Bishop Stang High School

Location

It is located in the suburban town of Dartmouth, on the south coast of Massachusetts. Stang's 8-acre (32,000 m²) campus is 25 minutes west of Cape Cod and 20 minutes east of the Rhode Island border. Its 600-plus student body draws from more than 50 cities and towns in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Catholic secondary education in southeastern Massachusetts began in the early 20th century with local parochial schools affiliated with various Catholic parishes. Some of these, such as the now-closed Holy Family High School, located near St. Lawrence Church in New Bedford, had strong academic reputations and produced generations of prominent Catholic alumni in the region. While Stang was not the first Catholic secondary school in southeastern Massachusetts, it was the first regional, diocesan, coeducational institution. Founded in 1959, Stang's original faculty included Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in full religious habit. The new 8-acre (32,000 m²) campus across from the Country Club of New Bedford in then-pastoral Dartmouth drew students from cities and towns in a 60-mile (97 km) radius from Rhode Island to Cape Cod. In the years following the Second Vatican Council, the number of Sisters of Notre Dame decreased. By the 1970s the vast majority of faculty and administrators were lay men and women, and the remaining sisters dressed conservatively, but in lay clothing. Since its inception, Stang has had a large number of alumni return as teachers and administrators.

Academics

96% of Stang graduates continue their education, with over 91% going on to four-year colleges and universities.

Courses are diverse and offered at four levels. Students are placed in levels according to their individual strengths and weaknesses.

Advanced Placement courses

Advanced placement courses are highly accelerated courses. They provide students the opportunity to pursue college level studies while in secondary school. AP courses are offered in Biology, Chemistry, Physics 1 and 2, Calculus A/B, English Language, English Literature, Psychology, United States History, and Modern European History. These mainly apply to Juniors and Seniors. Freshman and Sophomores are eligible for Advanced Math placement - i.e. "skipping" a level of math according to their performance - in the course typically taken by the grade above them.

Honors level courses

Honors level courses are characterized by content which is more extensive and detailed than standard level and college preparatory level courses. They have greater depth requiring application, analysis, and evaluation of the material, the understanding and use of concepts as well as facts. Independent research, extensive use of resources and outside reading is also expected.

College Preparatory level courses

The majority of Stang students are in college preparatory courses. These courses are characterized by detailed content requiring application, analysis, and evaluation of the material presented. As of the 2011-2012 school year, CP classes have been re branded College Preparatory A or CPA classes.

Standard level courses

These courses are characterized by basic learning skills such as reading, note-taking, study skills, reinforcement of memory skills, organization and management of a student's time. Because of these built-in supports, more time is spent on developing these learning skills in specific content areas. As of the 2011-2012 school year, standard classes have been re branded College Preparatory B, or CPB classes.

Athletics and activities

Bishop Stang offers over 11 varsity, junior varsity, and freshman interscholastic sports teams and more than 20 co-curricular activities. Bishop Stang's athletic teams have historically been successful in both men's and women's sports. The legendary Mike "Horace Grant before Horace Grant" Fortune used to ball out for this school, although claims of his thunderous dunks have been widely disputed and disproved.

Basketball

In 2016, the boys' basketball team won their first MIAA Division 3 title in program history. Led by coach Colby Santos, who himself had been to the semifinal game at the Boston Garden, the team defeated Dedham, Norwell, Cardinal Spellman, and Apponequet to win the South Sectional title. After beating Bedford at the Garden 63-43, the Spartans clinched the state title by defeating Oxford 80-64.

Football

In 2005, the football team won their first Eastern Athletic Conference title in over twenty years and clinched a berth in the state playoffs in the process as well. The Spartans upset powerhouse Wareham in the semi-finals, and advanced to the Division 2A State Championship game, but were defeated 28-13 by perennial power Duxbury. the Spartans finished the 2005 season with a 10-3 overall record. In 2006, the football team completed an undefeated regular season with a 9-0 record and won the Eastern Athletic Conference for the second consecutive year. They also clinched their second straight state playoff berth in the process. However, the Spartans were defeated by eventual state champions, Foxboro in the semi-finals.

Hockey

In 2005, the Spartan hockey team won the Southeastern Massachusetts Championship, to advance to the State Championship. They were handed defeat, 6-3, by Western/Central Mass Champion Marlboro.

Swimming & Diving

In 2008, 2010, and 2012 the men's swimming and diving team won the Southern Massachusetts Conference Championship.

Lacrosse

Boys' lacrosse won the Eastern Athletic Conference title in 2014 by defeating rival Bishop Feehan.

Field Hockey

The field hockey has been noted for their many achievements, winning 11 conference championships (1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1988, 1990, 1995, 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2015), 4 sectional championships ( 1975, 1977, 1981, 1983), and the 1983 state championship. They were also sectional finalists in 1982, 1985, 1986, 1990, and 2008, as well as state finalists in 1975 and 1977.

Other Sports & Activities

Each school year more than 80% of the student body participates in one or more co-curricular activities. These include Photography Club, an award winning student council, mock trial, DECA Business Challenge, Campus Ministry, separate men's and women's faith groups - the Fellowship and Soul Sisters, jazz band, marching/stand band, concert band, guitar band, chorus, Pro-Life Club, and Student Ambassadors. Stang also has a few activities that have not become official such as an Improvisation Group.

The Bishop Stang Forensics and Debate team is known for its excellence, having brought in numerous top honors during the 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 seasons. This culminated in a trip to the final round for two of the teams debaters in 2015.

In 2013, the school completed a multimillion-dollar renovation of the school's old convent into a new Academic Resource Center. The ARC, as it is called by members of the Stang community, is home to the guidance department, admissions and advancement offices, a new library and research commons and two new English classrooms. The school is currently raising funds to renovate the science labs with plans to begin construction in the summer of 2017.