Dr. Grace Viere and Principal Alan Yost at the Blue Ribbon Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Charlottesville, VA - October 7, 2005 - Charlottesville Catholic School has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a national 2005 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced on Friday, September 23, 2005.

The Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes Charlottesville Catholic School's record of high student achievement and academic results in the top 10% of all schools in the nation. Of the 295 schools selected as 2005 Blue Ribbon recipients, only 50 private schools were awarded from the 29,000 private schools in the nation.

The school has advanced rapidly since its humble beginnings in a small rented space in 1996. In less than 10 years CCS has grown from a K through 2nd grade school with only 32 students to a preschool, elementary and middle school with over 350 students and its own campus. While the school has achieved renown for its rigorous academic standards, it still maintains a strong focus on character development and its student body is actively involved in a variety of community service projects.

CCS' principal Alan Yost said about their students, "We are so proud of the students that call CCS their school. While their academic achievement is superior, we are more proud of the type of young people they are becoming. I know I speak for their parents and their peers in Charlottesville when I say how very proud we are to be represented by such a wonderful group of young people."

Jay Moyer, the U.S. Department of Education's Deputy Secretary's Regional Representative, will present the award to the school on October 11. Mr. Yost will travel to Washington for an official recognition ceremony from the U.S. Department of Education in November.

This is the first such accomplishment for a school that serves Charlottesville and its surrounding communities. Now Charlottesville can claim not only to be one of the best places to live in the country, but to also have one of the best schools in the nation.

For more information please contact Lisa Goutos, Charlottesville Catholic School's Director of Development, at 964-0400, or e-mail lgoutos@cvillecathoilic.org

More information about the Blue Ribbon Schools program is available at: http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2005/09/09232005.html.