2020
ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL NAMED A 2020 NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL
First two-time winner among all Arkansas nonpublic schools
St. Joseph Catholic School in Fayetteville became the first private school in the state of Arkansas to be named a National Blue Ribbon School, not once, but twice. The U.S. Department of Education announced award winners in September and St. Joseph celebrated by Zoom on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020. St. Joseph was one of 367 schools nationwide to be named a 2020 National Blue Ribbon Exemplary High Performing School, and one of only five schools in Arkansas to receive the prestigious award. There are more than 1,200 schools in the state of Arkansas, and only 54 public schools and four nonpublic schools have received the award in the 38-year history of Blue Ribbon. In 2014 St. Joseph Catholic School was the first nonpublic school in Northwest Arkansas to ever receive this recognition. The National Blue Ribbon award is considered the highest honor an American school can achieve. St. Joseph Catholic School was chosen based on the students high standardized test scores – ranking in the top 15 percent nationally in both reading and mathematics. Principal Jason Pohlmeier says, “Catholic education, not only at St. Joseph but around the world, has accomplished so much for so many people. When families are considering our school for their children, they want to know that they are making an excellent decision for their children. We want the Blue Ribbon to speak to those families of the high-quality education that awaits their children here.” When St. Joseph qualified for the 2020 award, middle school teacher Michelle Hightower was serving as assistant principal, and Principal Pohlmeier was in his sixth year leading the school. “I knew after 2014 we had big shoes to fill,” Pohlmeier says. “The bar was set very high at St. Joseph. Receiving this award now and becoming the state's first nonpublic repeat winner is the realization of the goal we set following our first recognition. The strength is in the school and not in any particular leader or teacher. We want everyone to know that excellence is the standard at St. Joseph.” “I believe being a Blue Ribbon school is especially meaningful right now. With all the COVID adaptations of the 2020 school year our teachers are working harder than they ever have before; and this award is a validation that all their hard work does pay off.”
U.S. Rep. Steve Womack (center) with Principal Jason Pohlmeier, Father Jason Tyler, Michelle Hightower and Asst. Principal Mark Wilburn
passes Asst. Principal Mark Wilburn ents out Blue Bell ice cream to stud