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Dowling Catholic High School recognized by U.S. Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education named Dowling Catholic High School one of 215 nationwide recipients of the Blue Ribbon Schools Award on September 15, 2003. The award was established by U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige to assist with rewards for successful schools. The program, officially named No Child Left Behind—Blue Ribbon Schools Program, was previously known as the Blue Ribbon Schools Program and was established in 1982.
In a news release issued by the U.S. Department of Education, dated July 28, 2002, Secretary Paige said, “Blue Ribbon recipients will be national models of excellence that others can learn from.” The program honors elementary and secondary schools whose students achieve at very high levels. After qualifying to apply for this award based on Iowa Test of Educational Development (ITED) test scores, Dowling Catholic High School completed a comprehensive application describing the following:
· How we communicate about student performance,
· How we plan to share our successes with other schools,
· Our curriculum and instruction,
· Our service program,
· Our best practices, and
· Our professional development program.
“We are pleased to be recognized as a Blue Ribbon school. This award is a sign of our commitment to maintaining the highest quality academic program at Dowling Catholic High School,” said Dr. Jerry Deegan, Dowling Catholic High School president.
Dowling Catholic High School was one of only 215 in the Nation and one of only two in the state to receive this prestigious award. Only 47 non-public schools received this award nationwide. Since the programs inception in 1982, only 11 Iowa high schools have ever received this award. Dowling is the first Catholic high school in the state to receive this award. Sacred Heart School, St. Augustin School and Holy Trinity School have also been designated as Blue Ribbon Schools.
“I’m very pleased that the U. S. Department of Education, through its Blue Ribbon School program, has recognized and saluted our focus on academic excellence. Our students are working very hard, and they are achieving at high levels,” said Dr. Jim Dowdle, Dowling Catholic High School principal. “Receiving the Blue Ribbon School designation sends an important message that the U.S. Department of Education values our focus on excellence.”
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