Saint Andrew (Bucks County) and Saint Patrick (Chester County) Parish Elementary Schools selected as 2013
National Blue Ribbon Schools

Saint Andrew (Bucks County) and Saint Patrick (Chester County) Parish Elementary Schools were selected as part of the 2013 cohort of National Blue Ribbon Schools during an announcement made by United States Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, live on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 via the United States Department of Education's (USDOE) USTREAM channel. Saint Andrew and Saint Patrick were two of only 286 schools nationally, 15 schools statewide and the only Catholic schools in Pennsylvania selected this year.

Saint Andrew and Saint Patrick schools will be honored by the USDOE at a recognition ceremony for Blue Ribbon Schools on November 18-19 in Washington, D.C.

In reaction to the announcement Ms. Jacqueline Coccia, Superintendent for Elementary Schools said, "We are extremely proud of Saint Andrew and Saint Patrick Schools for achieving the prestigious distinction of Blue Ribbon Schools. The teachers, administrators and school families at these institutions are a testament to the quality of Catholic education throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. We couldn't be happier to see their hard work and dedication recognized on a national level."

Founded in 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students perform at very high levels or where significant improvements are being made in students' academic achievement. Since the program's founding, the U.S. Department of Education has bestowed this coveted award on more than 7,500 of America's schools.


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Editor's Note: For information about schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia please visit www.catholicschools-phl.org. For a complete list of 2013 National Blue Ribbon Schools visit http://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/index.html.

Contact
Bonnie Olinger
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747