Improving the body, mind, and soul

Notre Dame High School places priority on student success, facilities upgrades

By Bill Brewer

The body. The mind. The soul. They are the three elements of success at Notre Dame High School.

In addition to its primary ministry of bringing students to Jesus Christ through learning and faith formation, Notre Dame sees its mission as fivefold academics, athletics, arts, finance, and enrollment as it works to strengthen its body, mind, and soul.

And Deacon Hicks Armor, who is entering his second year as head of school at Notre Dame, knows there is an appropriate balance that helps the entire school accomplish that mission.

“You have to develop the mind, the body, and the soul. The mind is the classroom. The body is the athletic fields, the gym, the tennis court, the basketball court, the football field, and the lacrosse field. The soul is the Catholicism, the Christian lifestyle that we promote,” Deacon Armor said in giving an update on progress Notre Dame is making in better accomplishing its mission. Deacon Armor shared a state of

Notre Dame High School report as the Diocese of Knoxville’s 10 schools begin the 2023-24 academic year.

On a mission Notre Dame also is on a mission to better tell its story in the community, which Deacon Armor believes is critical to the Chatta- nooga school achieving goals to increase enrollment and development and upgrade facilities.

There is an updated campus strategic plan with a dozen initiatives being readied as the new school year begins. Among the 12 items in the strategic plan are teacher pay, expand some academic and athletic programs, and a new facilities master plan.

Deacon Armor reports that Notre Dame’s leadership has been working to improve the school’s finances with success. After recording deficits in recent years, the high school recorded a surplus in the 2022-23 school year.

And after enrollment had been declining in recent years, he said 396 students are enrolled for the 2023-24 academic year, with an additional 10 students expected to be in class as the school year gets underway.

In the class of 2023, there were 99 graduates who walked across the stage in May. They are attending 40 different colleges in 14 states, with 90 percent of them receiving merit scholarships valued at $2.3 million, and 86 percent of the class is eligible for the Hope Scholarship.

Deacon Armor is intent on maintaining that upward trajectory through initiatives aimed at attracting new students, communicating the school’s message, focusing on major gifts and planned giving, administration building upgrades, campus enhancements,