Jump to content

St. Louis University High School

Coordinates: 38°37′41″N 90°16′01″W / 38.6281°N 90.2669°W / 38.6281; -90.2669
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

St. Louis University High School
Address
Map
4970 Oakland Avenue

,
63110

United States
Coordinates38°37′41″N 90°16′01″W / 38.6281°N 90.2669°W / 38.6281; -90.2669
Information
School typePrivate secondary
MottoReligioni et Bonis Artibus
Religion and the Fine Arts
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
For The Greater Glory of God
Men for Others
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic,
Jesuit
Established1818; 206 years ago (1818)
FounderLouis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg (as St. Louis Academy)
PresidentAlan R. Carruthers[1]
PrincipalRev. Matthew Stewart, SJ
Teaching staff100
Grades9 to 12
GenderAll Male
Enrollment1024 (2023–2024)
Average class size19.5
Student to teacher ratio11:1
Athletics conferenceMetro Catholic Conference
MascotJr. Billiken
RivalsChristian Brothers College High School, De Smet Jesuit High School
AccreditationISSL, ISACS, NAIS, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Publication“The Prep News”, Sisyphus, "Gadfly", SLUH Magazine, President's Gratitude Report
NewspaperThe Prep News
YearbookThe Dauphin
Tuition$19,750 (2022–23)[2]
Websitesluh.org

St. Louis University High School (SLUH) is an all-male Jesuit high school in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1818, it is the oldest secondary educational institution in the United States west of the Mississippi River, and one of the largest private high schools in Missouri. It is located in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

History

[edit]

SLUH was founded in 1818 by the bishop of St. Louis, Louis Dubourg,[3] as a Latin school for boys known as St. Louis Academy. Classes were held in a one-story house owned by Madame Alvarez on the northwest corner of Third and Market Street. It quickly grew to include a college division, and the college was granted university status in 1832. The high school retained the identity of St. Louis Academy on the university campus until 1924 when it moved to its own facilities and incorporated separately under the name of St. Louis University High School. The school's new home, on Oakland Avenue, was a gift of Anna Backer in memory of her late husband and alumnus George Backer. That facility, also known as Backer Memorial, has grown considerably over the years and remains the school's home.[4][5]

The high school integrated when it enrolled John Carter, a sophomore transfer from Saint Thomas Academy in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1946, one year before Cardinal Joseph Ritter issued a pastoral letter desegregating all Catholic schools in the St. Louis Archdiocese. While Carter did not graduate from the school, the first Black graduate of SLUH was Al Thomas, also a sophomore transfer and a member of the class of 1950. The first four-year Black graduate was Eldridge Morgan, a member of the class of 1951.

In 1984, Paul Owens became the school's first lay principal. In 2002, Dr. Mary Schenkenberg became its first female principal. In 2005, the David J. Laughlin was hired as the school's first lay president.

In each year from 2013 to 2016, SLUH was named among the top-scoring organizations in the mid-size employer category of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's survey of Top Workplaces.[6][7][8][9]

Academics

[edit]

Since the school is part of the Jesuit network that consists of 61 high schools and 28 colleges and universities in the United States, SLUH provides an education infused with the tradition and philosophy of St. Ignatius of Loyola.[10] Theology and philosophy classes are conducted daily.

According to figures released on SLUH's website in 2011, the median ACT score for SLUH students is over 30.[11] By composite score, it ranks among the top 7% of schools in the United States. Over 50% of SLUH's class of 2011 achieved a score of 30 or higher on the ACT. Among St. Louis and St. Louis area high schools with a total enrollment of over 600, it had the highest scores in 2012.[12] Since 2005 a total of 31 students have received a 36, the highest score possible.[13] Four members of the class of 2012 achieved this score, along with five members of the class of 2013, and two members of the class of 2014. More recently, seven students from the class of 2024 achieved this score.[14]

In 2010, 23 students from SLUH were named National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists, more than any other school in Missouri.[15] In 2011, 17 students were named Semifinalists, while 28 were named National Merit Commended Scholars. In 2012, 25 students were named Semifinalists, while 29 were named Commended Scholars.[16]

Advanced Placement (AP) courses have been offered through SLUH for half a century. AP courses are now offered for 22 disciplines. In 2010, 345 students took 790 AP exams. Eighty-seven percent scored a 3, 4 or 5, grades that qualify them for college credit.[11]

SLUH has also performed well in the Presidential Scholars Program. In 2007, for example, three of Missouri's ten semifinalists were from SLUH, with one, Daniel Viox, receiving one of the two scholarships awarded.[17] In 2012, one of Missouri's ten semifinalists was from SLUH.[18][19]

