St. Louis University High School

St. Louis University High School
Religioni et Bonis Artibus Religion and the Fine Arts Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam For The Greater Glory of God Men for Others
Address
4970 Oakland Avenue St. Louis, Missouri 63110 United States
Coordinates
Information
School type	Private secondary
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic, Jesuit
Established	1818 (1818)
Founder	Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg (as St. Louis Academy)
President	David J. Laughlin
Principal	John J. Moran
Teaching staff	87
Grades	9 to 12
Gender	All Male
Enrollment	1100  (2015)
Average class size	21
Student to teacher ratio	12:1
Athletics conference	Metro Catholic Conference
Mascot	Jr. Billiken
Accreditation	ISSL, ISACS, NAIS, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Average ACT scores	30
Publication	Sisyphus, SLUH Review, "Gadfly", SLUH News (for Parents & Alumni), President's Report (for Alumni)
Newspaper	The Prep News
Yearbook	The Dauphin
Tuition	$16,000 (2015-16)
Website	sluh.org

St. Louis University High School (SLUH), a Jesuit Catholic high school for boys founded in 1818, is the oldest secondary educational institution in the U.S. west of the Mississippi River, and one of the largest private high schools in Missouri. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis.

History

SLUH was founded in 1818 by the bishop of St. Louis, Bishop Dubourg, 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. SLUH remained in an urban setting while many other private high schools have followed demographic shifts to the western suburbs.

In 1984 Paul Owens became the school's first lay principal, and in 2005 David J. Laughlin was hired as the school's first lay president.

In 2013 SLUH was ranked as the top-scoring organization in the mid-size employer category of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's survey of Top Workplaces.

Academics

Since the school is part of the Jesuit network that consists of 59 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. 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. By composite score, it ranks among the top seven per cent 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. Since 2005 a total of 31 students have received a 36, the highest score possible. 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.

In September 2010, 23 students from SLUH were named National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists, exceeding the number of semifinalists at any other school in Missouri. In 2011, 17 students were named National Merit Semifinalists, while 28 were named National Merit Commended Scholars. In 2012, SLUH surpassed its 2010 performance: 25 students were named National Merit Semifinalists, while 29 were named National Merit Commended Scholars.

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.

SLUH has also performed well in the Presidential Scholars Program. In 2007, for example, three of Missouri's ten semifinalists were from SLUH. One of Missouri's two recipients, Daniel Viox, was among the three. In 2012 one of Missouri's ten semifinalists was from SLUH.

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

Virtually all SLUH students immediately enter colleges or universities upon graduation. Members of the Class of 2011 were accepted at 203 different colleges and universities and will be attending 72 of them. These students accepted over 300 scholarships totaling nearly $2 million.

In The Washington Post's 2015 ranking of America's Most Challenging High Schools, SLUH was identified as among the top three in Missouri and the top 1.5% nationwide. 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.

Facilities

Since the original building was completed in 1924, the campus has expanded several times. The first major addition was completed in 1944, when a new wing was added to the Jesuit residence. In 1945 a basement was excavated under the main building, which was used to create a recreation room. Using investment gains in the Backer Endowment Fund, the school completed a major expansion in 1956 which included locker rooms, music facilities, and the Backer Gymnasium. This gym replaced the original gym in the main building, which became an auditorium. A new library, which was later named for long-time history teacher Dr. James Robinson, was completed in time for the start of the 1971 academic year.

In 1978 under the leadership of Fr. Thomas Cummings, S.J., the school began soliciting funds for the "Triple E" program (standing for "Education, Endowment, and Expansion"), which helped to remodel the interior of the school, build the endowment, and erect an upper field, faculty parking lot, and the current football stadium on the Oakland Avenue side of the school.

In 1992, the Jesuit community moved out of the front wing of the school due to the declining number of priests. The Jesuit Wing was then renovated creating new theology and fine arts classrooms as well as new office space for the school administrators. Today the SLUH Jesuit community resides in two houses in the neighborhood adjacent to the school's campus.

A renovation of the interior of the original building, including new HVAC systems, electrical updates, energy-efficient windows, and additional classrooms took place in 1996. Also completed in 1996 was a new fine arts complex which included the Joseph Schulte Theater, a dance studio, and two new music classrooms. The theater was named for long-time SLUH drama and math teacher F. Joseph Schulte. This theater has 356 permanent seats and is expandable to 610 when the additional 254 bleacher seats in the balcony-like loge section are utilized. In 2001, the basement rec room was named the "Fr. Hagan Rec Room" to honor Martin Hagan, S.J., a retired priest who spent more than 40 years on the SLUH faculty and was a longtime supervisor of the recreation room, as well as rifle coach. The Fr. Hagan Rec Room includes more than 20 billiards tables and also contains foosball, ping pong, bumper pool, and shuffle board.

