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In
the market for
Catholic high school education?
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13
archdiocesan schools have unique strengths, offerings
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NOT POND
SCUM! — Catholic
Memorial High School biology teacher Jared Spriggs
assists sophomore Matt Nicolosi in the examination
of pond water. Several students brought in separate
samples of pond water to compare the differences.
(Catholic Herald photo by Allen Fredrickson)
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Additional
sidebar:
Tuition costs can deter prospective families |
Rebecca Scholz, an eighth-grader at St. Anthony Elementary
School in Menomonee Falls, started thinking about high
school last year. One of her cousins is a sophomore at
Dominican High School, and many of her classmates talk
about going to Pius XI High School, but Rebecca — who
enjoys English, foreign languages, art and music — thinks
Milwaukee’s Divine Savior Holy Angels High School
would be a good fit for her.
Her parents agree. All six of Rebecca’s paternal
aunts attended DSHA. In fact, Rebecca’s mom, Deanna
Scholz — who attended a Catholic elementary school
herself — noted that her daughter is the fourth
generation in her husband’s family to get a Catholic
education.
Deanna Scholz likes the small, close-knit class her daughter
grew up with at St. Anthony, the respect students show
each other, the strong expectations teachers and staff
set, and the emphasis on faith in the classroom. It’s
an atmosphere she especially wants as Rebecca, 13, approaches
adulthood.
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BUDDING
ARTIST — Tess
Anderson, 16-year-old junior at Catholic Memorial
High School, Waukesha, paints in the school’s
art room. (Catholic Herald photo by Allen Fredrickson)
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Dave Prothero, superintendent for schools in the Milwaukee
Archdiocese, believes Scholz isn’t alone in her
thinking. “For parents, the selection of a Catholic
high school may be one of the more important decisions
they make with their child. The Gospel-centered message
found in Catholic high schools helps students to strengthen
their moral and theological foundation from which they
will make future personal and professional life decisions,” he
said.
Students in the Milwaukee Archdiocese have a choice of
13 Catholic high schools. While all offer strong academic
programs that include Catholic theology, they range in
size, tuition costs, specialty course offerings, extracurricular
programs, and available facilities (see school profiles
below).
Archdiocese offers informational sessions
on high school education |
| Parents of prospective students can attend two
informational sessions about the advantages of
Catholic high school education sponsored by the
Archdiocese of Milwaukee, and featuring Br. Bob
Smith, archdiocesan director of educational and
formational services. Catholic high school staff
members, parents, and students will also be on
hand. The sessions begin at 7 p.m. at the following
sites: Thursday, Sept. 30, St. Gregory the Great
School, 3132 S. 63rd St., Milwaukee, (414) 321-1350;
Tuesday, Oct. 5, SS. Cecilia and James School,
St. James Parish Hall, 2700 W. Mequon Road, Mequon,
(262) 232-7960. |
To learn more, parents and prospective students can take
advantage of a multitude of opportunities offered by
high schools, ranging from Web sites and open houses
to shadowing programs for seventh- and eighth-graders.
They can attend a football game or a play and check out
the facilities, or they can call the school’s admissions
director and arrange a tour. Many high schools even have
ambassador programs, in which recruitment directors and
students visit area elementary schools for question-and-answer
sessions.
Nichole Gladney, director of institutional advancement
at Milwaukee’s St. Joan Antida encourages an up-close
and personal look. “In order to understand and
appreciate the school,” she said, “you’ve
got to come inside the halls.”
Catholic Central High School
148 McHenry St., Burlington
(262) 763-1510
www.cchsnet.org
Tuition: $5,490/ member parish; $6,150/non-member
Noted feature: Small school.
Academics: College preparatory focus; advanced placement
and honors courses include English, algebra, chemistry.
Partners with area high schools and technical schools
to offer off-site courses in auto mechanics and fire/safety.
Provides advanced math and English courses to middle
school students at area Catholic schools.
Average class size: 19
Faith focus: All school Masses, class level retreats,
parish-based programs.
Extracurricular: Includes band, swing choir, bike club,
spring musical. Sports include golf, tennis, football;
softball and baseball teams won state championships last
spring. No-cut policy in sports for freshmen.
Other facts: Supported and governed by 17 area member
parishes.
