Type Private, Coeducational Established 1928 Head of school John Colman Phone +1 856-456-4400 Number of students 658 (2013–2014) | Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic Principal Edward Beckett Faculty 39.6 (on FTE basis) Founded 1928 Colors Maroon, Gold | |
Address 333 Ridgeway St, Gloucester City, NJ 08030, USA Similar Camden Catholic High Sch, Paul VI High School, Bishop Eustace Prep Sch, Gloucester City High School, Cherry Hill West High School Profiles | ||
Gloucester Catholic High School is a co-educational six-year Roman Catholic high school located in Gloucester City, in Camden County, New Jersey, United States, operating under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. The school serves students in seventh through twelfth grades. Its mission is to empower young men and women to develop in all aspects of life: spiritual, intellectual, moral, emotional, social, and physical. Gloucester Catholic High School is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools since 1991.
Contents
- Gloucester catholic high school this is where you belong
- History
- Athletics
- Mens Basketball
- Womens basketball
- Football
- Baseball
- Softball
- Girls Soccer
- Tennis
- Golf
- Alumni
- Staff
- References
As of the 2013-14 school year, the school had an enrollment of 658 students and 39.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 16.6:1. The school serves students from 50 parochial and public schools within the Diocese of Camden.
In the Class of 2012, 60% of the students were accepted by four-year colleges or universities and 35% of the students were accepted into two-year colleges or technical schools. Scholarship and grant money awarded to this class totaled over $6.9 million.
Gloucester catholic high school this is where you belong
History
After opening in 1928, the school had its first graduating class of 27 students in June 1930. Through the 1940s, the school's enrollment varied between 150 and 200. After World War II, the school added a gymnasium and classrooms to its building on Cumberland Street, to accommodate enrollment that rose as high as 300 during the 1950s, and reached 700 in the 1970s.
Under the leadership of John Colman, who became the school's first lay principal in 1999, enrollment at Gloucester Catholic has grown to 850 who come to the school from Gloucester County, as well as from Burlington, Camden and Salem counties.
In the 2000s, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden explored possibilities to move the school to Gloucester County, New Jersey. After a two-year study the diocese promoted the idea of moving the school to Deptford Township. Due to legal disputes, in 2005 the diocese announced that it would not build a new school in Deptford Township. Andrew Walton, the spokesperson for the diocese, said that the diocese would either renovate and/or expand the existing Gloucester Catholic or move it elsewhere. Walton added that the district would likely not take both actions at the same time. In 2008 the diocese announced that the district agreed to purchase a farm on a site along Route 77 and across from the Gloucester County 4-H grounds in the Mullica Hill community of Harrison Township for $5,000,000 and move Gloucester Catholic to the site by 2010. The new campus would be the first Catholic high school campus built in around 40 years. Walton said in 2008 that 60% of the families with children in the school live in Gloucester County. The diocese said that a survey polling parents from 15 elementary school and 30 parishes indicated support for the idea of relocating the school. A junior high (7th and 8th grades) was added in Spring 2011 following the closing of Saint Mary's Elementary School.
Athletics
Gloucester Catholic High School Rams as a member school in the Tri-County Conference, which is composed of schools whose enrollments vary greatly for grades 9-12 and operates under the auspices of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).
The school was recognized as the Group B winner of the NJSIAA ShopRite Cup in 2006-07. The award recognized the school for achieving a tie for 3rd in girls soccer, a tie for 3rd in boys swimming, 2nd in boys bowling, a tie for 3rd in boys basketball, 1st in baseball, a tie for 3rd in softball, 2nd in boys tennis, and 1st in boys golf.
Men's Basketball
Gloucester Catholic's first ever state championship was delivered by the 1964 basketball team who won the Group B title in Atlantic City Convention Hall. They were led by Bill Somerset, Mike Baker, Jack Fink, Bud Shodder, and John Murphy. As South Jersey's number one-ranked team, Coach Ray Ford's team posted a 22-1 record during "that championship season."
The boys' basketball team, under the direction of Coach Ralph Saquella, followed the 1964 title season with NJSIAA Parochial B state championships in 1970 and 1972. Coach Saquella, who won his 100th career victory in 1972, went on to become the head coach at Glassboro State College.
Women's basketball
Bertha "Bert" Nolan won an estimated 500 games as coach during her career, leading the Lady Rams basketball team to win the 1973 state championship, the first offered in the sport, repeating as winners of the state title in 1976.
Football
The football team won state sectional titles in 1971 and 1979 (Non-Public B South).
Baseball
The baseball team has enjoyed a long history of success starting in the early 1970s. In 2013, the Rams became only the second program in New Jersey history to capture four straight NJSIAA state championships when they topped Seton Hall Prep by a 2-0 score in the tournament final for the Non-Public A title. The 2013 campaign was the first for head coach Mike Rucci, a former standout Rams' player who took over for coach Dennis Barth, now at Rutgers-Camden. The state title also was the 17th in program history, a state record.
The baseball program produced two of New Jersey's greatest seasons on record in 1980 and 2000. Under head coach Al Radano, the 1980 squad posted a perfect 24-0 record to win the New Jersey Parochial B state championship. This team, led by pitchers Bob Sebra and John Yowler, centerfielder Dennis Barth, and catcher Steve Cordner among others, was voted "Team of the Century" by Courier-Post readers in late 1999. In 2000, Gloucester Catholic was crowned national champions after winning a state title and posting a 33-1 overall record under head coach Dennis Barth. Led by Rucci, a catcher, along with pitcher Greg Burke, the Rams defeated some of the best teams in the state and the country that season. In addition, the Rams won four consecutive Non-Parochial South B titles from 1983 to 1986, and went on to win the Group B state championship in 1984, 1985 and 1986.
Current Rutgers-Camden coach Dennis Barth served as coach before leaving for the collegiate level. His former assistants include Adam Tussey, a former New Jersey baseball player who followed Coach Barth to Rutgers-Camden.
Softball
The softball team won the Parochial South B state sectional championship in 2001 with a 1-0 win over St. Joseph High School in the tournament final. The team repeated the win in the Parochial South B sectional championship with a 4-0 win over Bishop Eustace Preparatory School in the 2002 tournament. The team won their third consecutive title in 2003 with a 1-0 win in fifteen innings against Bishop Eustace. The 2006 team won the South B title with a 5-0 win against Bishop Eustace. The 2007 team won the North B state championship with an 11-6 win against Newark Academy.
Girls Soccer
The girls' soccer team won the 2000 Parochial South B state sectional championship, defeating Wildwood Catholic High School 5-0 in the tournament final. In 2007, the team won the South A state sectional championship with a 3-0 win over Holy Spirit High School in the tournament final. The team moved on to win the Group A state championship with a 3-0 win over Immaculate Heart Academy.
Tennis
The 2006 boys tennis team won the Non-Public, South B state sectional championship with a 3-2 win against Bishop Eustace. The team repeated the feat in 2007 with a 3-2 win vs. Wildwood Catholic High School in the final matches of the tournament.
Golf
The 2006 and 2007 golf teams won Non-Public Group B state championships. The 2007 golf team won the state Tournament of Champions and finished the season ranked number one in the state by The Star-Ledger.