TRAVERSE CITY -- A local Catholic high school was honored as one of the 50 best in the nation.
St. Francis High School, part of Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools, was named to the Catholic High School Honor Roll for 2008, joining 49 other schools from across the country.
The honor roll, part of the Grand Rapids-based Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty, was released Monday.
"It gauges our ability to intertwine our faith into our classrooms, but even more importantly, our faith into our everyday existence," Superintendent Mike Buell said. "It's a confidence instiller."
Michigan tied with Texas for the largest number of schools, six, on the list, compiled for the fifth straight year. It was the first year St. Francis applied.
Schools in Ann Arbor, St. Joseph, Pontiac and two in Grand Rapids also received the honor.
To qualify, schools had to demonstrate achievement in academics, spirituality and civic leadership. Administrators spent months on the application, Buell said.
Catholic high schools across the country were eligible to apply. Each school, including those already on the list, need to reapply each year for consideration.
The honor roll panel looked at educational and philosophical values in each applicant school, Buell said, including how the school instills faith as part of the curriculum and part of students' daily lives.
Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools has 995 students in elementary and high school programs.
Print this story
E-mail this story
