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Shields of the Catholic communities attending St. Maria Goretti High School in Hagerstown include the Dioceses of Wheeling-Charleston, from left, Archdiocese of Baltimore and the Diocese of Pittsburgh. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Tri-State’s best private school award goes to St. Maria Goretti Catholic High School


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Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Schools

A poll of readers of the Herald-Mail in Hagerstown voted St. Maria Goretti Catholic High School the best private school in the Tri-State region, including Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. 

Archbishop William E. Lori speaks to students, faculty and dignitaries at the Sept. 3, 2019 dedication of the relocated St. Maria Goretti High School in Hagerstown. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

The award was announced during the 2021 Community Choice Awards annual show Oct. 28 with USA Today network. Jenna Bush Hager presented the “Best of the Best” in kids and education in which St. Maria Goretti Catholic High School in Hagerstown was awarded ‘best private school” in the Tri-State region.

The Herald-Mail is owned by Gannett, which owns the USA Today network of media.

In the first phase of the competition, Herald-Mail Media readers first selected their favorite private school in the Tri-State area. In the second phase, readers voted for one of the top three schools in the category, including St. Maria Goretti Catholic High School, Grace Academy in Upper Marlboro and Mercersburg Academy in Mercersburg, Pa.   

Since 1955, St. Maria Goretti Catholic High School has provided Catholic college preparatory education. The institution provides a sports program with 12 teams, in which many athletes have gone on to compete in divisions I, II and III throughout the country. The school also promotes an outstanding academic program, in which the overall student has a 3.6+ GPA, and teachings of the Catholic faith, in which students pray three times a day and attend Mass regularly.

Dr. Joseph Padasak, St. Maria Goretti Catholic High School president and a 37-years-long parishioner of St. Mary in Kutztown, Pa., said, “This is a tremendous honor for the school and a testament to the hard work, dedication and support of so many in the Goretti community.”

He said he is grateful to work next to dedicated administration, faculty and staff. He also said alumni and former teachers, coaches, administrators and staff members are the foundation for the excellence recognized by this award.

With 150 students enrolled, the Catholic high school serves students from around the region including Washington and Frederick counties in Maryland, Franklin and Adams counties in Pennsylvania, and Berkeley and Jefferson counties in West Virginia.

The school’s sold-out inaugural St. Maria Goretti Catholic High School “Gaela,” presented by the Archdiocese of Baltimore, will be hosted on the evening of Oct. 29 at The Maryland Theatre; Archbishop William E. Lori will attend. 

St. Maria Goretti High School, Hagerstown, students work collaboratively on a science experiment during a Sept. 3, 2019 class. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

The following will be honored at the event: Paul and Harriet Muldowney – Outstanding Philanthropic Partners; Greg Eversole – The Cokey Robertson Outstanding Coach Award; Mary Grove – Outstanding Faculty or Staff; Father Peter Rettig (class of 2012) – Distinguished Alumni honoree; Sarah Boeckman ’22 – Distinguished Student honoree.

Padasak said that when he asks students why they chose St. Maria Goretti Catholic High School, a common response is “because this is family.”

He thanked everyone who voted for Goretti, as well as the many individuals responsible for building and maintaining the school’s long standing reputation as a leader in Catholic educational excellence in Hagerstown and the Tri-State region.

Email Priscila González de Doran at pdoran@CatholicReview.org

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