The humanities are emphasized in SLUH's curriculum. The language department has offered four-year programs in Russian and Chinese since 1964.[20] In 1997, a student exchange program with the Nanjing Foreign Language School was established.[21] Since 2011, SLUH has sponsored a Confucius Classroom which is a subdivision of Webster University's Confucius Institute.[22] In 1999, educational exchange programs for the study of Russian language and culture were established with schools in St. Petersburg.[23][24] In keeping with its strong Jesuit Catholic heritage, courses in Latin and Greek are offered, as are the popular choices of French, Spanish, Arabic, and Chinese. SLUH also has strong programs in the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, social sciences, fine arts, and literature.[25][26]

Virtually all SLUH students immediately enter colleges or universities upon graduation. Members of the Class of 2011 were accepted at 203 colleges and universities and attended 72 of them. These students accepted more than 300 scholarships totaling nearly $2 million.[27]

In The Washington Post's 2015 ranking of America's Most Challenging High Schools, SLUH was ranked among the top three in Missouri and the top 1.5% nationwide.[28] In the Post's 2016 ranking, SLUH was ranked among the top 1.2% nationwide.[29] The United States Department of Education's National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognized SLUH as an Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School for 2015.[30] In 2016, Niche ranked SLUH as the 19th-best All-Boys high school in the US.[31]

Facilities

[edit]

The first major reconstruction of the SLUH campus came in the 1980s, when then-principal Fr. Thomas Cummings, S.J. began the "E-3" campaign. This was highlighted by the construction of the Robertson Library and the development of property fronting Oakland Avenue, including the football stadium and upper parking lot. Development continued in the 1990s with the inauguration of the performing arts wing highlighted by a 610-seat theater, named after longtime drama teacher Joseph Schulte in the 2000s. Previously the school auditorium/theater had been located within the main school building, and its move allowed for a large expansion of classrooms and office space. The Jesuits also moved out of the Backer Memorial building around this time and into nearby houses the school purchased: the "J-wing" then became home to the theology department, several classrooms, and the administrative offices.

In the late 1990s, a large capital campaign to fund growth and expansion projects began under Fr. Paul Sheridan, S.J. Called Vision 2000 (V2K), the $32 million plan[32] included reducing class sizes, better integrating technology into the curriculum, and increasing class options.[33]

The early phases of the program included the addition of new teaching and counseling positions in order to reduce class size and teaching loads and to expand the curriculum. Over eight years, 18 new teaching and counseling positions were added.[34]

The physical improvements began in 2004 when the football stadium was given artificial turf[35] and a new entry boulevard to the west of the campus was constructed jointly with the adjacent St. Louis Science Center, along with a new shared parking facility. The construction continued with the addition of a 17-acre soccertrack complex and Sheridan Stadium,[32] a new baseball field.

In 2009 SLUH completed the Danis Field House, a free-standing field house that contains two gymnasium spaces, a wrestling room, offices and meeting space for the athletic staff, and locker facilities.[36]

Activities

[edit]

SLUH is competitive in many academic events such as math contests, Math League, Speech Team, Mock Trial and Quizbowl (Academic Team). SLUH was the top-scoring high school in the Missouri chapter of Math League for five years running.[37] The Quizbowl team of 2006-07 won the district title and second place at the state competition along with the individual second place medal.[38]

Sports and rivalries

[edit]

SLUH's athletic teams are known as the Jr. Billikens, or Jr. Bills. Their rivals are Christian Brothers College High School. They compete in the Metro Catholic Conference. In Missouri state competition (MSHSAA), they compete at the largest classification and have won many state championships, including the following: water polo 22 times, basketball four times (1946, 1952, 1958, 1961), soccer four times (1972, 1990, 1995, 2003), tennis three times (1970, 1981, 2006), ice hockey four times (2013, 2018, 2019, 2022), swimming and diving three times (1956, 2003, 2018), cross country five times (1961, 1999, 2009, 2012, 2013), golf once, track and field once (2006), football once (1970), lacrosse once (2009), volleyball five times (2003, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016). In addition, they field teams in multiple other sports such as racquetball, target shooting, inline hockey, rugby union, and ultimate frisbee.[39]

Notable alumni

[edit]

Business

[edit]

Clergy

[edit]

Entertainment

[edit]

Government

[edit]

Historical

[edit]

Humanitarianism/activism

[edit]

Journalism

[edit]

Military

[edit]

Scholars, scientists, and inventors

[edit]

Sports

[edit]

