Notre Dame middle division named a National Speech & Debate Association "Top 100" school; the only middle school among group of high schools.
Notre Dame Marist Academy’s middle division earned a nationwide debate team ranking of 22. It was the only middle school to make the Top 100 list. According to NDPMA debate coordinator LeAnne Schmidt, all students in the middle division participate in debate and forensics activities.
“Our Top 100 schools show an incredible commitment to growing speech and debate,” said J. Scott Wunn, executive director of the National Speech & Debate Association. “These programs demonstrate outstanding commitment to the values of integrity, humility, respect, leadership and service that are central to our Code of Honor.”
In addition, LeAnne Schmidt, who teaches the 8th-grade individuals and societies class and 7th-grade writing, and manages the debate activity at NDPMA, said the middle division also made the National Speech and Debate Association’s 500 Club, and achieved Pentagon Society designation (top 1% of all middle schools) status last year. Club awards are awarded to schools that meet a certain threshold of strength points.
"Students earn points and degrees in the NSDA honor society based on competitive and service-related activities," Schmidt said, "ranging from the Degree of Merit with 25 or more points to the Degree of Premier Distinction with 1,500 or more points."
Top 100 Schools:
1. Leland High School (San Jose, CA)
2. Central High School (Springfield, MO)
3. Regis High School (New York, NY)
4. Liberty Sr High School (Liberty, MO)
5. Gabrielino High School (San Gabriel, CA)
6. Millard North High School (Omaha, NE)
7. Eagan High School (Eagan, MN)
8. Washburn Rural High School (Topeka, KS)
9. Glendale High School (Springfield, MO)
10. Westwood High School (Austin, TX)
11. Shawnee Mission East High School (Prairie Village, KS)
12. Eastview High School (Apple Valley, MN)
13. Cherry Creek High School (Greenwood Village, CO)
14. George Washington High School (Denver, CO)
15. Cypress Bay High School (Weston, FL)
16. The Bronx High School Of Science (Bronx, NY)
17. Nova High School (Davie, FL)
18. Kickapoo High School (Springfield, MO)
18. Ridge High School (Basking Ridge, NJ)
20. Dougherty Valley High School (San Ramon, CA)
21. Lee’s Summit West High School (Lee’s Summit, MO)
22. Notre Dame Marist Academy (Pontiac, MI)
23. North Allegheny Sr High School (Wexford, PA)
24. Alhambra High School (Alhambra, CA)
25. James Logan High School (Union City, CA)
26. Blue Springs High School (Blue Springs, MO)
27. Hillcrest High School (Idaho Falls, ID)
28. Olathe Northwest High School (Olathe, KS)
29. Liberty North High School (Liberty, MO)
30. William P Clements High School (Sugar Land, TX)
31. Edina High School (Edina, MN)
32. Blue Valley High School (Overland Park, KS)
33. Lexington High School (Lexington, MA)
34. Glenbrook North High School (Northbrook, IL)
35. Munster High School (Munster, IN)
35. West Broward High School (Pembroke Pines, FL)
37. Montville High School (Montville, NJ)
38. Aberdeen Central High School (Aberdeen, SD)
39. Cabot High School (Cabot, AR)
39. Syosset High School (Syosset, NY)
41. Bozeman High School (Bozeman, MTv
42. Neosho High School (Neosho, MO)
43. Cheyenne East High School (Cheyenne, WY)
44. Bellaire High School (Bellaire, TX)
44. Riverside High School (Greer, SC)
46. Downers Grove South High School (Downers Grove, IL)
47. Western High School (Davie, FL)
48. Blue Springs South High School (Blue Springs, MO)
49. Palo Verde High School (Las Vegas, NV)
50. Carlsbad High School (Carlsbad, CA)
51. Cary Academy (Cary, NC)
52. Lakeville North High School (Lakeville, MN)
53. Perry High School (Massillon, OH)
53. Chesterton High School (Chesterton, IN)
55. Westview High School (Portland, OR)
56. Newton South High School (Newton, MA)
57. Blue Valley West High School (Overland Park, KS)
58. Oak Ridge High School (Conroe, TX)
59. Lee’s Summit North High School (Lee’s Summit, MO)
60. Claremont High School (Claremont, CA)
61. Madison High School (Rexburg, ID)
61. Willard High School (Willard, MO)
63. Lawrence Free State High School (Lawrence, KS)
64. East Ridge High School (Woodbury, MN)
65. Sioux Falls Lincoln High School (Sioux Falls, SD)
65. Valley International Prep (Van Nuys, CA)
67. Chaminade High School (Mineola, NY)
67. O’Gorman High School (Sioux Falls, SD)
69. Archbishop Mitty High School (San Jose, CA)
70. Scarsdale High School (Scarsdale, NY)
70. Lincoln Southwest High School (Lincoln, NE)
72. Pittsburg High School (Pittsburg, KS)
73. Plano West Sr High School (Plano, TX)
74. The Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City, MO)
75. Hawken School (Gates Mills, OH)
76. Green River High School (Green River, WY)
76. Glacier High School (Kalispell, MT)
78. Blue Valley North High School (Overland Park, KS)
79. Lawrence High School (Lawrence, KS)
79. Solon High School (Solon, OH)
81. Interlake High School (Bellevue, WA)
82. Glenbrook South High School (Glenview, IL)
83. Green Valley High School (Henderson, NV)
84. Bonneville High School (Idaho Falls, ID)
85. Miramonte High School (Orinda, CA)
86. Monte Vista High School (Danville, CA)
86. Apple Valley High School (Apple Valley, MN)
88. Desert Vista High School (Phoenix, AZ)
89. Moorhead High School (Moorhead, MN)
90. Flower Mound High School (Flower Mound, TX)
90. Lincoln East High School (Lincoln, NE)
92. College Prep (Oakland, CA)
92. Bentonville High School (Bentonville, AR)
94. Ardrey Kell High School (Charlotte, NC)
95. Upper St Clair High School (Pittsburgh, PA)
96. Highland High School (Pocatello, ID)
97. Hendrickson High School (Pflugerville, TX)
98. Canfield High School (Canfield, OH)
99. Grapevine High School (Grapevine, TX)
100. Flathead High School (Kalispell, MT)
100. LC Anderson High School (Austin, TX)
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org