What’s new: Edline, a program letting students
and parents with access codes monitor student grades,
attendance and behavior reports via the Internet. A building
expansion project that will include computerized library,
art studio and more classrooms, when finished in 2005.
What’s said: “Grads relate that they felt
better prepared than their public school classmates,
many times taking on tutoring duties or assisting professors
in their classes.”
—
Joannie Kresken, recruitment director
St. Mary’s Springs High School
255 Cty. Road K, Fond du Lac
(920) 921-4870
www.smshs.com
Tuition: $4,420
Noted feature: Small class sizes.
Academics: College prep focus includes college dual credit
program, business and computer courses, fine arts program.
Average class size: 17
Faith focus: Campus ministry, community service requirements
for each grade. Extracurricular: Includes band, chorus,
sports, fall play, spring musical.
What’s new: Thanks to donations, can now offer
to provide 100 percent of financial aid that a student’s
family qualifies for; up from 75 percent in the past.
What’s said: “As you walk through the hallways,
(you see) students leave their bags on their lockers
unlocked. The atmosphere is inviting and comfortable,
so students can concentrate on their academics without
feeling social pressures.”
—
Blaine Tosher, director of recruitment
St. Joseph High School
2401 69th St., Kenosha
(262) 654-8651
www.stjosephhs.com
Tuition: $5,650
Noted feature: St. Joseph Inter-parish Junior High School
located on campus.
Academics: College prep, advanced placement classes,
honors program.
Faith focus: Service programs and projects, campus ministry,
two-day retreat for sophomores and seniors.
Extracurricular: Athletics include soccer, volleyball;
plays and musical, band concerts.
Other facts: Sponsored by parishes in Kenosha and Pleasant
Prairie.
What’s said: “There is an aura of encouragement
among students to excel and to try different things.
My youngest boy is a wrestler and a football player.
My oldest boy was a wrestler and football player, and
here they’re on the stage singing and dancing.
That would be unheard of in the public school I went
to.”
—
Mike Bain, parent of 11th -grader
Divine Savior Holy Angels High School
4257 N. 100th St., Milwaukee
(414) 462-3742
www.dsha.info
Tuition: $7,500
Noted feature: All-girls school, sponsored by Sisters
of the Divine Savior.
Academics: College prep curriculum includes advanced
placement courses in chemistry, calculus, American government.
Student Internet access to schedules, teachers’ pages.
Average class size: 22
Faith focus: Retreats, monthly liturgical services, service
requirements; community service opportunities such as
food and clothing drives.
Extracurricular: Clubs include literary magazine, improv,
Gospel choir, video editing. Sports include basketball,
rugby, swimming, skiing; no-cut policy on some programs.
What’s new: Small business and entrepreneurship
class begun in 2003-2004 teaches hands-on basics of running
a small business.
What’s said: “We are paying attention to
these girls and recognizing that they have the same ability
and intelligence as males. We want to push them to realize
they can do anything males can do. They have the choice
to take any career path, and also have the role of mother
and nurturer in the home.”
—
Tim Grandy, English teacher
Dominican High School
120 E. Silver Spring Drive, Milwaukee
(414) 332-1170
www.dominicanhighschool.com
Tuition: $6,700
Noted feature: Co-ed school, founded by the Sinsinawa
Dominican Sisters.
Academics: College prep focus with advanced curriculum
courses, including computer programming, art, Spanish,
religious studies. Offers international studies program.
Joint venture with Mount Mary College’s ConnectED
program.
Average class size: 19
Faith focus: Campus ministry; students participate in
homeless meal programs, have also created an urban garden
in Milwaukee and rehabilitated homes.
Extracurricular: Theater department; clubs include chess,
computer, science competition team; sports include football,
basketball, dance squad.
Other facts: Some transportation to and from school is
available for a fee for Ozaukee County residents and
students in select Milwaukee neighborhoods.
What’s new: The school’s theater program
was selected as one of two showcase performances at the
Wisconsin State High School Theatre Festival this year.
What’s said: “I hear a lot of students talk
about how religion class is their favorite class. That’s
something I never expected to hear a teen-ager say.”
