Chicago, IL (October 4, 2007) —Seven Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago were named Tuesday by Secretary Margaret Spellings of the U.S. Department of Education as No Child Left Behind–Blue Ribbon Schools representing the most from any school system in the nation this year. Since 2004, fifteen Catholic schools in the Archdiocese have achieved this distinction.

“Each year we see more Catholic schools in the Archdiocese recognized for their wonderful accomplishments, and the Office of Catholic Schools is overjoyed to congratulate these seven schools on their Blue Ribbon Awards. They are realizing the goal of academic excellence set forth in Genesis, the strategic plan for Catholic schools in Cook and Lake counties,” said Nicholas Wolsonovich, Ph.D., Superintendent, Office of Catholic Schools, Archdiocese of Chicago.

The Catholic high school receiving the Blue Ribbon award is Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, led by Dr. Judith Muchek, President and Rev. Robert Carroll, O. Carm, Principal.

The six Archdiocesan elementary schools and their respective principals and pastors are:

• Ascension School in Oak Park: Ms. Mary Jo Burns, Principal and
  Rev. Lawrence McNally, Pastor
• St. Colette in Rolling Meadows: Ms. Valerie Zemko, Principal and
  Rev. Dennis Zalecki, Pastor
• St. Francis de Sales in Lake Zurich: Mr. Roy Rash, Principal and
  Rev. David Ryan, Pastor
• St. Germaine in Oak Lawn: Mr. Kevin Reedy, Principal and
  Rev. Michael Furlan, Pastor
• Immaculate Conception in Chicago (Talcott Avenue):
  Ms. Bernadette Felicione, Principal and Rev. Eric Meyer, CP, Pastor
• St. Mary of Annunciation in Mundelein: Mrs. Deborah Dedeo, Principal and Rev. Ronald Lewinski, Pastor

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According to the U.S. Department of Education, the Blue Ribbon award program recognizes schools that make significant progress in closing the achievement gap or whose students achieve at very high levels. Schools can apply for the award every five years, with winners selected based on one of three criteria:

• Schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve student performance on state tests, as determined by the state school chief;
• Schools whose students, regardless of background, achieve in the top 10 percent on state tests; or
• Private schools that achieve in the top 10 percent in the nation.

The principal and a teacher from each school will receive a plaque and a flag signifying their No Child Left Behind –Blue Ribbon School status at a U.S. Department of Education ceremony on November 12 and 13 in Washington, D.C. Once they have returned to their schools, Masses, ceremonies and school pep rallies will be scheduled in celebration of achieving No Child Left Behind –Blue Ribbon School status.