Indianapolis, Indiana | Grades 7–12 | Enrollment: 582 students
Client Overview
Cardinal Ritter Junior/Senior High School, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, serves students from 7th through 12th grade. With a student body of over 580, the school is committed to preparing students for academic excellence and lifelong success through a values-driven Catholic education.
The partnership between Cardinal Ritter and Tools for Success began in the 2022–2023 school year, initiated with a focus on improving instructional effectiveness, onboarding new students, and creating curriculum alignment across grade levels.
Challenges/Opportunities:
New Student Onboarding in 7th Grade
- Students begin their Cardinal Ritter journey in 7th grade, coming from a variety of feeder schools. The school identified a need to develop a consistent onboarding process that supports academic readiness and student engagement from day one.
Increasing ILEARN ELA Proficiency
- Improving student performance on ILEARN English/Language Arts assessments became a key focus to ensure all students reach grade-level expectations and beyond.
Vertical Alignment in Writing
- There was a recognized need to align writing instruction and expectations across middle and high school to build consistent, measurable progress year over year.
Solution Implemented by Tools for Success
- Comprehensive Data Analysis & Targeted Support: Conducted a detailed evaluation of student performance trends to pinpoint areas of strength, address gaps, and uncover the root causes of disparities in achievement.
- Pathway to Success Program Implementation: Launched a structured professional development initiative that combined collaborative group learning sessions with personalized, in-classroom coaching for teachers, ensuring direct support in real-time instructional settings.
- Strategic, Data-Driven Instructional Enhancements: Equipped educators with actionable insights and evidence-based teaching strategies to foster student engagement, improve instructional effectiveness, and align learning objectives with measurable student growth.
Results & Impact
ELA ILEARN Proficiency Gains
- In the 2023–2024 academic year, Cardinal Ritter saw a 17.4% increase in the number of students proficient in ILEARN ELA—a major step forward in academic achievement and standards alignment.
Improved Teacher Support & Engagement
- Veteran teachers remained highly engaged, while department chairs gained new tools and strategies to lead curriculum development and student proficiency efforts across their teams.
Sustained Commitment to Partnership
- What began as a 13-day engagement has grown into a robust, ongoing partnership—now averaging 25–30 days of consulting and professional development support each year. This expanded collaboration between Cardinal Ritter and Tools for Success reflects a shared commitment to improving student outcomes and empowering educators with the training, strategies, and real-time support they need to drive meaningful, lasting change.
Principal Insight
Kari Jost, Principal
“At Cardinal Ritter, we know that supporting our teachers is one of the most important ways we can ensure students receive the high-quality learning experience they deserve. One of the things that truly stands out about working with Tools for Success is that every consultant is a licensed principal and former classroom teacher—they understand the realities we’re facing because they’ve lived them. Their professional development isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s tailored to each teacher’s specific needs, so everyone gets the coaching, strategies, and encouragement they need to grow. That kind of support makes all the difference—for our teachers and our students.”