By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
MIAMI | The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, now in its 38th year, is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Nominations are sought from head education officials in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education (CAPE).
This year, a total of 367 schools received recognition. Winners included 11 Florida schools, three of them Catholic: one from the Diocese of St. Petersburg and two from the Archdiocese of Miami: St. Bonaventure in Davie and St. Thomas the Apostle in South Miami.
Over the years, nine other archdiocesan schools have earned Blue Ribbons, some of them more than once:
- Cardinal Gibbons High, Fort Lauderdale, 1987
- Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory, Hollywood, 1993
- Msgr. Edward Pace High, Miami Gardens, 2002
- Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, Miami, 1987, 1996
- St. David School, Davie, 1994
- St. Patrick School, Miami Beach, 1988
- St. Gregory School, Plantation, 1988
- St. Rose of Lima School, Miami Shores, 1986, 1994
- St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Fort Lauderdale, 1985, 1996.
The 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools Awards Ceremony will be held Nov. 12 and 13, virtually this year due to the pandemic. Plaques and flags will be shipped to recognized schools.