—
Elizabeth Stengel, admissions director
St. Joan Antida High School
1341 N. Cass St., Milwaukee
(414) 272-8423
www.saintjoanantida.org
Tuition: $4,250
Noted feature: All-girls urban school with multicultural
student body.
Academics: Advanced placement courses include English
literature, psychology, statistics; honors courses, business
co-op, health/intern program, foreign languages include
Russian and Italian.
Average class size: 20
Extracurricular: Athletic programs include volleyball,
basketball, soccer; clubs include student ambassadors.
Other facts: About 40 percent of student body is non-Catholic;
about 60 percent are Choice or Pave students.
What’s new: Celebrates its 50th anniversary this
year.
What’s said: “I think it’s a place
where girls aren’t afraid to speak out and define
who they are as individuals. It’s so small and
intimate that the clique atmosphere, which really promotes
peer pressure a lot of times, doesn’t exist.”
—
Nichole Gladney, director of institutional advancement
Marquette University High School
3401 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee
(414) 933-7220
www.muhs.edu
Tuition: $7,375
Noted feature: Jesuit college preparatory school for
boys
Academics: Accelerated courses; advanced placement classes,
including micro- and macro-economics, Latin, computer
science, calculus; fine arts program, intercultural exchange
program.
Faith focus: Retreats, service requirements through “Men
for Others” program, prayer groups, daily liturgies.
Extracurricular: Athletic program, including football,
basketball, swimming, rugby; intramural activities in
soccer, basketball, volleyball, softball. Clubs include
adventure racing, senior follies, karate, photography.
What’s said: “MUHS challenges students mentally,
physically and spiritually to become ‘men for others.’ The
experience that I have grown from in these past four
years will forever shape the person that I am and will
become.”
—
Chris Brand, 2004 graduate
Messmer High School
742 W. Capitol Drive, Milwaukee
(414) 264-5440
www.messmerhigh.com
Tuition: approximately $3,900
Noted feature: Cooperation with Messmer Catholic Preparatory
School, Milwaukee.
Academics: Students complete exhibition program demonstrating
their proficiency in research, oral presentation skills,
and research defense.
Faith focus: Includes prayers, student retreats (to Rome
last year).
Extracurricular: Clubs include peer tutors, environmental,
world cultures, weight lifting, book, film. Sports include
football, volleyball, soccer, cross-country, cheerleading.
Other facts: Approximately 70 percent of students come
from single parent homes; approximately 80 percent are
living below the poverty level, but graduation rate is
94 percent; 87 percent of students continue their education.
What’s new: Celebrating its 20th anniversary as
an independent Catholic school.
What’s said: “I wanted my children in an
environment where — it’s acceptable to pray
and where they’re going to learn to hold dear the
values we hold as a family. I think Messmer represents
everything that I represent as a parent. They enhance
it. And I think that makes us work well together.”
—
Diana Patterson, parent of a 10th-grader
Pius XI High School
135 N. 76th St., Milwaukee
(414) 290-7000
www.piusxi.org
Tuition: $6,820 (includes books and most fees)
Noted feature: Largest Catholic high school in state,
supported by Pallottine Fathers and School Sisters of
St. Francis.
Academics: College prep curriculum, placement classes,
departments include practical arts and special studies;
vocational courses.
Student/teacher ratio: 13:1
Faith focus: Daily prayer, campus ministry, liturgies,
student retreats, social and community service opportunities.
Extracurricular: Sports include football, soccer, swimming,
track. Clubs include theater, peer listeners, campus
ministry, ComedySportz, skiing.
Other facts: Innovative, small-structure homeroom system
gives students same faculty advisor for four years; students
use modular class schedule with 5-day cycle.
What’s new: State-of-the-art field house scheduled
to open for 2004-2005 year includes indoor track, gallery,
performing arts center and photo studio.
What’s said: “The personal attention is amazing.
(Through the Teacher Advisor Contact program) the teacher
is not this distant teacher, but a partner in the concept
of learning. Students have the same TAC teacher all four
years, so they really have these relationships that build
on that.”
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Missy Creevy, director of institutional advancement
Thomas More High School
2601 E. Morgan Ave., Milwaukee
(414) 481-8370
www.tmore.org
Tuition: $6,350
Noted feature: Co-ed school with historical ties to St.
