The following information is from a September 30, 2004 Parenting Article

Margaret Plevak, Special to Parenting

Students in the Milwaukee Archdiocese have a choice of 13 Catholic high schools. While all offer strong academic programs that include Catholic theology, they range in size, tuition costs, specialty course offerings, extracurricular programs, and available facilities (see school profiles below).

To learn more, parents and prospective students can take advantage of a multitude of opportunities offered by high schools, ranging from Web sites and open houses to shadowing programs for seventh- and eighth-graders. They can attend a football game or a play and check out the facilities, or they can call the school’s admissions director and arrange a tour. Many high schools even have ambassador programs, in which recruitment directors and students visit area elementary schools for question-and-answer sessions.

Click on the name of each Catholic high school for more information!

Catholic Central High School

St. Mary's Springs High School

St. Joseph High School

Divine Savior Holy Angels High School

Dominican High School

St. Joan Antida High School

Marquette University High School

Messmer High School

Pius XI High School

Thomas More High School

St. Lawrence Seminary High School

St. Catherine's High School

Catholic Memorial High School

Catholic Central High School
148 McHenry St., Burlington
(262) 763-1510
www.cchsnet.org

Tuition: $5,490/ member parish; $6,150/non-member

Noted feature: Small school.

Academics: College preparatory focus; advanced placement and honors courses include English, algebra, chemistry. Partners with area high schools and technical schools to offer off-site courses in auto mechanics and fire/safety. Provides advanced math and English courses to middle school students at area Catholic schools.

Average class size: 19

Faith focus: All school Masses, class level retreats, parish-based programs.

Extracurricular: Includes band, swing choir, bike club, spring musical. Sports include golf, tennis, football; softball and baseball teams won state championships last spring. No-cut policy in sports for freshmen.

Other facts: Supported and governed by 17 area member parishes.

What’s new: Edline, a program letting students and parents with access codes monitor student grades, attendance and behavior reports via the Internet. A building expansion project that will include computerized library, art studio and more classrooms, when finished in 2005.

What’s said: “Grads relate that they felt better prepared than their public school classmates, many times taking on tutoring duties or assisting professors in their classes.”
— Joannie Kresken, recruitment director

St. Mary’s Springs High School
255 Cty. Road K, Fond du Lac
(920) 921-4870
www.smshs.com

Tuition: $4,420

Noted feature: Small class sizes.

Academics: College prep focus includes college dual credit program, business and computer courses, fine arts program.

Average class size: 17

Faith focus: Campus ministry, community service requirements for each grade.

Extracurricular: Includes band, chorus, sports, fall play, spring musical.

What’s new: Thanks to donations, can now offer to provide 100 percent of financial aid that a student’s family qualifies for; up from 75 percent in the past.

What’s said: “As you walk through the hallways, (you see) students leave their bags on their lockers unlocked. The atmosphere is inviting and comfortable, so students can concentrate on their academics without feeling social pressures.”
— Blaine Tosher, director of recruitment

St. Joseph High School
2401 69th St., Kenosha
(262) 654-8651
www.stjosephhs.com

Tuition: $5,650

Noted feature: St. Joseph Inter-parish Junior High School located on campus.

Academics: College prep, advanced placement classes, honors program.

Faith focus: Service programs and projects, campus ministry, two-day retreat for sophomores and seniors.

Extracurricular: Athletics include soccer, volleyball; plays and musical, band concerts.

Other facts: Sponsored by parishes in Kenosha and Pleasant Prairie.

What’s said: “There is an aura of encouragement among students to excel and to try different things. My youngest boy is a wrestler and a football player. My oldest boy was a wrestler and football player, and here they’re on the stage singing and dancing. That would be unheard of in the public school I went to.”
— Mike Bain, parent of 11th grader

Divine Savior Holy Angels High School
4257 N. 100th St., Milwaukee
(414) 462-3742
www.dsha.info

Tuition: $7,500

Noted feature: All-girls school, sponsored by Sisters of the Divine Savior.

Academics: College prep curriculum includes advanced placement courses in chemistry, calculus, American government. Student Internet access to schedules, teachers’ pages.

Average class size: 22

Faith focus: Retreats, monthly liturgical services, service requirements; community service opportunities such as food and clothing drives.

Extracurricular: Clubs include literary magazine, improv, Gospel choir, video editing. Sports include basketball, rugby, swimming, skiing; no-cut policy on some programs.

What’s new: Small business and entrepreneurship class begun in 2003-2004 teaches hands-on basics of running a small business.

