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Three high schools named best in U.S.
archived from: 2007-11-12
by: Pittsburgh Catholic Staff

Three Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Pittsburgh were recognized recently as being among the 50 best Catholic secondary schools in America by their selection to the Catholic High School Honor Roll.

Honored were Quigley Catholic in Baden, St. Joseph in Natrona Heights and Aquinas Academy in Hampton Township. Nearly 1,300 schools were invited to apply to the honor roll that measures academic excellence, Catholic identity and civic education.

“This honor is a confirmation of the quality academic program that students receive in an environment of faith,” said Father Kris Stubna, secretary for education.

“I want to commend all those who contribute on a daily basis to the excellence in Catholic education that is a hallmark of these schools.”

The honor roll is an independent project of the Acton Institute, an international research and educational organization. It is produced in consultation with a national advisory board comprised of Catholic college presidents and noted Catholic scholars.

Quigley Catholic was named to the honor roll for the fourth time, every year since the program started. In addition, Quigley was named one of the top 25 schools in the category of Catholic identity, for the third time.

Dr. Madonna Helbling, principal, said that while Quigley Catholic offers a strong academic program, it never loses sight of its Catholic identity and its commitment to service orientation.

“The students focus on the fact that they just can’t learn to be Christians, they have to live it,” she said.

Leslie Mitros, head of school at Aquinas Academy, said the real reward of teaching at the school is watching students and graduates continue to achieve academically as they live out their Catholic faith. Aquinas is a category leader in academics, for the third year in a row, and it is a previous category leader in Catholic identity.

“Our students work, pray and play hard,” she said. “They recognize the benefits of a rigorous liberal arts curriculum, and learn to integrate faith and reason in all that they do,” she said. This marks the third year for Aquinas to make the honor roll.

Founded in 1996, Aquinas continues to grow and offer opportunities for student growth. With an average class size of 16, the high school affords students the opportunity to participate fully, not only in the classroom but in extracurricular activities. Aquinas students have been division winners in the Pittsburgh Public Theatre’s annual Shakespeare Competition. Both fine arts and athletics at Aquinas will find a home in the multipurpose/gymnasium building to be constructed this spring.

Beverly Kaniecki, principal of St. Joseph, said the recognition confirms the school’s goals — to teach its students the characteristics of sanctity, justice, honor and scholarship to prepare them for life.

The honor holds a particular significance this year for St. Joseph High School. Not only was St. Joseph listed as one of the top 50 Catholic high schools for the second year in a row, it has also just been recognized as a category leader.

In addition to a balance of the three categories specified by the honor roll, St. Joseph displays particular excellence under the category of academics, an achievement that earns the school a place among the total 25 Catholic high schools in the nation specifically recognized for academic excellence. Such distinctions are a tribute to the efforts of the students, teachers, parents, and staff of St. Joseph High School.

“The bottom line is that it’s the excellent, dedicated faculty, very supportive parents and diligent, conscientious students working together who create this tight-knit community of learners we call St. Joseph High School,” Kaniecki said. “They are the ones to be commended and congratulated.”

She said the school offers a strong college preparatory curriculum with as many as 35 credits by the time a student graduates. She noted that it dominates in National History Day competitions and has been first in the nation in the documentary category.

“It’s amazing what we’ve done in 11 rented classrooms,” Kaniecki said. But that will change as St. Joseph continues to raise money and has begun construction of a $3.5 million classroom and gym facility.

The purpose of the honor roll is to recognize and encourage excellence in Catholic secondary education. It is a critical resource for parents and educators that honors the nation’s top Catholic high schools.

To see a list of the top 50 schools, as well as lists of the top 25 schools in each category, visit http://www.chshonor.org.

All of America’s nearly 1,300 Catholic high schools were invited to apply to the honor roll by completing three detailed surveys, indicating that inclusion in the list requires exceptional merit in each of the areas measured. This balanced approach assesses a school’s adherence to the church’s educational calling, where the best schools offer more than the strong academic preparation Catholic education is known for. Rather, the best schools also have vibrant Catholic identities and offer sound civic training that help prepare students to live their faith in the world.

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