GREENVILLE—The U.S. Department of Education has named St. Mary School a 2020 National Blue Ribbon School. This is the second time St. Mary has received the award, which is based on the school’s overall academic performance. They are in the top 15% of achievement on national standardized tests in each and every grade level in both reading and math.
St. Mary is one of 367 schools nationwide to receive this honor.
“St. Mary’s Catholic School is the primary ministry of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and we are delighted to receive our second National Blue Ribbon of Excellence in recognition of the dedication of our teachers, our students, and their parents to the hard work of integrating academic excellence, athletic challenge, artistic expression, and character formation in the mission of teaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ,” said Father Jay Scott Newman, pastor of St. Mary Church.
National Blue Ribbon Schools are on education’s cutting edge, pioneering innovative educational practices ranging from professional learning communities and project-based learning to social and emotional learning and positive behavior systems. Winners affirm the hard work of educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content.
St. Mary serves 299 students in grades K-3 through eighth and is located in the heart of downtown Greenville. With 120 years of history, it is the oldest Catholic school in the upstate and one of the oldest in all of South Carolina. It last received the National Blue Ribbon honor in 2009.
“We focus on tradition, virtue, and excellence to ensure that students continuously exceed high expectations, test above the state average at every grade level, and graduate well prepared for high school and beyond,” said Steven Zimmerman, principal.
For more information about St. Mary School, visit https://smsgvl.org/ or call 864-271-3870.