What’s said: “We are paying attention to these girls and recognizing that they have the same ability and intelligence as males. We want to push them to realize they can do anything males can do. They have the choice to take any career path, and also have the role of mother and nurturer in the home.”
— Tim Grandy, English teacher

Dominican High School
120 E. Silver Spring Drive, Whitefish Bay
(414) 332-1170
www.dominicanhighschool.com

Tuition: $6,700

Noted feature: Co-ed school, founded by the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters.

Academics: College prep focus with advanced curriculum courses, including computer programming, art, Spanish, religious studies. Offers international studies program. Joint venture with Mount Mary College’s ConnectED program.

Average class size: 19

Faith focus: Campus ministry; students participate in homeless meal programs, have also created an urban garden in Milwaukee and rehabilitated homes.

Extracurricular: Theater department; clubs include chess, computer, science competition team; sports include football, basketball, dance squad.

Other facts: Some transportation to and from school is available for a fee for Ozaukee County residents and students in select Milwaukee neighborhoods.

What’s new: The school’s theater program was selected as one of two showcase performances at the Wisconsin State High School Theatre Festival this year.

What’s said: “I hear a lot of students talk about how religion class is their favorite class. That’s something I never expected to hear a teen-ager say.”
— Elizabeth Stengel, admissions director

St. Joan Antida High School
1341 N. Cass St., Milwaukee
(414) 272-8423
www.saintjoanantida.org

Tuition: $4,250

Noted feature: All-girls urban school with multicultural student body.

Academics: Advanced placement courses include English literature, psychology, statistics; honors courses, business co-op, health/intern program, foreign languages include Russian and Italian.

Average class size: 20

Extracurricular: Athletic programs include volleyball, basketball, soccer; clubs include student ambassadors.

Other facts: About 40 percent of student body is non-Catholic; about 60 percent are Choice or Pave students.

What’s new: Celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

What’s said: “I think it’s a place where girls aren’t afraid to speak out and define who they are as individuals. It’s so small and intimate that the clique atmosphere, which really promotes peer pressure a lot of times, doesn’t exist.”
— Nichole Gladney, director of institutional advancement

Marquette University High School
3401 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee
(414) 933-7220
www.muhs.edu

Tuition: $7,375

Noted feature: Jesuit college preparatory school for boys

Academics: Accelerated courses; advanced placement classes, including micro- and macro-economics, Latin, computer science, calculus; fine arts program, intercultural exchange program.

Faith focus: Retreats, service requirements through “Men for Others” program, prayer groups, daily liturgies.

Extracurricular: Athletic program, including football, basketball, swimming, rugby; intramural activities in soccer, basketball, volleyball, softball. Clubs include adventure racing, senior follies, karate, photography.

What’s said: “MUHS challenges students mentally, physically and spiritually to become ‘men for others.’ The experience that I have grown from in these past four years will forever shape the person that I am and will become.”
— Chris Brand, 2004 graduate

Messmer High School
742 W. Capitol Drive, Milwaukee
(414) 264-5440
www.messmerhigh.com

Tuition: approximately $3,900

Noted feature: Cooperation with Messmer Catholic Preparatory School, Milwaukee.

Academics: Students complete exhibition program demonstrating their proficiency in research, oral presentation skills, and research defense.

Faith focus: Includes prayers, student retreats (to Rome last year).

Extracurricular: Clubs include peer tutors, environmental, world cultures, weight lifting, book, film. Sports include football, volleyball, soccer, cross-country, cheerleading.

Other facts: Approximately 70 percent of students come from single parent homes; approximately 80 percent are living below the poverty level, but graduation rate is 94 percent; 87 percent of students continue their education.

What’s new: Celebrating its 20th anniversary as an independent Catholic school.

What’s said: “I wanted my children in an environment where — it’s acceptable to pray and where they’re going to learn to hold dear the values we hold as a family. I think Messmer represents everything that I represent as a parent. They enhance it. And I think that makes us work well together.”
— Diana Patterson, parent of a 10th grader

Pius XI High School
135 N. 76th St., Milwaukee
(414) 290-7000
www.piusxi.org

Tuition: $6,820 (includes books and most fees)

Noted feature: Largest Catholic high school in state, supported by Pallottine Fathers and School Sisters of St. Francis.

Academics: College prep curriculum, placement classes, departments include practical arts and special studies; vocational courses.

Student/teacher ratio: 13:1

Faith focus: Daily prayer, campus ministry, liturgies, student retreats, social and community service opportunities.

Extracurricular: Sports include football, soccer, swimming, track. Clubs include theater, peer listeners, campus ministry, ComedySportz, skiing.

Other facts: Innovative, small-structure homeroom system gives students same faculty advisor for four years; students use modular class schedule with 5-day cycle.

