The Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office of Catholic Education recognized 62 parish and regional elementary schools as 2025 Archdiocesan Schools of Distinguished Instruction during a ceremony held on Aug. 7 at Saints Simon and Jude Church in West Chester.
The event featured a prayer vigil and an awards presentation led by representatives from the Office of Catholic Education. Dr. Andrew McLaughlin, Secretary for Elementary Education, joined senior administrators in honoring schools for exceptional academic performance.
Schools were recognized in two categories: growth and exceeding potential. The growth distinction was awarded to 2025 archdiocesan schools that demonstrated a full year’s academic progress across all tested levels, based on comparative Normal Curve Equivalent (NCE) scores.
The Exceeding Potential distinction was given to schools where a majority of classes met or surpassed expected performance in all subjects, with growth rates exceeding 80%, based on InView and Terra Nova testing.
Honored 2025 archdiocesan schools represent all five counties served by the Archdiocese: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia.
13 Schools Recognized for Growth and Exceeding Potential
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Saint Ephrem Parish School (Bensalem, Bucks County)
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Saint Joseph Parish School (Downingtown, Chester County)
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Saint Norbert Parish School (Paoli, Chester County)
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Cardinal John Foley Regional Catholic School (Havertown, Delaware County)
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Saint Anastasia Parish School (Newtown Square, Delaware County)
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Saint James Regional Catholic School (Ridley Park, Delaware County)
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Saint Laurence Parish School (Upper Darby, Delaware County)
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Corpus Christi Parish School (Lansdale, Montgomery County)
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Queen of Angels Regional Catholic School (Willow Grove, Montgomery County)
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Saint Aloysius Parish School (Pottstown, Montgomery County)
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Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish School (Trooper, Montgomery County)
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Saint Cecilia Parish School (Philadelphia County)
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Saint Peter the Apostle School (Philadelphia County)
43 Schools Recognized for Growth
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Holy Family Regional Catholic School (Levittown, Bucks County)
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Holy Trinity Parish School (Morrisville, Bucks County)
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Nativity of Our Lord Parish School (Warminster, Bucks County)
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Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish School (Southampton, Bucks County)
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Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish School (Doylestown, Bucks County)
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Saint Andrew Parish School (Newtown, Bucks County)
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Saint Joseph/Saint Robert Catholic School (Warrington, Bucks County)
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Saint Jude Parish School (Chalfont, Bucks County)
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Saint Katharine Drexel Regional Catholic School (Southampton, Bucks County)
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Saint Michael the Archangel Parish School (Levittown, Bucks County)
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Holy Family Regional Catholic School (Phoenixville, Chester County)
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Saints Peter and Paul Parish School (West Chester, Chester County)
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Saints Simon and Jude Parish School (West Chester, Chester County)
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Saint Elizabeth Parish School (Chester Springs, Chester County)
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Saint Maximillian Kolbe Parish School (West Chester, Chester County)
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Blessed Virgin Mary Parish School (Darby, Delaware County)
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Holy Cross Parish School (Springfield, Delaware County)
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Saints Colman – John Neumann School (Bryn Mawr, Montgomery County)
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Saint Anastasia Parish School (Newtown Square, Delaware County)
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Saint Andrew Parish School (Drexel Hill, Delaware County)
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Saint Bernadette Parish School (Drexel Hill, Delaware County)
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Saint Francis of Assisi Parish School (Springfield, Delaware County)
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Saint Katharine of Siena Parish School (Wayne, Delaware County)
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Saint Mary Magdalen Parish School (Media, Delaware County)
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Holy Cross Regional Catholic School (Collegeville, Montgomery County)
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Mater Dei Catholic School (Lansdale, Montgomery County)
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Mother Teresa Regional Catholic School (King of Prussia, Montgomery County)
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Our Lady of Mercy Regional Catholic School (Maple Glen, Montgomery County)
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Saint Albert the Great Parish School (Huntingdon Valley, Montgomery County)
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Saint Francis of Assisi Parish School (Norristown, Montgomery County)
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Saint Hilary of Poitiers Parish School (Rydal, Montgomery County)
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Saint Luke Parish School (Glenside, Montgomery County)
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Saint Margaret Parish School (Narberth, Montgomery County)
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Holy Redeemer Chinese Catholic School (Philadelphia County)
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Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish School (Philadelphia County)
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Our Lady of Calvary Parish School (Philadelphia County)
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Saint Anthony of Padua Regional Catholic School (Philadelphia County)
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Saint Christopher Parish School (Philadelphia County)
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Saint Francis Xavier Parish School (Philadelphia County)
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Saint Martha Parish School (Philadelphia County)
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Saint Mary Interparochial School (Philadelphia County)
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Saint Monica Parish School (Philadelphia County)
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Saint Pio Regional Catholic School (Philadelphia County)
6 Schools Recognized for Exceeding Potential
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Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish School (West Grove, Chester County)
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Saint Patrick Parish School (Malvern, Chester County)
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Saint Pius X Parish School (Broomall, Delaware County)
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Presentation Blessed Virgin Mary Parish School (Cheltenham, Montgomery County)
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Resurrection Regional Catholic School (Philadelphia County)
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Saint Francis de Sales Parish School (Philadelphia County)
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For additional information on Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please visit aopcatholicschools.org.
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