NORTHSHORE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

On September 26th, 2019, the U.S. Department of Education announced that Northshore Christian Academy is named as an Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School. NCA is one of only 50 non-public schools across the country to receive this 2019 award and the only private school recipient on the West Coast.

We are thrilled with this national award! The faculty and students work diligently to maximize learning. It is great to receive this national validation of the hard work of our school community in providing a rich learning environment. The US Department of Education has rigorous requirements including a comprehensive and detailed application about school practices, student test scores, academic programming and school community culture.

—Holly Leach, Superintendent – 2019

National Blue Ribbon School applicants for Exemplary High Performing must meet the following eligibility criteria:

1. That the achievement of the school’s students in the most recent year tested places the school in the top 15 percent in the nation in English language arts and mathematics as measured by a nationally normed test or in the top 15 percent of its state as measured by a state test. If a non-public school administers both state tests and nationally normed tests, the school must be in the top 15 percent in both.
2. Disaggregated results for student groups, including students from disadvantaged backgrounds, must be similar to the results for all students tested.
3. The graduation rate for non-public high schools must be 95% or higher in the most recent year.

Every year the U. S. Department of Education seeks out great American schools demonstrating that all students can achieve to high levels. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private schools based on their overall academic excellence and closing the achievement gaps among student subgroups.

According to the Council for American Private Education, “The National Blue Ribbon School Program has honored and recognized great Amerian public and private schools since 1982. A National Blue Ribbon Schools flag waving overhead has become a trademark of excellence and a symbol of quality recognized by everyone from parents to policy-makers in thousands of communities.”