Elder High School

History

The cornerstone was laid in 1922. Named for William Henry Elder, third bishop and Archbishop of Cincinnati, it was the city's fourth high school and first Catholic diocesan high school. Eventually, twelve other such schools were constructed in the Greater Cincinnati area.

Eleven original parishes of the Western Hills neighborhood were the true founders of the school and served as "feeder parishes" for students. The first graduating class was in 1923, with eight students graduating in the year of the school's opening. Since its founding, over 20,000 students have graduated from the school.

Elder was the first "Integrated" Catholic school in Cincinnati in the sense that it was attended by large numbers of students of both German and Irish descent. It also educated girls as well as boys its first five years.

In 1927, Elder's girls' department was transferred to Seton High School next door. To this day some advanced classes are still mixed, especially in technical subjects.

Academics

The school's curriculum is accredited by the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Catholic School Accrediting Association. Several levels of curriculum are provided. The school has an Honors Program which provides the top students Advanced Placement courses in Art, Calculus, Chemistry, Computer Science, English, World History, U.S. History, American Government, and Physics. A college prep program offers two levels to meet the needs of the largest percentage of students.

Elder High School was named the 16th Best Private High School in the Greater Cincinnati Area by Cincinnati Magazine.[1]

The Pit

Elder High School is home to "The Pit", the school's nationally-recognized football stadium. Construction began in the 1930s by students and faculty and was completed in December 1947. The stadium seats 10,000, although it has held more on many occasions.

In May 1987, the "Moving" Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall was exhibited at the stadium. The wall contains the names of 11 Elder High School graduates who died in the Vietnam War, the most of any Ohio high school. In 2001, The Pit was featured in USA Today as one of the nation's "10 great places to watch a high school football game". In Spring 2005, artificial turf was installed in The Pit.

Championship titles

On June 4, 2005, the Elder varsity baseball team won their record 12th OHSAA Division I State Championship, defeating Toledo Start 3–0. The school has won at least one baseball state championship in every decade since the 1940s, and the baseball team was ranked eighth in the nation in 2005. As of 2006, the Elder baseball program has the most wins 1(1257-493-4), from 1924 through 2006, and state titles (12) of any school in Ohio.

In addition to baseball, Elder High School has won multiple OHSAA State Championships in several other major sports, including football, basketball, and cross country:

Elder was runner-up in the 2008 State Football Championship held on November 29, 2008 against Cleveland St. Ignatius, losing by a score of 28-20. Elder finished the 2008 season (13-2), with their only other regular season loss coming to Florida power house St. Thomas Aquinas, which was televised on ESPN. St. Thomas Aquinas went on to win the State Florida Championship that year, featuring future NFL stars Giovani Bernard (Cincinnati Bengals) and Brandon Linder (Jacksonville Jaguars).

Non-OHSAA-sponsored state championships include:

Fans of the school's sports teams are known as "Elder Nation" or "Purple Nation".

The Butch Hubert Family Panther Athletic Complex or PAC is an off-campus, 60-acre site located within a mile of the school that provides Elder with one of the premier athletic facilities in the State of Ohio. This multi-sport complex houses competition and practice facilities for baseball, golf, soccer, tennis, and track & field, including the Jack Adam Baseball Stadium. The PAC is located at 1915 Quebec Rd. in Cincinnati.

The Edward “Tank” Donohoe Center is a state-of-the-art fitness center. The facility is open to all students, faculty and staff. Used for the weight training, physical education and athletic programs, this part of campus rarely sleeps. The Donohoe Center is also home for the Elder Spirit Store as well as the athletic and training offices.

Technology

In November 2004, Elder High School achieved a first of its kind: a varsity high school football game streamed live on the Internet to more than 10,000 viewers across three continents. In September 2010, Elder High School achieved another first in technology, a varsity high school football game streamed live on the iPhone through EHS Mobile. Elder High School students now also get a laptop to use as part of their tuition.

Notable alumni

As of 2006, approximately 16,000 people have graduated from Elder High School. Notable alumni include:

School Songs

Elder has two notable songs: the Alma Mater and the Fight Song

Elder High our Alma Mater,

We will always love thy name,

And today we stand a body,

Ready to proclaim thy fame;

We are loyal to thy colors,

To the Purple and the White;

These reveal the Elder Spirit,

Teaching us what's true and right.

Go you panthers go,

And let this wide world know,

The purple panther might,

So fight team, fight, fight, fight! (Rah, rah, rah)

When the panther roars,

The panther always scores,

So hit 'em high, and

Hit 'em low,

Go you panthers go go go!