Two local schools, both in Valparaiso, have received the Indiana Blue Ribbon Schools designation, Gov. Mike Braun announced Monday.
They’re among 16 public and private schools across the state selected for exceptional academic achievement and commitment to student success.
The local schools include Memorial Elementary and St. Paul Catholic School, a Diocese of Gary school. Both are in Valparaiso. Also included is Kingsford Heights Elementary School – La Porte Community School Corporation.
“Indiana’s Blue Ribbon Schools represent our state’s commitment to ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive,” said Braun. “These schools continue to set the bar high and show what is possible when families, schools, and communities work together to create classrooms where students are supported and prepared for the future,” Braun added.
St. Paul School Principal Lisa Hughes is delighted to be recognized as a Blue Ribbon School and said in a release from the Gary Diocese that it is the second time the school has received this extraordinary honor. The school was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2022.
“This is a celebration of the students who work hard, the teachers who inspire them, the families who support them, and the faith that guides us. We are grateful for everyone who contributes to making Saint Paul such a special community,” Hughes said in the release. “Saint Paul Catholic School is honored to receive this recognition and looks forward to continuing its mission of forming students who are strong in faith, strong in character, and prepared to succeed.”
The Most Rev. Robert J. McClory, Bishop of Gary, commended the dedicated leadership and staff.
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“Saint Paul Catholic School truly lives out the mission to foster a lifelong commitment to learning guided by Catholic Christian principles to serve God and the community,” he said in the diocese’s release.
Diocese of Gary Catholic Schools Superintendent Dr. Colleen Brewer praised Hughes and the entire school’s faculty for this great honor in the release.
“I have seen first-hand the intentional work and dedication St. Paul faculty and administration puts into developing their students as learners, creating a positive school culture, and growing in their faith. I am grateful that the Indiana Department of Education continues to celebrate and support the excellence in education that St. Paul and the Diocese of Gary Catholic Schools dedicate themselves to every day,” she said.
The Indiana Blue Ribbon Schools designation celebrates schools that demonstrate exemplary academic performance and innovative approaches to meeting the needs of students.
Braun’s release said these schools have fostered environments of excellence, serving as models of educational leadership and impact for communities statewide and beyond.
“With more than 2,300 K-12 schools across Indiana, to be named one of the top 16 is an incredible accomplishment,” said Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “This level of excellence is only possible when strong educators work hand-in-hand with families to meet the unique needs of every learner.”
The honored schools were formally recognized at the fifth annual Educational Excellence Awards gala, which took place in Indianapolis on Friday, Oct. 2.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools designation was first established in 1982. The Indiana Department of Education annually names a new cohort of designees.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.