Francis Minor Seminary, Pio Nono and Don Bosco high schools.
Academics: College prep curriculum, focus on math, science,
business and technology; two full-service computer labs,
student Internet access and e-mail address.
Faith focus: Service projects, monthly liturgies, overnight
retreats, daily prayer, prayer luncheons.
Extracurricular: Sports program with history of conference
titles, includes cross-country, football, basketball,
wrestling; clubs include music ministry, show choir,
theater, Latino student organization.
What’s new: Only area Catholic school to offer
students “Project Lead the Way” engineering
curriculum through link with Marquette University’s
College of Engineering; fire and police science courses
offered starting junior year through partnership with
Milwaukee Area Technical College.
What’s said: “I had been working (in the
school) on a project, waiting for Mr. Pauly (campus minister),
listening to him on the announcements, and sure enough,
at the end of the announcements, he said, ‘I love
you, Thomas More.’ That made me feel really good,
that message that they start their day with.”
—
Robin Wetherbee, parent of ninth-grader
St. Lawrence Seminary High School
301 Church St., Mt. Calvary
(920) 753-7500
www.stlawrence.edu
Tuition: $7,190 (includes room, board, books and fees)
Noted feature: Male-only boarding school, founded by
Capuchin-Franciscan friars of the Province of St. Joseph.
Academics: College prep and ministry focus; proctored
day and evening study halls (Monday through Thursday);
dual-credit program with Marian College; 65 hours ministry.
Student/teacher ratio: 10:1
Faith focus: Liturgies three times weekly, daily communal
prayers, service projects, mission trips, sessions with
spiritual director.
Extracurricular: Athletics include baseball, basketball,
soccer; intramurals programs; clubs include plays, music,
award-winning forensics team.
Other facts: Weekend visiting schedule for parents; diverse
student body from across the nation and world, including
Vietnam, Sweden, Ghana and Mexico.
What’s said: “It is the best gift you can
possibly give your boys because essentially what the
school does is teach them who they are before the world
teaches them who (it thinks) they should be.”
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Alex Salm, parent of ninth- and 12th-graders
St. Catherine High School
1200 Park Ave., Racine
(262) 632-2785
www.stcatherines.k12.wi.us
Tuition: $6,175
Noted feature: Sponsored by the Racine Dominicans with
a 140-year history, Racine’s only Catholic high
school.
Academics: College prep focus; American sign language
class through Wisconsin School for the Deaf, medical
technology course through Gateway Technical College;
three computer learning labs; wireless capabilities.
Faith focus: Community service projects, mission trips
to Appalachia, ministry group, partners with YMCA and
YWCA in community programs.
Extracurricular: Athletics include tennis, baseball,
track and field; Clubs include campus ministry, music
program and band, award-winning environmental club.
Other facts: One of few high schools in state with a
distance-learning lab to teach courses here and to students
at other schools.
What’s said: “I like the small size — you
know everyone and you’re good friends with everybody.
And the courses are challenging. I don’t feel like
I’m wasting my time in class.”
—
Claire Connell, 11th-grader
Catholic Memorial High School
601 E. College Ave., Waukesha
(262) 542-7101
www.catholicmemorial.net
Tuition: $6,380/supporting parish member; $7,380 non-supporting
parish member
Noted feature: Supported by 27 area parishes.
Academics: College prep curriculum; other courses include
computer science, drafting, visual arts, music; advanced
placement courses include English, biology, calculus,
economics; honors program; summer reading program.
Student/teacher ratio: 18:1
Faith focus: Service projects, social outreach opportunities,
extra-curricular clubs focusing on spirituality and service.
Extracurricular: Athletics program includes state championship-winning
boys varsity basketball and girls varsity soccer; decorated
drama department; clubs include academic decathlon, Students
Engaged in Aquatic Studies, summer enrichment camps.
Other facts: Freshman class in 2004-2005 is 20 percent
larger than last year.
What’s new: Family tuition program with discounted
rates for families with more than one child enrolled.
What’s said: “What I find so unique is the
most incredible sense of community, not only for the
kids, but the parents. These are some of the most influential
years in your children’s lives, and this is a place
to experience high school with them — not interfering
in their education, but participating.”
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Judy Boll, parent of 10th-grader |
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