Contact: Anthony Pienta, Honor Roll Manager, info@chshonor.org, 616-454-3080

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 17 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Catholic High School Honor Roll announced its fourth annual selection of the best 50 Catholic high schools in the United States. The purpose of the Honor Roll is to recognize and encourage excellence in Catholic secondary education. It is a critical resource for parents and educators that honors those schools that excel in three categories: academic excellence, Catholic Identity, and civic education.

To see a list of the top 50 schools, as well as lists of the top 25 schools in each category, visit www.chshonor.org.

This year's list includes 11 new honorees and 11 schools that have earned recognition each of the past four years. Honorees range from newcomer schools such as the Heights School in Potomac, Maryland, to repeat honorees such as All Hallows High School in the Bronx and Brother Rice High School in Chicago. The state of Texas again led with 6 schools selected, followed by California, Florida, and Michigan with 4 schools each. 9 different religious orders sponsor honorees, including the Christian Brothers, Marists, Dominicans, Legionaries of Christ, and Jesuits.

The Honor Roll is produced in consultation with a national advisory board comprised of Catholic college presidents and noted Catholic scholars. Advisory board member Rev. John Schlegel, President of Creighton University, said the Honor Roll is significant for Catholic education. "Catholic High schools that excel at forming students in the faith and at teaching them to think critically and act virtuously are a great asset to the Church," he said. "Not only do these schools deserve to be recognized, but they should also be imitated by all Catholic schools."

All of America's nearly 1,300 Catholic high schools were invited to apply to the Honor Roll by completing three detailed surveys, indicating that inclusion in the Honor Roll requires exceptional merit in each of the areas measured. This balanced approach assesses a school's adherence to the Church's educational calling, where the best schools offer more than the strong academic preparation Catholic education is known for. Rather, the best schools also have vibrant Catholic identities and offer sound civic training that help prepare students to live their faith in the world.

The Catholic High School Honor Roll is an independent project of the Acton Institute, an international research and educational organization. For more on Acton, please go to www.acton.org.