Ten Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools Receive National Blue Ribbon Recognition
Chicago, (Sept. 23, 2025) – A record-breaking number of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago have met the criteria for the prestigious National Blue Ribbon School Award, given annually by the U.S. Department of Education since 1982, and 10 schools were informed in August that they would receive the honor this year.
Those 10 schools are:
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy, Chicago
- Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette
- St. Giles School, Oak Park
- St. Matthias School, Chicago
- St. Therese Chinese Catholic School, Chicago
- St. John of the Cross Parish School, Western Springs
- St. Norbert School, Northbrook
- St. Anne Catholic School, Barrington
- The Academy of Saint Joan of Arc, Evanston
- Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart, Lake Forest
Since the program’s inception, Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago have won more National Blue Ribbons than any other public or private school system in the nation and have not previously had 10 winners in a single year. A non-public school is eligible to be recognized as an exemplary high performing school if the achievement of the school’s students is in the top 15 percent in the nation in both reading and mathematics.
“This recognition shows how Catholic schools throughout Chicago and its suburbs are providing an excellent, well-rounded education for students,” said Greg Richmond, superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese. “The students and educators in these 10 schools worked hard to achieve this level of excellence.”
These National Blue Ribbon recognitions add to the already high profile of Chicago Catholic schools this year, including Leo High School’s participation in America’s Got Talent, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Academy’s viral student papal conclave, and the elevation of a former St. Rita High School teacher to the papacy. “This has been a phenomenal year for Chicago’s Catholic schools,” said Richmond.
This may be the last year of the National Blue Ribbon program. The DOE announced on August 29 that it is discontinuing the program. “While the U.S. Department of Education will not be making an announcement or holding a celebration in Washington, D.C., as they have in years past,” said Richmond, “these 10 schools’ achievement is exemplary.”
