New Orleans / Louisiana / United States
St. Rita School has served thousands of families in Harahan, Louisiana since 1953. State-approved and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), St. Rita School ministers to more than 400 families each year by providing students in preschool to seventh grade with an excellent Catholic education. St. Rita (SRS) recognizes the shared responsibility of all stakeholders in the educational program. Several structures facilitate such co-responsibility, such as Parish Administration and Finance Committee, Advisory Board of Education, Home & School Association, Dad’s Club, Grandparent’s Club, Silver Trotters, and Principal’s Advisory Council/School Improvement Team. The annual St. Rita Pecan Festival affords all members of the community to celebrate their membership in the St. Rita Family.
Talented faculty and staff strive daily to fulfill the mission as they celebrate Catholic tradition, promote Gospel values, and call students to love and serve God and others. The educational program nurtures students to reach their fullest potential and prepares them for the future in a positive, creative, and enriched learning environment. Dedicated professionals include classroom teachers, teaching assistants through grade 1, a computer teacher, a librarian, fine arts and music teachers, physical education teacher/athletic director, Title I teachers, and a foreign language instructor. Administrative support is provided by a social worker, an assistant principal, and principal.
St. Rita students prepare for the future through a program of study that infuses Catholic identity standards across the curriculum. Daily prayer and religion class, parish and school-wide masses, and seasonal paraliturgy services promote spiritual development and foster community. The standards-based curriculum addresses the needs of all students and advances students toward national recognition, with students accepted into highly competitive high schools each year. Students utilize state-of-the-art technology available throughout the campus, which further supports their academic accomplishment. Programs such as Fast ForWord reading, Title I math, and Accelerated Reader provide support for student populations at various levels. Following the spirit of No Child Left Behind, the Individual Needs Committee ensures that classroom and testing accommodations are implemented based on educational evaluations.
Students enjoy a variety of support services as well as extra-curricular, athletic, and co-curricular activities that expand horizons and foster responsibility in preparation for future success. The expansive club program includes National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, science, Spanish, technology, drama, student council, newspaper, yearbook, scouting, altar servers, cheerleading, quiz bowl, library and cultural essay. Boys and girls participate in several athletic sports such as baseball, indoor ball, flag football, basketball, volleyball, golf and swimming. Co-curricular offerings include guitar, piano, instrumental music, liturgical music, visual art, performance choir, musical production, safe and drug free program, ROPES training, peer tutoring, and daily middle school service corps. Auxiliary services include bus transportation, breakfast, lunch, extended care, holiday care, and parenting classes.
St. Rita School has continued to expand since its founding. Early education programs were established for four-year olds in 1983 and three-year olds in 2001. St. Rita School received recognition as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 1998 and again in 2007. Construction of a Community Room, library, computer lab, and conference room was completed in 2000, and SRS achieved accreditation status from SACS in 2003.
