Type Private Status Operating Number of students 885 (2014) | Established 1927 Mascot Viking Colors Blue, Gold | |
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Motto Pro Deo et Patria
(For God and Country) Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic,
Lasallian Patron saint(s) St. John Baptist de la Salle Address 4720 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA Founders De La Salle Brothers, Hugh Charles Boyle Profiles | ||
Central Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic, Lasallian, all-boys college preparatory school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a part of the Diocese of Pittsburgh and is administered and partially staffed by the Brothers of the Christian Schools.
Contents
History
In the 1920s, Bishop Hugh Charles Boyle of the Diocese of Pittsburgh started a program to expand diocesan involvement in education beyond the existing parish schools founded by the predominantly Catholic immigrant population of the city. Boyle invited the Brothers of the Christian Schools (more commonly known as the Christian Brothers) to found an all-male secondary school in Oakland, the academic district of Pittsburgh. The first freshman class entered in 1927, and Central Catholic's success allowed Boyle to expand on the diocesan network of boys' schools with North Catholic, Serra Catholic, and South Hills Catholic High School.
Although the school originally took students only from the central neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, the decline of regional equivalents such as North Catholic and South Catholic, following both schools' gradual switch to coeducation, eventually attracted students from a wider geographic and socioeconomic range. Students attend from neighborhoods including Bloomfield and Squirrel Hill, to suburban communities such as Cranberry, Jefferson Hills, and Fox Chapel. The diocese also opened a sister school, Oakland Catholic, also in the Oakland area.
Academics
Central Catholic's academic courses are divided into five levels:
Class rank is based upon GPA weighted for level. Because the different academic levels are weighted differently, the weighted GPA is based upon a 6.0 rather than 5.0 scale. Freshmen are placed into levels within the six departments of (English, mathematics, social studies, science, foreign language, catechetics) based on elementary school grades and a standardized test given by the school itself. The languages offered are French, Italian, Latin and Spanish. Freshman may opt to take an additional music or visual arts course, or gym.
Upperclassmen have more flexibility in course and department selection. The school offers 16 Advanced Placement courses and over 30 honors courses.
The Baginski Scholars Program is a progressive, interdisciplinary program, designed to let students at the school who excel academically to participate in activities and discussion meant to build their knowledge in social sciences, humanities, and the sciences. The program is directed by John Allen and Dr. Patrizia Costa Frezza.
In the 2013–2014 school year, two pilot engineering classes were introduced, and the school planned to construct a new building for STEM subjects.
Beginning in the 2013–2014 school year, a one to one computing program was initiated at the high school. Apple iPads were deployed to all freshman and sophomores.
Student life
The school has an athletic history that includes championships for track and field, soccer, swimming, rowing, and football. Other varsity sports offered are basketball, baseball, rugby, tennis, lacrosse, bowling, ice hockey, in-line hockey, golf, cross country, wrestling, and volleyball. Fencing, table tennis, Ultimate frisbee, and disc golf are offered as club sports.
The school has forensics team, musical theater productions (which have won seven Gene Kelly Awards), PJAS participation, student publications, chess team, and robotics team.
The school's mascot is the Viking. It had a long-standing rivalry with North Catholic High School until enrollment declined at North Catholic, and competition grew increasingly one-sided in favor of Central Catholic. North Allegheny , Pine Richland High School and Woodland Hills have come to replace North Catholic as Central's major rivals in sports, and Shady Side Academy in academics.
Facilities
Built in the 1920s in the National Romantic style, the school building is designated a Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmark. The building has undergone renovations to the classrooms, the dining hall, the library, the theater, the writing center, and other areas. Renovation of the classrooms included adding flat screen televisions, Smart Boards, and other learning technology devices.
On the same campus as the main building, there is a gymnasium building, an athletic field, and a weight training room. Next to the main building, on the Neville Street side, is located the Brothers' House, in which the Brothers of the Christian Schools who work at Central Catholic live.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on December 3, 2014 for the new building for STEM subjects. Construction of this building accounted for $12 million out of a $27 million capital campaign that Central Catholic launched on the same day as the groundbreaking ceremony. The building opened in the fall of 2016 to students for academic use.
Athletes
Business
Entertainment
Journalism/publication
Government/military
Education
Athletics achievements
In 2013, the Central Catholic Rowing Team won its first gold medal at SRAA nationals, defeating their rivals, St. Joseph's Prep. On July 23, 2013, a proclamation was made by the city of Pittsburgh declaring that day, July 23, 2013, Central Catholic Crew Day in honor of the win by the crew.
In 2013, Central Catholic's undefeated football team defeated Woodland Hills High School, defeating them 27-7 in the WPIAL Quad A championship.
In 2014, Central Catholic's second varsity (2V) crew won its first gold medal. In the last stretch of the race, Central Catholic's boat advanced a marginal length on Gonzaga College High School's 2V, leaving Winter Park High School in third place. Additionally, the first varsity (1V) and the first freshman (1F) boats received bronze and silver medals, respectively.
In 2015, Central Catholic's undefeated club Ultimate Frisbee team won the Division II PHUL championships, defeating their rivals from Bethel Park.
In 2016, Central Catholic's football team won the first ever 6A WPIAL Championship. They lost the first ever 6A PIAA Championship to St. Joseph's Prep. List of PIAA football state champions