Faculty

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "President's Office | All Boys Catholic School in St. Louis | SLUH". Sluh.org.
  2. ^ "Investment and Aid". SLUH. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  3. ^ "History". SLUH. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  4. ^ "NameBright - Coming Soon". Educationdesignshowcase.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  5. ^ "John Rick of St. Louis University High School". Bizjournals.com.
  6. ^ Tomich, Jeffrey. "SLUH: Teaching and learning". stltoday.com. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  7. ^ "St. Louis University High School". Stltoday.com. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  8. ^ "St. Louis University High School". Stltoday.com. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  9. ^ "Meet the top midsize workplaces of 2016". stltoday.com. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  10. ^ [1] Archived June 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ a b "ACT" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 22, 2015.
  12. ^ "Private & Public High Schools Chart". Stlmag.com. November 5, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  13. ^ "News :: St. Louis University High". Archived from the original on December 9, 2013.
  14. ^ @sluhjrbills (May 16, 2023). "Congrats to our Jr. Bills in the Class of #SLUH2024 who scored a 36 on the ACT!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ "Twenty-three named National Merit semifinalists". Archived from the original on April 15, 2013.
  16. ^ "News :: St. Louis University High". Archived from the original on April 16, 2013.
  17. ^ "News :: St. Louis University High". Archived from the original on November 7, 2012.
  18. ^ "presidential scholars". Archived from the original on May 17, 2012.
  19. ^ "Education digest". stltoday.com. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  20. ^ "News :: St. Louis University High". Archived from the original on November 7, 2012.
  21. ^ "Events | St. Louis – Nanjing Sister City". stlnanjing.org. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  22. ^ Favignano, Megan (February 29, 2012). "A taste of China". Webster Journal. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  23. ^ "News :: St. Louis University High". Archived from the original on November 7, 2012.
  24. ^ "Russian students visit SLUH". Archived from the original on August 31, 2013.
  25. ^ "Independent Private School Curriculum| St. Louis". Sluh.org. Archived from the original on July 12, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  26. ^ "News :: St. Louis University High". Archived from the original on November 7, 2012.
  27. ^ "Admissions – St Louis University High School". Sluh.org.
  28. ^ "National Schools". The Washington Post.
  29. ^ "Ranking America's High Schools". apps.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  30. ^ "2015 Blue Ribbon Schools | U.S. Department of Education". 2.ed.gov. October 2, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  31. ^ "2017 Best All-Boys High Schools in America". Niche. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  32. ^ a b "Tarlton Completes High School Project". Reed Business Information, Inc. Construction Digest. July 24, 2006. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.
  33. ^ Huether, Tim. "Sheridan addresses student body on Vision 2000 project" (PDF). Prep News. Vol. 69, no. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 9, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  34. ^ "PrepNews" (PDF). Student.sluh.org. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  35. ^ "Tarlton wins AGC 2006 Keystone Awards: suburban journals branding", stltoday.com; accessed November 25, 2014.
  36. ^ Danis Field House St. Louis University High Archived 2013-08-30 at archive.today, athleticbusiness.com; accessed November 25, 2014.
  37. ^ "Missouri Math League Results 2007". Missouri Math League. Archived from the original on February 19, 2012.
  38. ^ "Academic Competition Results". MSHSAA. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011.
  39. ^ "MSHSAA sports championships history" (PDF). Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  40. ^ "Cancer Treatment Centers of America". Theorg.com. 2021.
  41. ^ Sébire, Guillaume (February 23, 2010). "In search of lost time: From "demonic possession" to anti-n-methyl-D-aspartite receptor encephalitis". Annals of Neurology. 67 (1): 141–142. doi:10.1002/ana.21928. PMID 20186949. S2CID 2366741.
  42. ^ "The Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs". Archived from the original on September 18, 2007.
  43. ^ "Bishop Hickey". Archived from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  44. ^ Woods, Charles M. Sr., et al. "Years of Grace: The History of Roman Catholic Evangelization in Belize: 1524-2014." (Belize: Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize City-Belmopan, 2015), chapter 17.
  45. ^ "Congrats to Jim Byrnes '66, who has been appointed to the Order of Canada for his contributions to arts, culture and charity. Enjoy his radio interview, in which he gives a shoutout to SLUH". Twitter.com. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  46. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Notable Alumni: SLUH". St. Louis University High School. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  47. ^ "MU330 website". Mu330.com. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  48. ^ "SLUH News Winter 2010". Issuu. April 13, 2010.
  49. ^ "Udall Foundation". Udall Foundation.
  50. ^ "St. Louis Mayors". Exhibits.slpl.org. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  51. ^ "St. Louis Mayors". Exhibits.slpl.org. June 8, 1953. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  52. ^ a b "Alumni Awards". Archived from the original on July 17, 2011.
  53. ^ "Judges of the United States Courts". Archived from the original on May 13, 2009. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  54. ^ "Isom" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 28, 2011.
