School Information

Since 2004, the Honor Roll has celebrated quality Catholic education throughout the United States. O'Gorman High School has received this distinguished award 8 times. Honor Roll schools receiving this designation are marked by the integration of Catholic identity throughout all aspects of their programs and excellence in academics. 

“This recognition exemplifies our Catholic identity and academic excellence. Through our partnership with our families, we have committed to promoting our Catholic principles and academic excellence.  Our success as a school comes from the dedication of every staff member who believes in our mission and who carries that passion throughout everything they say and do.  This award validates the work of all of our stakeholders and for that we are blessed.” - Bishop O'Gorman Catholic Schools President, Kyle L. Groos

O'GORMAN HIGH SCHOOL NAMED NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL FOR A FOURTH TIME

Sioux Falls, SD: O'Gorman High School is a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School Awardee. The U.S. Department of Education made the announcement on Sept. 21, 2021. This is the highest honor a school can receive from The U.S. Department of Education. O'Gorman is the only high school in South Dakota to receive the distinction this year.

O'Gorman High School's history with this award include:

• Being a four time winner (previously received the award in 1985, 2005, and 2014) Only one of 10 high schools (public or private) in the nation to receive this award four times
• One of only 50 high schools in the nation (public or private) to receive the honor in 2021
• Being the only high school in South Dakota to win the award more than once Only 50 private school applications are accepted for consideration each year.

To apply, a high school's ACT scores must be in the top 15% in the nation. O'Gorman's average ACT composite is 26.4. 

The AP School Honor Roll offers schools recognition across four levels of distinction: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Of 33 eligible schools, 6% earned a place on the 2023 AP School Honor Roll. Only two schools in South Dakota earned this distinction: Washington High School was awarded Bronze and O'Gorman High School was awarded the Silver distinction. 

For a school to be recognized on the AP School Honor Roll, it must meet each of the following criteria anchored in research-based relationships between AP and college outcomes: 

• College Culture: 40% or more of graduating cohort took at least 1 AP Exam during high school. 
• College Credit: 25% or more of the graduating cohort scored a 3 or higher on at least 1 AP Exam during high school. 
• College Optimization: 2% or more of the graduating cohort took 5 or more AP Exams during high school. At least 1 of those exams was taken in 9th or 10th grade, so that students are spreading their AP experience across grades rather than feeling disproportionate pressure in any single year.   
   

Cognia is the global nonprofit school improvement organization. In 2021, Cognia initiated its Schools of Distinction award program which recognizes preK-12 education institutions that exemplify excellence in education and service to learners. Cognia selected O’Gorman as one of the 96 schools and 38 systems out of more than 1,500 institutions that were eligible for its 2022 Cognia Schools and Systems of Distinction.

O’Gorman participated in Cognia’s rigorous Accreditation Engagement Review process, which is based on research-based performance standards. The process includes a third-party review by education experts of evidence, interviews, and classroom observations. The evaluation covers Leadership Capacity, Learning Capacity, and Resource Capacity, as well as a demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement.

“O’Gorman High School is to be commended on their recognition as a School of Distinction,” said Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia. “Cognia Accreditation is already a mark of distinction recognized around the world. Being named a School of Distinction further recognizes the commitment to education quality O'Gorman has for its learners,” he added.

Each recognized school and system is reviewed every five years to maintain this designation. They must continue to effectively implement high-quality instruction, show consistent organizational effectiveness, maintain a commitment to continuous improvement and demonstrate energetic and sustained commitment to learners.