By CatholicPhilly Staff • Posted September 10, 2024

Around seven dozen Catholic elementary schools in the five-county region have been recognized for attaining high marks in their mission.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office of Catholic Education recognized 71 parish and regional elementary schools Sept. 5 as 2024 Archdiocesan Schools of Distinguished Instruction.

Pastors and administrators gathered to receive their award during a ceremony at Saint Dorothy Church in Drexel Hill.

Dr. Andrew McLaughlin, Secretary for Elementary Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, along with other senior administrators from the Office of Catholic Education, were on hand to present the awards.

Some 44 schools exhibited growth, determined by comparing the Normal Curve Equivalent (NCE) score from this year’s testing to the NCE examinations taken by students in the previous academic year.

Exceeding potential, for which there were 18 schools recognized, determined by analyzing the data from the ability testing (InView) and the achievement testing (Terra Nova) in which schools were found to have 85% of the classes meeting or exceeding their potential in all content areas at every level tested with a growth rate between 76 and 90%.

Holy Redeemer Chinese Catholic School in Philadelphia, Saint Joseph Parish School in Downingtown, and Saint Ephrem Parish School in Bensalem achieved 100% in Growth and Exceeding Potential.

Saint Ignatius of Antioch Parish School in Yardley, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish School in Doylestown, Saint Andrew Parish School in Newtown, Saint Pius X Parish School in Broomall, Visitation Blessed Virgin Mary Parish School in Trooper, and Saint Laurence Parish School in Upper Darby achieved 100% in either Growth or Exceeding Potential.

The full list of schools recognized follows:

44 Schools Recognized for Growth and Exceeding Potential

Blessed Virgin Mary School (Darby, Delaware County)
Cardinal John Foley Regional Catholic School (Havertown, Delaware County)
Corpus Christi Catholic School (Lansdale, Montgomery County)
Good Shepherd Catholic School (Ardsley, Montgomery County)
Holy Cross Catholic School (Springfield, Delaware County)
Holy Cross Regional Catholic School (Collegeville, Montgomery County)
Holy Family Regional Catholic School (Aston, Delaware County)
Holy Family Regional Catholic School (Phoenixville, Chester County)
Holy Redeemer Chinese Catholic School (Philadelphia County)
Holy Rosary Regional Catholic School (Plymouth Meeting, Montgomery County)
Mother of Providence Regional Catholic School (Wallingford, Delaware County)
Nativity of Our Lord Catholic School (Warminster, Bucks County)
Our Lady of Hope Regional School (Philadelphia County)
Our Mother of Consolation Parish School (Philadelphia County)
Presentation Blessed Virgin Mary School (Cheltenham, Montgomery County)
Saints Colman – John Neumann School (Bryn Mawr, Montgomery County)
Saints Peter and Paul School (West Chester, Chester County)
Saints Philip and James School (Exton, Chester County)
Saints Simon and Jude School (West Chester, Chester County)
Saint Agnes School (West Chester, Chester County)
Saint Aloysius Parish School (Pottstown, Montgomery County)
Saint Ephrem Catholic School (Bensalem, Bucks County)
Saint Anastasia School (Newtown Square, Delaware County)
Saint Andrew School (Newtown, Bucks County)
Saint Anselm School (Philadelphia County)
Saint Bernadette School (Drexel Hill, Delaware County)
Saint Cecilia School (Philadelphia County)
Saint Dorothy School (Drexel Hill, Delaware County)
Saint Elizabeth Parish School (Chester Springs, Chester County)
Saint Eugene School (Primos, Delaware County)
Saint Genevieve School (Flourtown, Montgomery County)
Saint Helena School (Blue Bell, Montgomery County)
Saint Isidore School (Quakertown, Bucks County)
Saint James Regional Catholic School (Ridley Park, Delaware County)
Saint Luke Catholic School (Glenside, Montgomery County)
Saint Margaret School (Narberth, Montgomery County)
Saint Joseph School (Downingtown, Chester County)
Saint Joseph/Saint Robert Catholic School (Warrington, Bucks County)
Saint Mary Interparochial School (Philadelphia County)
Saint Mary Magdalen Catholic School (Media, Delaware County)
Saint Matthew School (Philadelphia County)
Saint Pius X School (Broomall, Delaware County)
Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic School (Glenn Mills, Delaware County)
Visitation Blessed Virgin Mary School (Trooper, Montgomery County)

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9 Schools Recognized for Growth

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary School (West Grove, Chester County)
Holy Innocents Catholic School (Philadelphia County)
Mater Dei Catholic School (Lansdale, Montgomery County)
Queen of Angles Regional Catholic School (Willow Grove, Montgomery County)
Saint Albert the Great Catholic School (Huntingdon Valley, Montgomery County)
Saint Jude School (Chalfont, Bucks County)
Saint Jerome School (Philadelphia County)
Saint Maximillian Kolbe School (West Chester, Chester County)
Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic School (Levittown, Bucks County)

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18 Schools Recognized for Exceeding Potential

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish School (Philadelphia County)
Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Catholic School (North Wales, Montgomery County)
Our Lady of Grace Catholic School (Penndel, Bucks County)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish School (Doylestown, Bucks County)
Pope John Paul II Regional Catholic Elementary School (West Brandywine, Chester County)
Resurrection Regional Catholic School (Philadelphia County)
Saint Anthony of Padua Regional Catholic School (Philadelphia County)
Saint Charles Borromeo School (Bensalem, Bucks County)
Saint Christopher School (Philadelphia County)
Saint Francis de Sales School (Philadelphia County)
Saint George Independent Catholic School (Philadelphia County)
Saint Ignatius of Antioch School (Yardley, Bucks County)
Saint Laurence School (Upper Darby, Delaware County)
Saint Mary Catholic School (Schwenksville, Montgomery County)
Saint Norbert Catholic School (Paoli, Chester County)
Saint Patrick School (Malvern, Chester County)
Saint Peter the Apostle School (Philadelphia County)
Saint Pio Regional Catholic School (Philadelphia County)