Hoboken School Named ‘Blue Ribbon’ Winner For 2017

HOBOKEN, NJ — Things are feeling blue in Hoboken… and that isn’t bad. That’s because Hoboken Catholic Academy was among the 342 schools named as “National Blue Ribbon Schools” for 2017.

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Education named Hoboken Catholic Academy to its annual list of high-achieving schools, which is based on “a school's overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.”

Here are some features of the school, according to Hoboken Catholic Academy:

“Hoboken Catholic Academy, a Newark Archdiocesan Pre-K to grade eight school, in Hoboken, NJ, serves children from five Catholic parishes in Hoboken and Weehawken as well as children of other faiths. HCA boasts strong academic, extra-curricular and athletic programs with an emphasis on faith formation and service to others. HCA has a supportive parent association that is an integral part of the school. Its graduates excel in high school, earning hundreds of thousands of dollars in Catholic high school scholarships annually.”

Staff continued:

“Devastated by Super Storm Sandy, HCA suffered a massive oil leak when an abandoned oil tank adjacent to the school erupted during the flooding, pouring four thousand gallons of heating oil under the school. Students were forced to relocate to two other sites for the balance of the 2012-2013 school year. It was uncertain that the school would ever reopen and more than one third of the families left. Through the grace of God and a lot of hard work, the school reopened the following September. Since then HCA has thrived.”

In addition:

“With an emphasis on professional development, partnerships with local universities, the infusion of technology across the curriculum and the implementation of best practices, HCA is an outstanding place to learn. Through Campus Ministry, Student Council and the National Junior Honor Society, students facilitate a wide variety of service projects. By providing for Hoboken's homeless, struggling mothers, children in area hospitals, the missions and various other causes, HCA students share God's love with others.”

According to the Department of Education:

“National Blue Ribbon Schools represent the full diversity of American schools: public schools including charter schools, magnet/choice schools, Title I schools, and non-public schools including parochial and independent schools. They are urban, suburban, and rural, large and small, traditional and innovative, and serve students of every social, economic, and ethnic background. National Blue Ribbon Schools are places where students are relaxed and engaged. And yet they share some core elements of effective schools. Their leaders not only articulate a vision of excellence and hold everyone to high standards, they stay close to the real action of teaching and learning. Mutual respect and trust run deep in their cultures. Faculty are supported by mentoring and professional development and have time to coordinate their work. Data from many sources drive adaptations to support every student. Families and educators work together in trust.”

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