Saint John's Catholic Prep (Maryland)
| Saint John's Catholic Prep Saint John's Literary Institution |
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|---|---|
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| Address | |
| 3989 Buckeystown Pike Buckeystown, MD Buckeystown, Maryland, (Frederick County), 21717  United States |
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| Coordinates | 39°24′16″N 77°26′36″W / 39.40444°N 77.44333°WCoordinates: 39°24′16″N 77°26′36″W / 39.40444°N 77.44333°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, Coeducational, College Preparatory |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1829 |
| President | Gordon Oliver |
| Principal | Christopher Cosentino |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Color(s) | Green and Gold |
| Athletics conference | IAAM/MIAA |
| Mascot | Viking |
| Team name | Vikings |
| Website | http://www.saintjohnsprep.org |
Saint John's Catholic Prep (also known as Saint John's Literary Institution) is a private, Roman Catholic, coeducational, college preparatory high school in Frederick, Maryland. St. John's was the first independent Catholic school in the state of Maryland.
Background
In 1756, a small Catholic boy's school was opened in Frederick, which provided a space for class and mass to be held. The population of Frederick was expanding, and in 1763 the first Catholic Church, St. John’s Frederick-Town Church, was constructed by Father John Williams, the first pastor in Frederick.[1] This new structure would house classes for 66 years.
In 1822, Father John McElroy was appointed to the pastorate in Frederick, Maryland. His first major action was to work with the Sisters of Charity in Emmitsburg, Maryland in opening the St. John’s Female Benevolent Free School in Frederick, in 1824 .[1]
With the educational needs of Frederick’s girls being met, McElroy’s next task was to found an educational institution for boys in Frederick, Maryland. On August 7, 1828, the construction of St. John’s Literary Institute began on East Second Street Frederick, Maryland. The following year the construction was completed and the school was opened.[2] McElroy was transferred to Boston in 1847, there he would use the skills he acquired in Frederick to establish Boston College, Boston College High School and the Church of the Immaculate Conception.[3]
The Jesuits left Frederick in 1903, and transferred control of the St. John’s Literary Institution and St John the Evangelist Catholic Church to diocesan priests from Baltimore, Maryland.[1] In 1915, Father William Kane, the first diocesan pastor of Frederick, arranged for the School Sisters of Notre Dame to help staff the school.[4]
St. John's began allowing girls to enroll for classes in 1925. With attendance expanding, the original school structure built by Father McElroy in 1828 was demolished and a new building was erected in its place.[4]
In 1958, the school separated and grades 9-12 moved from the East Second Street location, which would continue to house St. John’s Elementary School, to Prospect Hall, a large mansion constructed on Red Hill. At this time the school was renamed Saint John's Catholic Prep.[5]
The School Sisters of Notre Dame withdrew from St John's in 1972, which ceased to be a parish high school at that time. A group of parents and parishioners pooled their energies and resources and reopened St. John's as the first independent Catholic School in Maryland.[4][5]
On Monday 5, 2011, St. John’s agreed to buy the St. Thomas More Academy property located in Buckeystown, Maryland for an undisclosed amount. The property was assessed by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation on January 1, 2010, and was valued at $5,424,400.[6]
St. John’s had purchased 46 acres of land adjacent to the St. Thomas More Academy property in 2005 and when combined with this new acquisition they control 67 acres.[6] The Buckeystown property has been expanded, adding classrooms and sports fields. Saint John’s Catholic Prep moved from Prospect Hall to the Buckeystown campus in January 2013, and resumed classes January 14, 2013.[6]
Academics
In addition to high school level courses, Saint John's Catholic Prep also offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which are taught at a college level. During the 2012-2013 school year, St. John's offered many AP classes including Literature & Composition, Art History, French, Spanish, Latin, Calculus, Statistics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, US History, European History, Government and Economics.[7]
The academic requirements imposed for receiving a high school diploma are consistent with the Maryland state requirements. St. John's also imposes academic requirements that are beyond those set by the state.[7]
Saint John's Catholic Prep offers 3 diplomas:
- The College Preparatory Diploma, awarded to students who have fulfilled the basic academic requirements for graduation.[7]
- The College Preparatory Diploma with Honors, for students who have fulfilled the basic academic requirements for graduation, have completed 4 advanced classes and a GPA of 3.0.[7]
- The College Preparatory Diploma with High Honors, for students who have fulfilled the basic academic requirements for graduation, have completed 6 advanced classes and a GPA of 3.5.[7]
Athletics
All boys' sports participate in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA), while the girls' sports participate in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM).
Saint John's Catholic Prep Athletics Programs
| Boys | Girls |
|---|---|
| Baseball | Softball |
| Basketball | Basketball |
| Cross-Country | Cross-Country |
| Football | Cheerleading |
| Lacrosse | Lacrosse |
| Soccer | Soccer |
| Tennis | Tennis |
| Track & Field-Indoor & Outdoor | Track & Field-Indoor & Outdoor |
| Volleyball |
Notable Alumni
- Enoch Louis Lowe (1820-1892), 29th Governor of Maryland[8]
- Winfield Scott Schley (1839 - 1911), rear admiral in the United States Navy.[9]
Notes and references
- ^ a b c Williams and McKinsey (1910).History of Frederick County, Maryland, Volume 1, p. 381,446-447,510-511. Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore. ISBN 9780806380124.
- ^ Shea, John Gilmary. Memorial of the first century of Georgetown College, D.C., p 81. P.F. Collier, New York
- ^ O’Tool James (Summer 2007). The old man, A life in the fray prepared John McElroy for the start-up of Boston College, Boston College Magazine.
- ^ a b c "History=St. John Regional Catholic School Website". [1]. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
- ^ a b "History=St. John the Evangelist Church Website". [2]. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ^ a b c Ames, Blair. "St. John’s Catholic Prep to buy school building", The Frederick News Post, Frederick, 8 December 2011.
- ^ a b c d e "Program of Studies=Saint John's Catholic Prep Website". [3]. Retrieved 2012-07-27.
- ^ "Maryland Governor Enoch Louis Lowe". Former Governors' bios. National Governors' Association. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ " Winfield Scott Schley=Encyclopedia.com website". [4]. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
