A Bloomington school has earned a national honor.
Central Catholic High School has been named a 2017 Blue Ribbon Exemplary High Performing School recipient, the U.S. Department of Education announced.
Central Catholic was one of 25 Illinois schools recognized out of the 342 total honorees across the country.
Central Catholic Principal Sean Foster says he is pleased with the recognition and aims to sustain success moving forward.
“It’s a tremendous honor,” Foster said. “It means we are moving in the right direction, but with the honor also comes a challenge … we want to celebrate the recognition but we want to continually move forward to improve and grow.”
According to the U.S. Department of Education, a private school must meet a trio of criteria to earn the honor, including math and reading state assessment scores in the top 15 percent of the nation and a graduation rate of at least 95 percent in the most recent year.
Foster credits both the students and faculty for such success.
“If I were to look at one thing (that led to this award), I’d say the consistent effort of our faculty as well as our students,” Foster said. “We have faculty that believe in the mission at Central Catholic … and we are very fortunate to have such great students in a community that values education.”
Foster also pointed to Central Catholic’s diverse curriculum offerings as a reason for high-level production from students.
“I think curriculum definitely plays a big role,” Foster said. “It is something we are constantly working on…being a smaller school, there might not be as many electives in some senses, but are able to offer a variety that does challenge students.”
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