One of the most distinguished honors awarded to Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School (OLV) is the U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School of Excellence designation. Recognized as the Nation’s highest accolade for academic institutions, this award affirms exceptional performance in teaching, curriculum, student achievement, leadership, professional development, parental engagement, and community support.
OLV is especially proud to be the only private school in the Birmingham area to receive this prestigious recognition—and even more remarkable, to have earned it twice. This rare distinction underscores the school’s enduring commitment to excellence and its mission to provide an outstanding, faith‑centered education for every student.
Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School (OLV) offers an environment steeped in Christian values and high academic goals. OLV encourages students to live as the individuals God created them to be with their own aspirations and levels of achievement, then provides resources, programs, and opportunities that allow them to spread their wings and soar! Students have been recognized in:
- Science – the OLV Science Olympiad program is consistently one of the top three in the State of Alabama
- The Arts – OLV’s Drama Program are the recipients of numerous honors
- Athletics – from track and field to volleyball, basketball and more OLV students are recognized for their talent
- Language Arts, Social Studies, and more – students are the recipients of honors in academic competitions such as the Spelling and Geography Bee, writing, math, and Science Fair
