The year is nearly complete and as per usual, we are seeing many "Top 10" or "Top 20," etc., lists, including 2013's best movies, books, albums, and on and on. At the risk of adding to the chatter, we at Notre Dame proudly offer in no particular order our own list of the "Top 15" reasons we think NDPMA is clearly the best school in Michigan. Happy New Year!
• Experienced, talented and caring faculty, staff and administration
• A beautiful campus — now including all three divisions
• Only school in Michigan with International Baccalaureate for students in jr. kindergarten through high school
• An aggressive technology plan in place for students and faculty
• Notre Dame students and teachers, who regularly put their Catholic faith into action in the community
• A lower-school program that focuses on the "whole child" as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world
• A middle-school curriculum that encourages students to embrace the connections between traditional subjects and the real world, and become critical and reflective thinkers
• More than 50 music, theatre and visual-arts opportunities
• One of the largest non-university athletic programs in the state
• Affiliation with the Society of Mary, which through the Marist Fathers and Brothers provides the spiritual foundation for our school
• A world-class alumni association
• The Notre Dame Prep Class of 2013 (189 students):
– earned more than 500 college scholarships, totaling nearly $17 million, averaging $88,000+ per graduate
– included 30 valedictorians, all with GPAs of 4.35 or higher
– averaged 27.00 on the ACT, 38 of whom scored 30+
– accepted to 128 colleges and universities
• All Notre Dame students, who this year have performed Christian service for more than 300 non-profit organizations
• Outstanding athletic facilities, including three gymnasiums
• More than 200 athletic championships to date, including a state title in volleyball this year!