Saint Elizabeth’s is the only private Catholic school in the state to be recognized by the PDE; and the only school named in the Exemplary High Performing category.
Saint Elizabeth Parish School in Chester Springs (Chester County) will celebrate its designation as a 2025 Blue Ribbon School by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) with a “Blue Christmas” celebration. The school community including its 196 students will be decked out in blue ribbon shirts to commemorate this honor.
Reverend John E. Donia, Pastor of Saint Elizabeth Parish, will lead the school community in a prayer service.
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Saint Elizabeth Parish School Gymnasium
120 Saint Elizabeth Drive
Chester Springs, PA 19425
Following the prayer service, students in Pre-K to 8th Grade will gather as part of the “Blue Christmas” celebration and break into groups to participate in eight “Minute to Win It” stations. In addition, students will enjoy Christmas music and ice cream with blue toppings after lunch. The event is a celebration of the accomplishments of the students, faculty, and staff at Saint Elizabeth Parish School.
Andrew McLaughlin, Ed.D., Secretary for Elementary Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and Bernadette Doughtery, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, will also be present.
On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, Saint Elizabeth Parish School was selected as part of the inaugural 2025 cohort of Pennsylvania Blue Ribbon Schools in an announcement made by Pennsylvania Department of Education. The PDE designated thirteen schools recognized in both or either of two performances categories: Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing School or Exemplary High Performing School. Saint Elizabeth’s is the only private Catholic school in the state to be recognized by the PDE, and the only school named in the Exemplary High Performing Category. This category is for top performers in the state as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. The PDE will recognize the inaugural 2025 Blue Ribbon Schools at its annual SAS Conference on Tuesday, December 9 in Hershey.
In addition to being named a 2025 Blue Ribbon School, Saint Elizabeth Parish School was also recognized by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office of Catholic Education (OCE) as an Archdiocesan School of Distinguished Instruction. This year they were among 62 parish and regional schools to receive that honor from OCE.
About Saint Elizabeth Parish School
Saint Elizabeth Parish School was established in 2006 to meet the educational needs of the children of the parish in an academically rigorous, faith-filled environment. Saint Elizabeth’s is committed to fostering in its students a lifelong love for learning and the development of the skills needed to become well-informed, accomplished, and dedicated leaders.
For additional information about Saint Elizabeth Parish School, please visit stelizabethparishschool.org/.
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Editor’s Note:
For more information about Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please visit aopcatholicschools.org/. For information about the 2025 Pennsylvania Blue Ribbon Schools, please visit here.
Contact:Meredith Wilson
Media and Events Specialist
215-587-3747