of the Honor Roll is to recognize and encourage excellence in Catholic secondary education, and is a resource for parents, schools, donors, and colleges.

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 comprised of Catholic college presidents and Catholic scholars. For more on Acton, please go to www.acton.org.

In keeping with the Second Vatican Council’s dual stress on the “earthly city” and the “ Kingdom of God,” the Catholic High School Honor Roll recognizes schools that both embrace a vibrant Catholic identity and instill an appreciation of the social, political, and economic dimensions of the world that students will engage.

Despite the many challenges in Catholic secondary education, those schools that face these struggles with excellence and integrity deserve to be recognized. The Catholic High School Honor Roll measures a school’s strength in three areas:

The primary goal of the Honor Roll is to encourage schools to educate students as effectively as possible, in a way that integrates Catholic faith and prepares students for active engagement with the world. By supporting this constructive competition, the Honor Roll provides insight into the character of Catholic secondary education and calls everyone to improve the academic and spiritual formation given to America’s youth. In promoting rigorous education, the Honor Roll desires to better prepare students for fruitful vocations in politics, business, and the Church.

2008 Honorable Mention

The honorable mention lists include the top performing schools that did not place on the overall Top 50 list. There are 10 schools listed for each of the three criteria that the Honor Roll examines.

Academics
Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School	Indianapolis, IN
Brophy College Preparatory	Phoenix, AZ
Dominican Academy	New York, NY
Greensburg Central Catholic High School	Greensburg, PA
Saint Joseph Hill Academy	Staten Island, NY
Saint Joseph's Preparatory School	Philadelphia, PA
Saratoga Central Catholic High School	Saratoga Springs, NY
Springfield Catholic High School	Springfield, MO
Villa Madonna Academy High School	Villa Hills, KY
Xavier College Preparatory	Phoenix, AZ
Catholic Identity
Bishop Neumann Jr./Sr. High School	Wahoo, NE
John Paul II High School	Corpus Christi, TX
Monsignor Edward Pace High School	Miami Gardens, FL
Pius X Catholic High School	Lincoln, NE
Pope John Paul II Academy	Lafayette, LA
Quigley Catholic High School	Baden, PA
Saint Joseph Catholic School	Bryan, TX
Saint Michael the Archangel High School	Baton Rouge LA
Saint Monica Academy	Pasadena, CA
Saint Patrick Catholic High School	Biloxi, MS
Civic Education
All Saints Catholic High School	Bay City, MI
Beckman High School	Dyersville, IA
Bishop Verot Catholic High School	Fort Myers, FL
Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory	Hollywood, FL
Holy Cross Academy	Oneida, NY
Mount Carmel Academy	New Orleans, LA
Nouvel Catholic Central High School	Saginaw, MI
Our Lady of Mercy Academy	Syosset, NY
Saint Wendelin Catholic High School	Fostoria, OH