St. John the Baptist School in Newburgh earns National Blue Ribbon School recognition -

Special to The Message

Students and staff of St John the Baptist School in Newburgh pose for a group photo in honor of being named a National Blue Ribbon School for 2023 by the U.S. Department of Education. Submitted photos

The U.S. Department of Education has named St John the Baptist School in Newburgh a National Blue Ribbon School for 2023. In making the announcement, DOE officials explained that National Blue Ribbon Schools serve as models of effective and innovative school practices for state and district educators, and other schools throughout the nation.

St. John the Baptist is one of 353 schools recognized this year by the DOE, one of 40 nonpublic schools nationwide and one of 11 Indiana schools earning the honor. St. John the Baptist is the third Diocese of Evansville Catholic school named a National Blue Ribbon School in the program’s history. Evansville’s Reitz Memorial High School earned the honor in 2002, and the DOE recognized Holy Family School in Jasper in 2013.

On Sept. 22, St John the Baptist School in Newburgh held a schoolwide celebration for being named a National Blue Ribbon School for 2023. Pictured are Diocesan Superintendent of Schools Michelle Priar, standing at left at podium with St. John Principal Elizabeth Flatt, Diocesan School Support Administrator Lynde Anquillare, far left, Diocesan Associate Superintendent of Catholic Schools Kari Ford, and Father Claude “Dusty” Burns, pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish.

The DOE recognizes schools in one of two performance categories based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:

Exemplary High-Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students.

St. John the Baptist has been recognized as an Exemplary High-Performing School.

St. John the Baptist Principal Elizabeth Flatt said, “To receive this level of national recognition for academic excellence is such an honor for St. John the Baptist Catholic School. It is a true testament to the students who show up every day eager to learn, the teachers who go above and beyond to help students learn and grow, the parents who support the school, a parish community that embraces Catholic education and the Newburgh community as a whole. St. John the Baptist Catholic School is dedicated to honoring the greatness of every child and helping him or her reach his or her God-given potential. To be named a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School is a dream come true and a chance to share with others how special SJB truly is!”