Established 1961 Principal James Hauenstein Phone +1 732-671-9100 | President James Hauenstein Tuition 12,200 USD (2016–2017) Motto Fide et Fortitudine | |
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Founder Monsignor Robert T. Bulman Address 538 Church St, Middletown, NJ 07748, USA Profiles | ||
Mater Dei Prep: A Catholic Preparatory School is a four-year Catholic coeducational high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades, located in the New Monmouth section of Middletown Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States.
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Mater Dei is no longer part of St. Mary Parish and operates under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. It has been accredited since 1991 by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools and is a member of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA).
In February 2015, the pastor of St. Mary Parish announced that the school would be closing at the end of the 2014-15 school year, in the wake of chronic fiscal deficits. A few days after the announcement, it was disclosed that the Parish Finance Council had agreed to a two-month extension in order to raise the $1 million needed to remain open. Through the Seraph's Fund, and massive efforts by the student body, $1.5 million was raised in just six weeks, and the school managed to stay open.
As of the 2013-14 school year, the school had an enrollment of 270 students and 29.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.2:1.
History
The school was founded in 1961 by the Reverend Monsignor Robert T. Bulman and is located on a small portion of the parish's 32-acre (130,000 m2) campus. The school attracts students from over 30 parochial, private, and public schools in Monmouth County and Middlesex County. The school maintains an average enrollment of just under 400 students in grades nine through twelve.
The virtual learning program began in 2005 and ended in 2010. Virtual learning classes included all levels, including Advanced Placement, in Math, Foreign Languages (Latin, Italian, and Chinese) as well as History.
The school had been known as "Mater Dei High School" until July 2010, when the name was changed to "Mater Dei Prep: A Catholic Preparatory School".
Athletics
The Mater Dei Prep Seraphs competes in the Shore Conference, which includes public and parochial high schools covering Monmouth County and Ocean County in Central Jersey. The conference operates under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).
The football team won the Non-Public Group II state sectional championship in 2016, winning by a score of 26-20 in the tournament final against Holy Spirit High School on a touchdown scored on a hook and lateral play with 11 seconds left in the game.
Controversy
On April 12, 2011, William Miltner, a former teacher and former dean at the school, was arrested for having engaged in sexual relations with an underage female student. The Monmouth County Prosecutor charged Miltner with 2nd Degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, and 4th Degree Aggravated Sexual Criminal Conduct.