  55. ^ "Koster" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 28, 2011.
  56. ^ "The Jesuits of the Middle United States" (PDF). Jesuitsmissouri.org. 1938. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  57. ^ "SLUH News". Issuu.com. January 22, 2009.
  58. ^ "Price, Charles Melvin – Biographical Information". Bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  59. ^ "Time Magazine Cover: Gov. William Quinn". Time. August 10, 1959. Archived from the original on April 8, 2008. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  60. ^ Borreca, Richard (August 30, 2006). "News | /2006/08/30/". starbulletin.com. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  61. ^ "The Honorable Eugene R". Eugenesullivan.com. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  62. ^ "WU Libraries: Raymond Tucker Mayoral Files". Library.wustl.edu. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  63. ^ "Jean Baptiste Charbonneau PBS Biographical Statement". Pbs.org. March 14, 1973. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  64. ^ "Jean Baptiste Charbonneau and his mother on the Sacagawea Golden Dollar Coin". Usmint.gov. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  65. ^ "Dr. America". The New York Times.
  66. ^ "Medicine: Jungle Physician". Time. August 31, 1959. Archived from the original on February 1, 2011. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  67. ^ McKinley, Jesse (November 24, 1998). "New York Times Obit". The New York Times. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  68. ^ "Washington University in St. Louis Film and Media Archives". Library.wustl.edu. August 4, 2011. Archived from the original on June 15, 2009. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  69. ^ Isserman, Maurice (June 19, 2009). "Michael Harrington: Warrior on Poverty The New York Times June 19, 2009". The New York Times. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  70. ^ "The (Still) Relevant Socialist". The Atlantic. August 2000. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  71. ^ a b "Notable Alumni – St Louis University High School". Sluh.org. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  72. ^ "WHMC-ST. LOUIS sl 637 Hyland, Robert, Papers, 1935-1990". Umsl.edu. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  73. ^ "Obituary New York Times". The New York Times. March 7, 1992. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  74. ^ "Caesar, Dan. "'Sports Machine' pioneer Michael dies,"". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. December 25, 2009. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  75. ^ "Gen. Fox, St. Louisan, Gets Post In Tokyo". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. St. Louis, MO. August 14, 1946. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  76. ^ "Literature's Lessons on Leadership". NPR.org.
  77. ^ Bray, Christopher (March 20, 2011). "Thinking the Impossible: French Philosophy Since 1960 by Gary Gutting – review". Theguardian.com.
  78. ^ [2] Archived December 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  79. ^ Schwab, Keith. "Keith Schwab". Keith Schwab.
  80. ^ Nature (January 2010). "Preparation and detection of a mechanical resonator near the ground state of motion Nature". Nature. 463 (7277). Nature.com: 72–75. arXiv:0907.3313. doi:10.1038/nature08681. PMID 20010604. S2CID 7439490. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  81. ^ "Team". Barnesglobaladvisors.com. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  82. ^ "Free Live Sex Web Cams". Xcamsclub.com. Archived from the original on February 25, 2009.
  83. ^ "Henry Jones Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. September 22, 2011. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  84. ^ "Free Live Sex Web Cams". Xcamsclub.com. Archived from the original on September 19, 2009.
  85. ^ "The Sport Source". Archived from the original on September 28, 2007.
  86. ^ "Ed Macauley Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  87. ^ "Pat McBride – St. Louis, Missouri". Stlmag.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  88. ^ "Pat McBride – Class of 1994". National.soccerhall.org. November 13, 1943. Archived from the original on February 24, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  89. ^ "Joe Schultz Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  90. ^ "Frankie Simek – No team Football Club". Football.co.uk. Archived from the original on October 11, 2008.
  91. ^ "Matt Sinclair – Washington Redskins – NFL". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  92. ^ "Luis Soffner | MLSsoccer.com". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  93. ^ "New England Revolution". Archived from the original on September 28, 2007.
  94. ^ No. 1: Lifelong lessons build path to greatness for SLUH’s Ryan Wingo
  95. ^ "Dismas House of Saint Louis". Dismas House of Saint Louis.
  96. ^ "Obituary, Time Magazine, August 23, 1963". Time.com. August 23, 1963. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  97. ^ "Priest to the Oppressed" Life Magazine April 14, 1961. Time. April 14, 1961. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  98. ^ "WHMC Dismas House Records". Umsl.edu. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  99. ^ Dennis Brown (March 10, 2011). "Riverfront Times retrospective article on "The Hoodlum Priest"". Riverfronttimes.com. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  100. ^ A.H. Weiler (April 3, 1961). "New York Times review of "The Hoodlum Priest"". Movies.nytimes.com. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  101. ^ "Trailer for "The Hoodlum Priest"". Youtube.com. August 1, 2011. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  102. ^ "Halloran Obit The Washington Post March 9, 2005". Washingtonpost.com. March 9, 2005. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  103. ^ Hadden, Theodore (2001). "John (Ignatius) Knoepfle". In Philip A. Greasley (ed.). Dictionary of Midwestern Literature. Vol. 1. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. pp. 301–303. ISBN 0-253-33609-0. Retrieved May 2, 2009.
[edit]