Tucked away in the heart of Los Angeles, Sacred Heart High School is more than just a place of learning—it’s a home where young women are empowered to lead, grow, and excel. With a rich history and a strong sense of community, this all-girls Catholic school is dedicated to shaping confident, capable leaders. Under the guidance of Principal Raymond Saborio, Sacred Heart has continued to evolve, introducing programs that address the real-world needs of its students while staying true to its mission of academic excellence and faith-driven leadership. From the newly developed Leadership Institute to the rigorous AP program, Sacred Heart ensures that every student graduates not just with a diploma but with the tools and confidence to navigate college, careers, and life. Strengthening Sisterhood One of the most significant additions to Sacred Heart’s curriculum is the Leadership Institute, a program born out of the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. After returning to in-person learning, the faculty noticed that many students were struggling with social confidence. It wasn’t just a matter of shyness—there was a real disconnect. Girls weren’t engaging with one another as they used to; friendships weren’t forming as naturally, and face-to-face interactions felt awkward. “We saw that our students were in their own silos, glued to their phones, unsure of how to communicate and build relationships,” Saborio explains. “That was affecting our school community in ways we couldn’t ignore.” The Leadership Institute was designed to change that. Led by students, the program is deeply embedded in the school’s culture. It’s not just about teaching leadership in the classroom—it’s about fostering confidence in every aspect of student life, from extracurricular activities to service projects to the way students interact with each other, teachers, and parents. At its core, the program strengthens the bonds of sisterhood. “As an all-girls school, we already have a strong sense of sisterhood,” Saborio says. “The Leadership Academy reinforces that, ensuring every girl feels included, supported, and confident enough to take on leadership roles in any environment.”
Top Christian College 2025
The journey of faith is one of return. At Hebraic Christian College (HCC), this conviction shapes every course and every conversation. HCC invites Christians to rediscover the origins of their faith, anchored in the life and times of Jesus. Led by Dr. John D. Garr—a scholar whose life’s work has been devoted to this restoration—the college honors Jesus as the divine cornerstone of the Church and champions the enduring mission of his first disciples, who carried his message from Israel into every corner of the world. “When Christians reconnect with their Hebraic roots, the Scriptures come alive in ways they haven’t imagined before. It’s not about changing beliefs but enriching our understanding of the biblical texts themselves,” says Dr. Garr, chancellor. This vision lies at the heart of the college’s mission of creating a Hebraic model for Christian education that is accessible to anyone, anywhere. Through an online platform designed for flexible, self-paced learning, HCC ensures students across the world can engage meaningfully with their faith, drawing from the richness of its courses. The Digital Academy HCC’s learning management system (LMS) brings a new energy to seminary education, blending the innovation of a Silicon Valley startup with the timeless pursuit of theological understanding. “When we realized that no existing system could support our expansive educational vision, we contracted with CrossLogic Corporation in Asheville, NC to engineer the solution that we imagined,” says Dr. Garr. That collaboration laid the foundation for what would later become DigitalChalk, a learning platform widely adopted across educational institutions today.
School District Demographics and Planning Services Company of the Year 2025
Across the country, school districts are facing a new kind of planning challenge—one shaped by shifting housing markets, unpredictable enrollment trends, and rising pressure to spend public dollars wisely. In this landscape, traditional forecasting methods just aren’t enough. What districts need today is a deeper kind of insight. Not just about how many students might enroll, but where they’ll live, when they’ll arrive, and what that means for long-term facility planning. That’s where Zonda Demographics steps in. Zonda is known in the real estate world for its best-in-class housing data—used by builders, developers, and lenders to track where new homes are going, what they’ll cost, and how communities are evolving. Zonda Demographics takes that same housing intelligence and brings it to the world of public education. With roots in both real estate and school district planning, the Zonda Demographics team brings together two powerful skill sets: deep data analysis and firsthand experience in K–12 facility planning. The result? A unique service that helps school districts make confident, informed decisions about boundaries, bond planning, and long-range growth. “We bring a level of visibility that many school districts just don’t have internally,” says Bob Templeton, vice president. “We help them see the full picture—where development is happening, how fast families are moving in, and what that means for enrollment in the next one, three, five, or even ten years.” A Platform Built on Real-Time Housing Data Zonda’s data platform is unlike anything else in the education space. It tracks housing starts, lot development, and new construction activity at a hyperlocal level—updated weekly and verified by real people on the ground. District leaders can visualize exactly where homes are being built and match that to enrollment zones, bus routes, or long-term facility plans. They can filter for specific builders, zoom in on aerial photos of neighborhoods under construction, or look at deed records to see how quickly homes are closing. This is not just about maps or spreadsheets. It’s a living, breathing snapshot of growth across the communities a district serves.
