We are honored to announce that St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School has been named a 2025 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. This prestigious award recognizes schools across the country for academic excellence and overall student achievement—and places St. Paul among the top-performing schools in the nation.
“We are incredibly honored and proud to receive this recognition,” said Michelle Morrow, principal of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School. “This award is a reflection of the hard work, faith, and dedication of our students, teachers, staff, and families who truly believe in our school mission: ‘Excellence in All Things.’”
The National Blue Ribbon School Award, established in 1982, honors schools where students consistently perform in the top 15 percent nationwide in both reading and mathematics. To qualify, St. Paul the Apostle students in grades 3-8 scored in the top 15% on the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment, which is a nationally-normed test, in 2024. St. Paul was one of 56 non-public schools across the country put forward for the National Blue Ribbon award by the Council for American Private Education.
St. Paul the Apostle is the only school in the Diocese of Grand Rapids to be recognized with this distinction in 2025.
“This is truly a historic achievement for our parish school and it is a beautiful recognition of the hard work poured into cultivating souls and minds here at St. Paul,” said Father Peter Damian, pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Parish. “Our mission of forming disciples of Jesus who are intellectually strong, spiritually grounded, and prepared to serve is already bearing much fruit! This award is a beautiful affirmation of that mission and our hearts are full of gratitude today.”
“In our schools, excellence arises from the harmonious development of both character and intellect and this award highlights what is possible with Catholic education,” said Sarah Grey, superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Grand Rapids. “I am very excited that St. Paul the Apostle is being honored among the highest-performing schools in the country.”
St. Paul the Apostle is the second Catholic school in West Michigan to receive the National Blue Ribbon Honor. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic School in Belmont was awarded the distinction in 2020.
This year marks the final class of schools to be recognized under the National Blue Ribbon program, which the U.S. Department of Education announced will be discontinued. While there will be no formal ceremony in Washington, D.C., as in years past, the honor remains a lasting legacy for the school community.
