NCEA Catholic School of Distinction Program

In early 2025, NCEA committed to establishing a national-level award—the first of its kind—to recognize exemplary Catholic schools. During this same period, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it would be sunsetting the National Blue Ribbon Award. With that program ending, NCEA accelerated its efforts to design and introduce this new recognition.

The NCEA Catholic School of Distinction Program will recognize schools that set the national standard for excellence in Catholic education as demonstrated through the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools (NSBECS).

What is a Catholic School of Distinction?

An NCEA Catholic School of Distinction is more than a strong school—it is a model of Catholic education at its best. These schools live out their Catholic mission with visible impact and service to students, families, and the wider community, while integrating faith across all aspects of school life. They demonstrate measurable growth in learning and innovation, embody a culture of academic excellence rooted in gospel values, and ensure sustainability through shared leadership, vitality, and sound stewardship of resources.

How to Apply

The pre-application period closed on February 27, 2026.

The full application will be completed during the school year and selected schools will be notified in fall 2026.

The first NCEA Catholic School of Distinction honorees will be recognized at the NCEA 2027 Convention in Indianapolis.

Application Timeline

• Early February 2026: Eligibility Screening Opens 
  The Eligibility Screening Application will open for schools to complete and submit.
• February 27, 2026: Eligibility Screening Closes  
  Final day to submit the completed Eligibility Screening Application.
• March 2, 2026: NCEA Reviews Eligibility Submissions
  Schools that meet eligibility criteria will be invited to proceed to the full application.
• March 9, 2026: Full Application Opens 
  Application materials become available to schools that qualify through eligibility screening.
• July 13, 2026: Full Application Due 
  Only complete applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed.
• October 17, 2026: Background Check and Verification Begins
  Finalists advance to the background check and verification stage.
• Mid-November 2026: NCEA Begins Notifying Selected Schools 
  Selected schools are notified.
• November 16, 2026: NCEA Announces Official Awardees 
  NCEA publicly announces the 2026-2027 Catholic School of Distinction honorees.
• December 2026: NCEA Sends Award Details and Instructions
  Schools begin preparing for all upcoming recognition activities and logistical needs.
• January 31, 2027: Schools Celebrate During Catholic Schools Week 
  Schools celebrate their recognition locally as part of Catholic Schools Week.
• April 1, 2027: NCEA School of Distinction Award Ceremony 
  Awardees are honored during the School of Distinction Award Ceremony at NCEA 2027 in Indianapolis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do child care centers or higher education institutions qualify?
Schools must serve one or more grade levels within Kindergarten through Grade 12.

Can multiple campuses apply together?
The application must represent one entire school located on a single campus or multiple campuses operating under one principal. Schools on separate campuses must apply individually, even if they share leadership.

Does my school need to be an NCEA member?
Yes. Schools must be current members of the National Catholic Educational Association.

Is accreditation required?
Yes. Schools must be fully accredited.

How long must the school have been in operation?
Schools must have been in continuous operation for at least five full years (since Summer/Fall 2020 or earlier).

What academic assessments are required?
Schools must administer a valid nationally norm-referenced assessment annually in Reading, Mathematics, and Religion and have at least two consecutive years of data available.

Are there minimum proficiency expectations?
Yes. At least 70% of students must meet or exceed proficiency benchmarks in Reading, Mathematics, and Religion.

Is student academic growth considered?
Yes. Average annual student growth in Reading and Mathematics must meet or exceed national growth expectations. 

Are graduation rates required for high schools?
Yes. High schools must have a graduation rate of 95% or higher for the most recent academic year.

Must the school be free of unresolved violations?
Yes. Schools must have no unresolved violations with the Office for Civil Rights, Department of Justice, IDEA, or their (arch)diocese.

Does the school need to be in good standing with its diocese or sponsor?
Yes. Schools must be in good standing with their (arch)diocese and/or religious sponsor or order.

Is a nondiscrimination policy required?
Yes. Schools must maintain a current publicly available nondiscrimination policy.

Are safe environment requirements required to be current?
Yes. Schools must be in compliance with all safe environment training and requirements.