Top Christian School in New York 2025
Amid the dynamic learning environment of East Catholic High School (ECHS), where technology and books shape the classrooms, there is a life that fosters a sense of belonging and an atmosphere of holistic development. By blending education and faith, the campus is home to an inclusive community that embraces meaningful student-teacher relationships like no other. Recognized as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, ECHS is a leading college-preparatory school of the Archdiocese of Hartford. It is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the State of Connecticut. ECHS stands at the intersection of academic excellence, theological reflection and college-preparatory education. With a faculty approval rating of 95 percent, instructors take on the roles of mentors, guiding students and inspiring a strong commitment to community service. “We go the extra mile to ensure that every student who walks through the campus doors knows that they’re part of a family where they can thrive mentally, physically and spiritually,” says Sean P. Brennan, ’85, President. A Community Rooted in Faith and Academic Distinction For over six decades, ECHS has been upholding the Catholic tradition to transform individuals into responsible leaders prepared to navigate the evolving world based on the teachings of Christ. Daily life at the school begins with a morning prayer over the intercom. Sessions hosted by the campus ministry office, daily rosary prayers in the chapel, weekly Mass services and monthly all-school liturgies demonstrate how ECHS stays true to its mission of building on Catholic tradition and the charism of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. These prayers form the building blocks of its peaceful atmosphere. An administrative feedback survey conducted among students, parents, faculty and board members showed a 93 percent approval rating for the school’s safe and supportive environment. This highlights East Catholic's reputation as a community that fosters compassion and responsibility in each student.
Christian Schools
Building a Student-Centered Future in Education
Cindy Kilpatrick, Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, Stephen F. Austin State University
Art and Design Colleges
Serving Up Change: The Evolution of a School Nutrition Leader
Darcy Stueber, Director of Nutrition Services, Mankato Area Public Schools
Education and Admission Consulting
Strategic Curriculum Leadership for Equity, Innovation, and Impact
Dr. Acacia J. Ford, Director of Secondary Curriculum: Humanities & Arts, Rockford Public Schools
Private Colleges and Universities
How Christian Universities Can Lead In the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Jean Mandernach, Executive Director, Center for Innovation in Research and Teaching, Grand Canyon University
Christian Colleges
Protecting Precious Cargo: A Comprehensive Look at School Bus Safety
Keba Baldwin, Director of Transportation and Central Garage, Prince George’s County Public Schools
Christian Colleges
Redefining Classroom Experiences With Digital Tools
Amos Gutierrez, Director of Instructional Design, Adams Center for Teaching and Learning, Abilene Christian University
Christian Schools
The New Future Look of Higher Education
Dr. Aeron Zentner, Dean of Institutional Effectiveness: Research, Analytics, Accessibility, Planning, and Grant Development, Coastline College
IN MY OPINION
Charter Schools
Leading Education Forward
Craig Anderson, Executive Director, Office of Teaching and Learning, Saint Paul Public Schools
LAST WORD
Professional Development Services
Forging New Paths In Graduate and Continuing Education
Dr. Sean Heuvel, Director of Graduate and Professional Enrollment, Christopher Newport University
IN FOCUS
EDITORIAL
Shaping Future Leaders with Purpose and Faith
Support is more personal now. Schools are paying closer attention to students’ backgrounds and futures. Programs once seen as extras—like arts, athletics and community involvement—have moved to the center. These experiences aren't just enriching. They’re essential. A polished transcript is no longer the destination. It’s a checkpoint in a much longer journey.
Higher education is feeling the ripple effects. Students are asking for more than credentials. They want purpose and clarity. Colleges are responding by sharpening their offerings and rethinking delivery. Planning tools, online options and flexible learning models are no longer optional. They reflect a broader effort to meet students where they are and guide them forward.
As families continue to seek schools that align with this broader idea of preparation, the private K-12 sector in the United States is growing. Between 2023 and 2030, it’s projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 6.6 percent. Schools that adapt to these shifts are not just responding to demand. They are helping shape the future of education.
The magazine features a thought leadership piece by Amos Gutierrez, Assistant Director, Educational Technology and Creative & Academic Technology at Abilene Christian University, discussing using new technology like AI and VR to make learning better and more creative. It includes insights from Jean Mandernach, Executive Director, Center for Innovation in Research and Teaching, Grand Canyon University, on how Christian universities can use AI in ways that stay true to their faith and values, rather than simply following secular trends.
We also spotlight the stories of Christian Schools delivering holistic education to students that drives innovation. One such School is Sacred Heart High School, a Catholic college preparatory school that strives to empower young women to live in faith, truth and service and be societal role models.
In this edition, featuring the Top College Preparatory Catholic High School in California 2025, the Top Christian School in New York 2025, the Top Christian College 2025 and the School District Demographics and Planning Services Company of the Year 2025, we hope you find the right partner to meet your organization's needs.
