What is the difference between St. Ann and the other Catholic schools in the area?
St. Ann Catholic School was the first Catholic School opened in Palm Beach County. Since its establishment in 1923, St. Ann has led the Diocese in establishing programs of distinction. It was the first school in the county to be awarded the National Blue Ribbon of Excellence by the United States Department of Education. Our most recent achievement is our status as the first Catholic school in the nation to be authorized as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School for both the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP). We pride ourselves on providing our students with a rigorous curriculum based upon an inquiry-mode of learning within a faith-based learning environment. Our goal is to prepare our students for the challenging demands of a global economy while nurturing their individual talents.
What is a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence?
In May of 2001, St. Ann was one of only ten schools in the state of Florida to receive the U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award. Blue Ribbon Schools excel in all areas of academic leadership, teaching, teacher development, and school curriculum. In addition, they exhibit exceptional levels of community and parental involvement, high student achievement levels and rigorous safety and discipline programs within their schools.
Do students take the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Tests (FCAT)?
All Catholic schools in Florida utilize the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) and its companion, the Cognitive Ability Test (COGAT). In March, students in grades 2-8 are administered the ITBS to determine Math and Language Arts skills. In addition to standardized tests, K-8 students are assessed at various checkpoints throughout the year in Reading and Math. Used diagnostically, the results from these tests are used to help teachers and administrators plan instruction for the current school year, address specific needs individual students may have, and increase student achievement.
These tests are used to help identify individual student needs, as well as curriculum standards diocesan wide. Unlike the use of FCAT in public schools, however, Catholic schools utilize multiple methods to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of our students and curriculum. Students are not retained in a specific grade based on standardized test scores alone. Standardized test scores are just one indicator and are used along with other measures for determining success.