What’s new: State-of-the-art field house scheduled to open for 2004-2005 year includes indoor track, gallery, performing arts center and photo studio.

What’s said: “The personal attention is amazing. (Through the Teacher Advisor Contact program) the teacher is not this distant teacher, but a partner in the concept of learning. Students have the same TAC teacher all four years, so they really have these relationships that build on that.”
— Missy Creevy, director of institutional advancement

Thomas More High School
2601 E. Morgan Ave., Milwaukee
(414) 481-8370
www.tmore.org

Tuition: $6,350

Noted feature: Co-ed school with historical ties to St. Francis Minor Seminary, Pio Nono and Don Bosco high schools.

Academics: College prep curriculum, focus on math, science, business and technology; two full-service computer labs, student Internet access and e-mail address.

Faith focus: Service projects, monthly liturgies, overnight retreats, daily prayer, prayer luncheons.

Extracurricular: Sports program with history of conference titles, includes cross-country, football, basketball, wrestling; clubs include music ministry, show choir, theater, Latino student organization.

What’s new: Only area Catholic school to offer students “Project Lead the Way” engineering curriculum through link with Marquette University’s College of Engineering; fire and police science courses offered starting junior year through partnership with Milwaukee Area Technical College.

What’s said: “I had been working (in the school) on a project, waiting for Mr. Pauly (campus minister), listening to him on the announcements, and sure enough, at the end of the announcements, he said, ‘I love you, Thomas More.’ That made me feel really good, that message that they start their day with.”
— Robin Wetherbee, parent of 9th grader

St. Lawrence Seminary High School
301 Church St., Mt. Calvary
(920) 753-7500
www.stlawrence.edu

Tuition: $7,190 (includes room, board, books and fees)

Noted feature: Male-only boarding school, founded by Capuchin-Franciscan friars of the Province of St. Joseph.

Academics: College prep and ministry focus; proctored day and evening study halls (Monday through Thursday); dual-credit program with Marian College; 65 hours ministry.

Student/teacher ratio: 10:1

Faith focus: Liturgies three times weekly, daily communal prayers, service projects, mission trips, sessions with spiritual director.

Extracurricular: Athletics include baseball, basketball, soccer; intramurals programs; clubs include plays, music, award-winning forensics team.

Other facts: Weekend visiting schedule for parents; diverse student body from across the nation and world, including Vietnam, Sweden, Ghana and Mexico.

What’s said: “It is the best gift you can possibly give your boys because essentially what the school does is teach them who they are before the world teaches them who (it thinks) they should be.”
— Alex Salm, parent of 9th and 12th graders

St. Catherine's High School
1200 Park Ave., Racine
(262) 632-2785
www.stcatherines.k12.wi.us

Tuition: $6,175

Noted feature: Sponsored by the Racine Dominicans with a 140-year history, Racine’s only Catholic high school.

Academics: College prep focus; American sign language class through Wisconsin School for the Deaf, medical technology course through Gateway Technical College; three computer learning labs; wireless capabilities.

Faith focus: Community service projects, mission trips to Appalachia, ministry group, partners with YMCA and YWCA in community programs.

Extracurricular: Athletics include tennis, baseball, track and field; Clubs include campus ministry, music program and band, award-winning environmental club.

Other facts: One of few high schools in state with a distance-learning lab to teach courses here and to students at other schools.

What’s said: “I like the small size — you know everyone and you’re good friends with everybody. And the courses are challenging. I don’t feel like I’m wasting my time in class.”
— Claire Connell, 11th grader

Catholic Memorial High School
601 E. College Ave., Waukesha
(262) 542-7101
www.catholicmemorial.net

Tuition: $6,380/supporting parish member; $7,380 non-supporting parish member

Noted feature: Supported by 27 area parishes.

Academics: College prep curriculum; other courses include computer science, drafting, visual arts, music; advanced placement courses include English, biology, calculus, economics; honors program; summer reading program.

Student/teacher ratio: 18:1

Faith focus: Service projects, social outreach opportunities, extra-curricular clubs focusing on spirituality and service.

Extracurricular: Athletics program includes state championship-winning boys varsity basketball and girls varsity soccer; decorated drama department; clubs include academic decathlon, Students Engaged in Aquatic Studies, summer enrichment camps.

Other facts: Freshman class in 2004-2005 is 20 percent larger than last year.

What’s new: Family tuition program with discounted rates for families with more than one child enrolled.

What’s said: “What I find so unique is the most incredible sense of community, not only for the kids, but the parents. These are some of the most influential years in your children’s lives, and this is a place to experience high school with them — not interfering in their education, but participating.”
— Judy Boll, parent of 10th grader