On Sept. 15, 2014 the Cardinal Newman Society released the list of U.S. schools recognized by the Catholic Education Honor Roll as 2014 Schools of Excellence. Honor Roll schools receive this designation for strong Catholic identity and excellence in academics. This year seventy-one schools, including St. Monica Academy in Pasadena, received the honor of being named as a School of Excellence.
On Friday Oct. 10, St. Monica celebrated this achievement with a special morning assembly. Headmaster Marguerite Grimm spoke of our school’s extraordinary achievements during its relatively brief history: 16 National Merit Finalists 
and Scholars, 16 perfect scores of 800 on the SAT, 102 gold medals on the National Latin Exam, three CIF quarterfinals and one semifinals in volleyball, numerous league titles in basketball, baseball, and volleyball, a world-class polyphonic choir, and a #1 ranking among all Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for the highest mean SAT scores in 2013. Mrs. Grimm gave credit and thanks to the founding families of our school, and to its dedicated faculty and staff.
On behalf of the Cardinal Newman Society, SMA Board President Martin Boles presented the Honor Roll award certificate to the school, after which our new SMA banner was unfurled. The banner includes St. Monica’s coat of arms and the Catholic High School Honor Roll logo. After morning assembly, the whole school enjoyed refreshments served in the courtyard, and the high school students gathered for photos while holding the new banner and award certificate.
St. Monica Academy, 301 N. Orange Grove Boulevard, Pasadena, (626) 229-0351 or visit www.stmonicaacademy.com.
