Accolades
Included.
2019 Recipient of the National
Blue Ribbon for Education
Accolades
Included.
2019 Recipient of the National
Blue Ribbon for Education
The National Blue Ribbon
What is a Blue Ribbon School? The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, an important part of the U.S. Department of Education, recognizes outstanding public and non-public schools that exemplify school excellence, turnaround stories, and proficiency in closing subgroup achievement gaps.
National Blue Ribbon Schools are on education’s cutting edge, pioneering innovative educational practices in the classroom and beyond. The coveted award affirms the hard work of educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content.
What is a National Blue Ribbon
EXEMPLARY HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOL?
“High performing” means the achievements of the school’s students in the most recently completed school year places the school in the top 15 percent in the nation, in reading (or English language arts) and mathematics as measured by a nationally normed test.
Once you qualify with your test scores, you are then ranked in several other areas including academic excellence, curriculum, instructional methods, professional development, school leadership, and family and community involvement. This award is a reflection of the school’s leadership, our caring and hardworking faculty and staff, and our students and their families sacrifice and commitment to an excellent education.
Washington Post America’s Most Challenging High School
The 2019 Challenge Index placed Juan Diego at 352nd in the nation out of 22,000 public, charter, and private schools. Juan Diego’s ranking places it as the top high school in the state of Utah—landing the school in the top 2% in the U.S. Juan Diego is joined on the list by only two other Utah schools: Judge Memorial (359th) and Saint Joseph Catholic High School (911th).
The Challenge Index is the oldest high school ranking system in the country, beginning in 1998 in both Newsweek and The Washington Post. It is the only list that does not rely on test scores, which are more a measure of student family income than school quality. It is also the only list that compares private and public schools. It ranks high schools by a simple ratio: the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Cambridge tests given at a school each year, divided by the number of seniors who graduated that year.
Schools ranked no. 220 or above are in the top 1 percent of America’s 22,000 high schools, no. 440 or above are in the top 2 percent and so on. Participation in college-level AP, IB, and Cambridge tests is a unique measure of the depth of learning. Teachers cannot dumb down the exams because they are written and graded by independent experts. Success on these exams has been linked with success in college.
Best of State Private School
For the fourth consecutive year, Juan Diego Catholic High School has been named BEST OF STATE for Private Schools K-12. Juan Diego Catholic High School first opened in 1999 and is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake. Since its inaugural year, Juan Diego has been a beacon of educational excellence, inclusive of all faith backgrounds, socioeconomic classes, gender, race, and academic abilities. With its rigorous academics, robust campus life, and diverse extracurriculars, clubs, and athletics; Juan Diego Catholic High School has much to offer its students. More than 98% of Juan Diego’s students graduate, with 94% enrolling in colleges and universities nationwide.
The BOSS Statue Award
In addition to being named a three-time Best of State award winner, Juan Diego Catholic High School also received the coveted 2020 Best of State Statue, or BOSS® which is an elite award given to the most outstanding Best of State Medal winner in each award division. The BOSS® award is an impressive 20-pound, solid bronze statue that is a 24-karat gold-plated sculpture standing atop a black granite pedestal on a gold-plated bronze base. Cast into the base are the words “Excelling and Surpassing All Else”. Only Best of State Statue winners may use the Best of State Statue image, and may do so in perpetuity.
Niche 2021 Best Schools
Juan Diego Catholic High School was named the #1 Catholic High School in Utah by Niche.com. The 2021 Best Catholic High Schools ranking is based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents. Ranking factors include SAT/ACT scores, the quality of colleges that students consider, student-teacher ratio, Catholic school ratings, and more. Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, Niche users, and the schools directly.
Juan Diego by the Numbers
National Blue Ribbon School Award
Best Private School
Advanced Placement
(AP) Scholars
of Students Pursue
Higher Education
Be Included
People who feel included—in any environment—experience the greatest success. No matter what your background or religious affiliation, a strong support system rooted in academics, athletics, arts, and values is awaiting every student here at Juan Diego Catholic Schools.
Growth Included
Academics—Learning real-world applications from a variety of advanced academic programs, such as AP courses and scientific research with University of Utah. A home away from home atmosphere allows students to learn in a welcoming, safe space where they can grow as individuals, together.
Teamwork Included
Athletics—Teaching students the value of hard work, determination, and confidence in a team atmosphere while promoting a sense of belonging, purpose, and comraderie. Our programs create lasting friendships and unforgettable memories.
Expression Included
Arts—Expressing yourself while becoming a well-rounded individual. We encourage students to pursue their passion while learning the value of a satisfying and rewarding artistic education.
Respect Included
Values—Developing well-rounded individuals beyond the classroom to help them be respectful, tolerant, and accepting members of society. A top priority at Juan Diego is cultivating the “whole” person.
Who We Are
It is our firm belief that all children, regardless of religious background or upbringing, can benefit from a complete education where a child’s emotional, moral, and spiritual development and growth is just as important as their intellectual and physical progress. This educational philosophy is based in the best traditions of the Catholic faith, including a strong emphasis on Spiritus Donorum (the Spirit of Giving). For students who wish to excel, become their best selves, a Juan Diego Catholic Schools’ education is an unmatched experience.
