Five Catholic schools in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington have been named 2026-2027 Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools, joining 18 other schools across the state recognized for academic excellence.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced the 23 honorees on Oct. 20. The five Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Washington receiving the distinction are:
- Cardinal Hickey Academy in Owings, Calvert County
- Father Andrew White, S.J. School in Leonardtown, St. Mary’s County
- St. Andrew Apostle School in Silver Spring, Montgomery County
- St. Bartholomew Catholic School in Bethesda, Montgomery County
- St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Silver Spring, Montgomery County
The Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools program recognizes schools for academic achievement, including performance on state and national assessments and efforts to close achievement gaps among student groups.
“We are incredibly proud to celebrate the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Washington recognized as Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools,” said Kelly Branaman, the Secretary for Catholic Schools and Superintendent of Schools for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. “This honor reflects the dedication of our exceptional educators, the commitment of our school leaders, and the partnership of families who work together to form students in faith, nurture academic excellence, and inspire a lifelong love of learning. It is a testament to the extraordinary work happening every day in our Catholic schools, where we educate the whole child and bring the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to life in our communities.”
Gov. Moore reinstated the state program in 2025 following the discontinuation of the federal National Blue Ribbon Schools program. This year’s honorees include 12 public schools and 11 Catholic schools, six of which are in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
“Here in Maryland we have the talent and the drive to have the best schools in the nation, and these exceptional institutions are leading our state in that effort,” said Gov. Moore. “While our administration works to ensure every Maryland student has a world-class education, we are proud to honor a growing cohort of schools that embody the best of what our state has to offer.”
Dr. Carey M. Wright, Maryland State Superintendent of Schools, said Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools “demonstrate what is possible when strong leadership, dedicated educators, and engaged families work together on behalf of students. These schools are among the best of the best in our state, achieving one of the highest honors in education. We are proud and excited to celebrate their accomplishments.”
The 23 schools will be formally recognized at the Maryland State Board of Education meeting on Dec. 8 and during the Maryland General Assembly's 2027 legislative session. Each school will receive a Maryland Blue Ribbon School banner, flag and award citations.
Last year when the program was reinstated, Little Flower School in Bethesda was named as a Maryland Blue Ribbon School for 2025-2026, one of seven schools to receive that honor statewide.
This year’s Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools in the Archdiocese of Washington will be profiled in the Catholic Schools Week edition of the Catholic Standard in January 2027.
Website links to the five 2026-2027 Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington:
Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings
https://cardinalhickeyacademy.org/
Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown
https://fatherandrewwhite.org/
St. Andrew Apostle School, Silver Spring
https://school.standrewapostle.org/
St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
https://www.school.stbartholomew.org/
St. John the Baptist Catholic School, Silver Spring
