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Dear Father Ryan Community, 

June is always a time for reflection on the academic year recently completed and the excitement of looking ahead as our impressive graduates, the Class of 2025, begin the next chapter in their lives. As I watched them cross the stage last month, I saw the joy on each face and the pride and purpose in an education steeped in Tradition, Faith, Knowledge, Service — values that have molded Father Ryan students since our first year in 1925.

The 2024-2025 year was exciting and deeply fulfilling in the history of our school. We began our two-year celebration of our 100th anniversary in September 2024. Each month offered a new way to commemorate our school’s storied history. We will continue the 100th festivities through the coming academic year when we graduate the 100th class, the Class of 2026.

I am honored and humbled to share the accomplishments of the past school year and hope you feel a sense of pride for the amazing work happening in our community.

 
Class of 2025 

Congratulations to the newest members of the Father Ryan Alumni Association! Their achievements in and out of the classroom and their vibrant example of a community of faith and friendship inspire us all. 

  • 209 graduates, bringing the total of Father Ryan alumni to 14,800+ 
  • 1,252 applications submitted with admittance to 204 unique colleges and universities; attending 66 different colleges across 26 states, Washington D.C., and Canada, including Emerson College, Spelman College, Tulane University, U.S. Naval Academy, University of Chicago, University of Notre Dame, Vanderbilt University, Villanova University, and Virginia Tech
  • $38 million+ in scholarships offered to Class of 2025
  • 31 average ACT score by students with top 10% GPAs
  • 45.7% class members took one or more AP courses
 
Enrollment 

We continue to experience a robust enrollment program with students entering Father Ryan from area parochial, public, and private middle schools, and we are inspired by the impressive future of Father Ryan students.

  • 98% re-enrollment of current students for 2025-2026
  • 3.7% attrition rate during 2024-2025 school year, the lowest attrition rate in the last nine years at Father Ryan (national attrition rate average is 10%)
  • 210 new freshmen and transfer students enrolled for 2025-2026, representing 56 schools and 47 zip codes
  • 816 total students enrolled for 2025-2026, demonstrating a diverse student body representing 130 schools and 65 zip codes 
  • 66 applications received for Hayes Scholars Program, an academic program designed to challenge and support top-achieving students, a 78% increase in program applications compared to the program's introduction in 2021  
 
Faith 

At Father Ryan, faith rooted in the Catholic tradition is the heart of our community. This strong foundation nurtures every student's spiritual growth in an inclusive, supportive, and uplifting environment.

  • 3 current students surrounded by loved ones and classmates as they were welcomed into the Catholic Church
  • 48 Masses held across the state, the country, and the world for Father Ryan's history during the first year of the 100 Masses initiative
  • 103 students made SEARCH Retreat in 2024-2025, a 32% increase compared to 2023-2024
  • 36 students attended Youth Leadership Workshop in 2024-2025, a 200% increase compared to 2023-2024
  • 9 days of mourning recognized by our community after the passing of Pope Francis through daily Novena videos, reflections on the life of Pope Francis, and prayers of the Divine Mercy Chaplet during the school days, and a "Love Like Francis" Service Day
  • 6 Saint Feast Days celebrated by members of Father Ryan's House System
 
Knowledge  

With our four levels of learning and diverse academic opportunities, all students are challenged and supported to reach their full academic potential. We create unique academic schedules that embrace students' interests, abilities, and goals with rigor and individualized support.

  • 225 students took at least one AP course in 2024-2025
  • 247 college credits earned by 46 students during first year of Dual Enrollment program
  • 201 courses offered for 2025-2026 school year, including 28 AP courses and 9 Dual Enrollment courses for students to receive college credit
  • 39 new Cum Laude members recognized for exceptional academic achievement
  • 134 freshmen, 64% of the class, inducted into the Father James A. Black Honor Society
  • 15 students newly recognized as Seal of Biliteracy recipients
  • 48 students traveled to 6 countries with our 5 study abroad programs in 2024-2025
 
Service  

Caring for the larger community through intentional, selfless acts of service remains at the core of Father Ryan's values. Our students and faculty continued this meaningful tradition throughout the school year.

  • 17,313 service hours completed by the student body in 2024-2025, supporting 313 unique service organizations
  • 27 students inducted into the Father Charles Strobel '61 Service Society, with each student serving over 120 hours in the community
  • $149,234 raised for Relay For Life, bringing Father Ryan's lifetime fundraising for the American Cancer Society to $2 million+ since 2009
  • 13,372 cans and $2,853 collected during House System Canned Food Drive for local service partners benefitting greater Nashville community
  • 10,000+ snack packs made during Fall House Service Day with Room In The Inn and 400+ fleece-tied blankets made during Spring House Service Day with Hands On Nashville
 
House System 

Central to the Father Ryan promise, "You Will Be Known. You Will Be Loved.," the House System places each of our students, teachers, and staff into one of six Houses that reflect our faith, history, and vision as we develop student leaders.