Do faculty and staff background checks have to be current?
Yes. All faculty and staff background checks must be current and in compliance with diocesan and legal requirements.

Is participation in NCEA census data collection required?
Yes. Schools must have submitted census data for the 2025–2026 cycle and commit to participating in the 2026–2027 cycle.

Must schools demonstrate how Mission and Catholic Identity guide decision-making?
Yes. Schools must provide evidence in the full application showing how Mission and Catholic Identity inform Academic Excellence, Governance and Leadership, and Operational Vitality.

What if our school serves students through a special needs model or a strong inclusion program and does not meet every eligibility criterion?
Schools that serve students through specialized models — such as schools dedicated to students with special needs or schools with comprehensive inclusion programs — may request an eligibility exception through the Statement of Exception process.

If a school answers “No” to any eligibility question, can it proceed to the full application?
No. Schools must meet all eligibility requirements to be invited to complete the full application.

Why did NCEA create the Catholic School of Distinction Program?
NCEA established the program in early 2025 to recognize exemplary Catholic schools and to provide a national model of excellence in Catholic education.

What does it mean to be a Catholic School of Distinction?
A Catholic School of Distinction is a model of Catholic education demonstrating strong mission integration, academic excellence, innovation, sustainability, shared leadership, and stewardship.

When does the eligibility screening open and close?
Eligibility screening opens in early February 2026 and closes on February 27, 2026.

When will schools be notified if they advance to the full application?
Schools will be notified by March 9, 2026.

When does the full application open and when is it due?
The full application opens March 9, 2026 and is due July 13, 2026.

Is there a background check and verification stage?
Yes. Finalists advance to background check and verification beginning October 17, 2026.

When will selected schools be notified and publicly announced?
Selected schools will be notified in mid-November 2026, with public announcement on November 16, 2026.

When are schools formally recognized?
Honorees may celebrate locally during Catholic Schools Week in January 2027 and will be formally recognized at the NCEA 2027 Convention in Indianapolis on April 1, 2027.

How long does the full application typically take to complete?
The application is completed over several months during the school year and involves data, documentation, and narrative responses.

Will schools need to designate a project lead or involve multiple staff members?
Yes. Schools are expected to designate a project lead and involve several staff members as a collaborative effort.

What types of evidence will be required?
Schools will submit data uploads, written narratives, policies, and supporting information.

Are there word limits for written responses?
Yes. Word limits will be provided for each narrative section.

Is there a fee to apply?
No. There is no fee for eligibility screening or the full application.

Are there any costs associated with recognition or attending the award ceremony?
Schools should budget for travel costs associated with attending NCEA 2027 and may choose to purchase optional recognition items.

Must schools remain NCEA members throughout the process?
Yes. Schools awarded the designation must be current NCEA members.

Who reviews the applications?
Applications are reviewed by an impartial external team of Catholic school leaders led and coordinated by NCEA.

Are applications scored using rubrics aligned to NSBECS?
Yes. Rubrics aligned to NSBECS guide the evaluation process.

Will there be interviews or follow-up during review?
NCEA may contact the school’s project lead for clarification or verification.

How many schools will be selected each year?
The number of schools awarded may vary annually.

How long does the Catholic School of Distinction designation last?
Schools are recognized for the specific award year and may continue referencing the designation with the award year included.

Can schools reapply in future years?
Yes. Schools not awarded within the past five years may reapply.

How will application materials and data be used?
All materials are confidential and used solely for review and award determination.

Will individual school performance data be made public?
No. Individual data will not be publicly shared.

Who will have access to application content?
Only NCEA staff and the external review committee.

Are deadlines firm and is the full application required?
Yes. All components must be submitted by the stated deadline with no extensions.

Is leadership approval required?
Yes. School and diocesan/system leadership must be aware of and support the application.

Is NCEA using cut scores from previous Blue Ribbon awards or accreditation agencies?
No. NCEA is not utilizing cut scores or proficiency scales from previous award or accreditation agencies. You will need to stick with your assessment provider's criteria and classifications for determining proficiency.