2014 & 2025 National Blue Ribbon Winner

Dear Friends in Christ,

The highest recognition in these great United States of America for schools is the Blue Ribbon, awarded by the US Department of Education.  I had not been here long in 2014 when Prince of Peace Catholic School, still then a relatively new kid on the block in the landscape of education in Greenville, surprised everyone by winning this award.  The leadership of Ann Smith and Michael Pennell in those formative years was crucial in laying a solid foundation of a school where academic excellence permeated every aspect of school life.  Prince of Peace all of a sudden was very much on the map as the school for bright kids.

The model in those early years, understandably, was one of growth.  The school grew close to 300 students at that time, and graduates from that time period have distinguished themselves in their various fields and are a credit to their early formation.  The trade-off of this model, though, was the sense of parochial identity and commitment to Catholic culture did not match the same enthusiasm for academic excellence.  The vast majority of our students were only marginally tied to the life of the parish of which it is the most important ministry.

So I changed the model to one of intensity.  Catholic education excels when it is open to accommodations within a reasonable range for as many children as it can, so that no child is left behind.  Catholic education shines when it is rooted in a family which exists first of all for the worship of God and which is faithful to the Magisterium of the Church.  Not everyone shared that vision.  We lost almost 60% of our students.  Fearmongers and naysayers claimed that we had destroyed the school and it would never again demonstrate the achievements of a high performing school.  That transition was delicate, and those who stayed with us during that period were joined by families looking for a school that was classical in its approach to the humanities, modern in its approach to the sciences and was a real community of living faith in an extraordinary parish for ordinary people.

Marianne Tully brought her considerable experience in education in the Greenville area to help form a school that was human, loving and caring as well as challenging, engaging and always seeking to improve.  Steve Cunningham provided visionary leadership that built on the riches of the past while solidifying the transformation to a place where authentic Catholicism suffused every aspect of the unique experience that is Prince of Peace Catholic Church and School.  During that time, there was a loved history and religion teacher in the Middle School who stayed loyal and steadfast the whole time, and, after a national search, was identified as the next principal to continue the journey.

Nathan Barontini has worked very hard to get us to this moment, where we can now definitively demonstrate that academic excellence and a truly Catholic parish experience of school are two sides of the same valuable coin.  Of course, what he has done is harness the incredible hard work of a first-rate faculty and staff, and the parents who as primary educators of their children are the prime movers and shakers of that school-church-home triad that we enjoy.  I am so incredibly grateful to all our principals, faculty and staff, students and families past and present who have made this such a beautiful place for me to serve as your pastor.

It is with great joy that I announce to you that Prince of Peace was notified several months ago with news I could barely contain.  Prince of Peace Catholic School has won again, in 2025, the Blue Ribbon Award.  The US Department of Education felt the need to cut this program shortly before the announcement.  We have worked closely with Pam Evette, the Lieutenant Governor of the State of South Carolina who as a parishioner and school parent, knows us very well, to help pave the way for recognition of those who were selected for this year’s award and work towards state level recognition of the Blue Ribbons in the future.

Prince of Peace was the only private school in South Carolina to win the Blue Ribbon in 2025.  The award is a testament to the hard work of our students, the support of our parents, the professional dedication of our faculty and staff, and in a particular way the work of Nathan Barontini, without which this award could never have materialized.  The Blue Ribbon is also a witness to academic achievement, intentional faith lived in community and a human and loving environment can all co-exist and advance a school even further on its mission.

During our 50^th anniversary as a parish as we embark on a $2.4M capital campaign to expand the facilities of the parish for better and safer use by the school, this announcement comes at the perfect time.  We want to celebrate this accolade, and use it as a reminder to everyone that being a part of this special place entails a responsibility to plan for its bright future.  Every single family who calls Prince of Peace a spiritual home is invited to rejoice, extend a warm invitation to others to become a part of this community, and sacrifice their time, talent and treasure to ensure that an award-winning education is open to our parishioners and other mission-fit students for many years to come.

Gratefully yours in Christ,

Father Christopher Smith, PhD/STD
Pastor

Dear Prince of Peace Community,

Today, I am very honored to share some amazing news – Prince of Peace Catholic School has once again been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School! This is the second time our school has won this prestigious award, demonstrating the continued outstanding achievement of our community.

This recognition reflects not only the outstanding work of our faculty and staff, but our shared commitment to forming saints and scholars through academic excellence and Catholic culture. I am incredibly proud to lead a school where teachers and staff give so generously of their time, talent, and faith. Their dedication, alongside the hard work of our parents and students, is the heartbeat of this achievement.

The process this year has been a little different than expected. In the spring, our school was selected by the Council for American Private Education (CAPE) for the 2025 National Blue Ribbon honor. Following that nomination, our application was approved through the federal review process, and we were confirmed as part of what would have been the final cohort of the U.S. Department of Education’s National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Before the federal announcement could be made, the program was discontinued.

In response, CAPE established a new recognition to honor the schools that had already earned the award making POPCS one of only 55 CAPE Blue Ribbon Schools nationwide and the only school in South Carolina to hold the honor.

I want give special recognition to Mrs. Marie Havran for her diligence and organization in assembling our application materials; her work made this recognition possible. I also want to thank both Ms. Krista Pfaff and Mrs. Robin Marlar who have helped me greatly by serving as assistant principal. Running a Catholic school as successful as Prince of Peace is a team effort and I’m blessed to have amazing administrative support.

The great work of our faculty and staff has given POPCS the special honor of being a part of both the last federally approved National Blue Ribbon cohort and one of the inaugural recipients of the 2025 CAPE Blue Ribbon Award!

Go Cardinals!