  • 210 annual leadership opportunities available to students, including 48 positions specifically for freshmen interested in gaining early leadership experience
  • 100+ House System activities hosted throughout the school year including prayer services, fishing competitions, service days, spirit weeks, student tailgates, academic competitions, House Games, and more
  • 180 hours spent in Mentor Group allowing students to form friendships across grade levels and develop relationships with student and adult mentors
  • 125 attendees from schools across the nation visited Father Ryan's campus for the 2025 House System Institute National Symposium to learn more about Father Ryan's House System structure and how we develop student leaders
  • 1 year-long House Cup competition completed with Trinity House winning its second consecutive House Cup
 
Irish Athletics 

This year continued our storied tradition of excellence in athletic competition while instilling lasting life skills of teamwork, community, perseverance, and resilience. 

  • 3 State Titles earned in Girls Rugby 7's, Boys Rugby 7's, and Girls Rugby 15's
  • 7 individual State Titles secured in Swim, Wrestling, and Indoor Track & Field
  • 15 student-athletes signed to play their sport at the collegiate level
  • 3 legendary Irish coaches received state-wide recognition with Jinx Cockerham and Pat Simpson '74 inducted into TSSAA Hall of Fame and Doug Bontrager '81 recognized as Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient at the Middle Tennessee High School Sports Awards
  • 1st ever Lady Irish Wrestler placed 3rd in state

  • 3 new partnerships to support student-athletes through nutrition education, sports psychology, and collegiate athletic recruitment process

 
The Arts 

Whether a student is interested in band, choir, dance, theatre, or the visual arts, Father Ryan offers a comprehensive curriculum that encourages individual growth through creative, personal, and spiritual development.

  • 4 performances by the Purple Masque Players of Fiddler on the Roof
  • 2nd place in the Pep Band Division at Nationals by the Father Ryan Band
  • 3rd place in Intermediate Jazz and 5th place in Hip Hop earned by the Dance Team at UDA Nationals
  • 1 student accepted to the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts
  • 2 Honorable Mentions received from the Middle Tennessee Scholastic Arts Awards
  • 1 student-musician committed to Vanderbilt University Marching Band
  • 35 visual and performing arts courses offered for 2025-2026 to allow students to pursue diverse, creative passions
 
Father Ryan Alumni and Community Support 

As our 100th year of school concludes, the Father Ryan Alumni Network has grown to 14,800+ members, an engaged, generous, and enthusiastic community committed to making the Father Ryan experience possible.

  • $4.65 million raised to date for the 2024-2025 school year, a record-breaking year for fundraising, including:
    • 333 total donors, including 33 first-time donors, during Father Ryan's 2025 Giving Day, raising $109,527
    • $334,000+ net cash revenue from record-breaking 2025 Legacy Gala celebrating 100 Years of Father Ryan with 582 event attendees
    • 5 new endowed scholarships benefitting tuition assistance
    • $1 million+ anonymous gift designated for campus security enhancements
    • $965,232.98 raised for Annual Fund as we approach our $1 million goal by June 30
  • 8 alumni participated in Alumni Speaker Series in 2024-2025
  • 200+ alumni joined the Father Ryan Alumni LinkedIn Group for networking and career opportunities, bringing the group membership total to 1,145+ alumni members
  • 1,200+ total attendance across all 2025 Alumni Weekend events, including:
    • 650+ alumni attended reunion class parties ranging from Class of 1965 to Class of 2020
    • 550+ alumni and community members attended Lou Graham '56 Golf Tournament, All-Alumni Reception, Elliston Place Luncheon, and Golden Grad Mass and Brunch
  • 72 restaurants owned or managed by Father Ryan community members added to our Irish Foodies list to support community businesses
 
Foundation for the Future - Strategic Plan Updates 

In July 2024, in anticipation of our centennial, the Father Ryan Leadership Team and Board launched a new, visionary five-year Strategic Plan to shape the next 100 years of fulfilling the school's mission. Over the past year, our leadership team has made intentional and measured progress toward advancing our vision. Read the full Strategic Plan Year One Update here.

As we bid farewell to this school year and to the Class of 2025, we reflect on the ways we embodied our mission – to be an experience of the living Gospel while challenging students to reach their spiritual, academic, and personal potential – over the course of this academic year. Thank you to everyone for joining Father Ryan in honoring our tradition and a deep sense of Irish Pride.

May the summer bring relaxation and new adventures. To the Class of 2025, we are deeply proud of the young men and women you have become. Carry your Father Ryan experience with you always, as we hold you in our hearts and prayers for much fulfillment and success on your new journey. 

Sincerely, 

Paul Davis ’81 
President