What Does it Take to be in the Top 2.5 Percent of Schools?

This is a paid post contributed by a Patch Community Partner. The views expressed in this post are the author's own, and the information presented has not been verified by Patch.

When Kim Whitmore of Newtown first saw Immaculate High School’s Niche profile online, she couldn’t believe it.

“I saw the ratings and thought wow!” she said of Immaculate’s A+ grade that puts it in the top 2.5 percent of all schools in the country. “The fact that one hundred percent of students are accepted to colleges and so many receive grants and scholarships was amazing.”

But it was something else that was the deciding factor for her family as they looked at high schools for her daughter Norah: the sense of community. “They say it’s like a family and it is a family. There is so much individual attention from teachers who know her not just as a student, but as a person,” Whitmore said. “We felt that touring the school and she did when she shadowed a student. Since Norah has been there, her confidence has skyrocketed and she’s made great friends.”

Niche.com, a national group that ranks K-12 schools, recognized Immaculate as the #1 Catholic Co-Ed Day School in Connecticut. Immaculate was also ranked #8 Best for Athletes out of 249 schools in the state.

“We are incredibly proud of our Immaculate community and while we are thrilled at these rankings, we hear positive feedback from our parents and teachers every single day,” said Wendy Neil, principal and acting president of Immaculate. “Our entire faculty and staff makes our school community a family where students can truly thrive academically, socially and spiritually.”

Immaculate provides an exemplary diverse college-preparatory academic program that includes 18 Advanced Placement courses, 9 dual enrollment courses with colleges and universities plus professional certifications. With an average class size of 16 and a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1, students receive individualized attention. Plus, college prep starts on day one with each student meeting with a counselor who supports them throughout their journey. Immaculate’s Class of 2023 received $24 million in college scholarships and grants.

“At Immaculate we empower students with the skills, knowledge and information to thrive at the college level,” said Dean of Counseling and Student Services Tim Nash. “That’s why we have a 100 percent college acceptance rate.” Nash said students are well-rounded, participating in many clubs, activities and athletics.

Gabrielle Yamoah’s parents couldn’t agree more following her transition from public schools to Immaculate for high school. “I have appreciated the teachers’ involvement throughout Gabrielle’s journey there,” her mother, Chanda Yamoah, said. “Her teachers encourage her about grades, projects or simply learning more about something she was curious about.”

Gabrielle will graduate from Immaculate in the spring and is headed to Carnegie Mellon University where she plans to study neuroscience. “Immaculate helped her see possibilities,” her mother said. “She saw kids excelling and upperclassmen going to very competitive schools and she wanted to be one of them. The encouragement from other students inspired her.”

“I think the size of the school helped enable her to build her own identity in a bit of a safe space that was Christian centered and had a lot of support,” said Gabrielle’s father, Emmanuel Yamoah. “Both my wife and I value that.”

Gabrielle is also a standout player on Immaculate’s Girls Softball Team and will play at Carnegie Mellon. Her parents are happy she will continue to balance athletics and academics, crediting Immaculate for giving her a well-rounded foundation.

Athletic Director Nelson Mingachos is proud of the school’s #8 ranking for athletics in Connecticut. “We continue to offer our student-athletes incredible programs and coaching here at Immaculate,” Mingachos said. “Our recent $1.3 million investment in a state-of-the-art new turf and track complex for Mustang Valley is a testament to that commitment.” Immaculate is home to 27 varsity sports and has a tradition of athletic excellence that includes 48 conference championships and 37 state championships.

When it comes to advice for other families considering Immaculate, parent Kim Whitmore has some: “Definitely go on a tour of the school, ask as many questions as you need to since everyone is so helpful, have your child do a shadow day and know that the cost of tuition is well worth it.”

You can check out Immaculate High School’s profile and see the full list of Niche’s 2024 rankings, methodologies and data sources at https://www.niche.com/k12/immaculate-high-school-danbury-ct/

To learn more about visiting Immaculate and becoming a part of its thriving community, visit https://www.immaculatehs.org/admissions/overview.

This post is an advertorial piece contributed by a Patch Community Partner, a local brand partner. To learn more, click here.