October 14, 2016

Cathedral High School is named National Blue Ribbon School

Dave Worland, principal of Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, poses outside with a sign recognizing the school’s designation as a 2016 National Blue Ribbon School—the only high school in Indiana to receive that recognition this year. (Submitted photo)

Dave Worland, principal of Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, poses outside with a sign recognizing the school’s designation as a 2016 National Blue Ribbon School—the only high school in Indiana to receive that recognition this year. (Submitted photo)

By John Shaughnessy

Cathedral High School in Indianapolis has been named a 2016 National Blue Ribbon School—the only high school in Indiana to receive that recognition this year.

The private, Catholic high school earned the honor from the U.S. Department of Education for its “overall academic excellence,” primarily based upon its students’ performance in standardized testing, including the SAT and ACT college-entrance exams.

“Our students have done really well on those tests,” said Cathedral’s principal Dave Worland, who also credited the school’s teachers for the national recognition.

“The teachers come here every day and build a relationship with our students so our students want to learn. And our teachers prepare them so well. They’re very dedicated, and they care for our kids, as all Catholic schools do, as all schools do. I see how our teachers build relationships—the little things they do to get to know them. And the students don’t want to disappoint them. That’s what makes me so proud.”

Worland also praised the students’ parents and the elementary schools that feed into Cathedral for preparing the students academically.

“They come with great motivation,” he says. “As a Catholic school, we teach Christ’s message in all we do. We get to know our kids spiritually, mentally and academically.”

Cathedral will be presented with the honor during a ceremony in Washington on Nov. 8. Worland and three other educators will represent the school at the event. A celebration of the Blue Ribbon distinction will be held at Cathedral in late November.

“We’re happy and thrilled and very blessed,” Worland said. “What makes this honor special for me is that I get to walk the halls of the school, I get to watch the students, and I get to see the great things going on that make this a Blue Ribbon School.” †

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