Vision 2000

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 included reducing class sizes, better integrating technology into the curriculum, and increasing class options.

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 a period of eight years, 18 new teaching and counseling positions were added.

The physical improvements began in 2004 when the football stadium was upgraded with the installation of artificial turf to extend its usability. That same year, a new entry boulevard to the west of the campus was constructed jointly with the adjacent St. Louis Science Center. The construction continued with the addition of a 17 acre soccer–track complex and Sheridan Stadium, a new baseball field. Green space was added to the campus and a new student parking lot was constructed jointly with the St. Louis Science Center.

In 2009 SLUH completed the new Danis Field House, a free-standing field house which contains two gymnasium spaces, offices and meeting space for the athletic staff, and locker facilities. An additional portion of the field house serves as the wrestling gym during the winter season, but can be used as a test-taking center and study area during the fall and spring seasons. In 2012 SLUH completed renovation of the old gymnasium into the Stephen Isaiah Commons, a multi-purpose, 14,000 square-foot center that is used for liturgical events, as a cafeteria, and for community outreach activities. It is adjacent to SLUH's new main entrance.

Activities

SLUH sponsors retreats and community service programs. It also requires daily, reflective silence dedicated to the Examen of Consciousness; daily Mass is celebrated, with participation voluntary; and individual class or entire school liturgies are held on a regular basis.

In 1971 SLUH initiated its Senior Service Project (or Senior Project). At the start of the Spring Semester seniors are granted three weeks away from their studies so that they can work full-time on a service project with a not-for-profit agency. Most students serve in or nearby the St. Louis, Missouri area. But some serve overseas, in Honduras or other places across the globe. SLUH regards activities of this type as critical to its Jesuit mission of educating “men for others.”

The Community Service Program (CSP) sends students to sites across the area to work with the poor, disabled, and aged. Other organizations include: Prep News, Missouri's first weekly high school newspaper; Sisyphus, a literary magazine published in February and April; "Gadfly", a culture and satire magazine with an accompanying television program; and the Dauphin Players theater group, which stages four high quality productions each year in the F. Joseph Schulte theater. Many students at SLUH also participate in the fine arts, including oral interpretation, acting improvisation, chorus, dance, band, drawing, painting, and ceramics.

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

SLUH's Latin Club competes yearly in Missouri Junior Classical League's Certamen competition in Columbia, Missouri. In 2009, both the freshmen and varsity team took first place. In 2010, the beginner, intermediate, and varsity teams all placed second in the state tournament. The 2012 and 2015 Certamen competitions saw SLUH place first in all three levels.

Student Council sponsors a seniors-only cheering section, the "Blue Crew", at inter-school sports competitions. Intramural activities run throughout the year and include events such as Music Trivia, Guitar Hero, basketball, and "bashball", a sport popular among students at SLUH that is best described as a mix of rugby, ice hockey, water polo, team handball, and American football.

Tuition and financial aid

Tuition for the 2015-16 school year is set at $16,000. More than 30% of students receive financial aid, with awards ranging from $1,000 to full tuition. Financial assistance is given solely on a need basis; it is the philosophy of the school that any capable student should be able to attend regardless of his family's financial circumstances.

Sports and rivalries

SLUH's athletic teams are known as the Junior Billikens, or Jr. Bills. They compete in the Metro Catholic Conference.

Missouri state titles

• Football (1970)
• Cross Country (1961, 1999, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013)
• Soccer (1973, 1990, 2003)
• Basketball (4 times, most notably beating Bill Bradley and his Crystal City, Missouri, team in 1960)
• Tennis (1970, 1981, 2006)
• Track and field (2006)
• Lacrosse (2009, 2012)
• Ice Hockey (2013)
• Water polo (17 times, most recently 2015)
• Swimming (twice as a team, most recently 2003)
• Volleyball (six times)
• Rugby (seven times, most recently 2000)
• Racquetball (1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)

In the modern era, SLUH's biggest rivals in athletics include other all-male Catholic schools, e.g., Chaminade College Preparatory School (Missouri), De Smet Jesuit High School, St. John Vianney, and Christian Brothers College High School (CBC). The De Smet and Chaminade rivalries are a relatively recent development, since De Smet has only been open since 1967 and Chaminade formerly had a smaller enrollment. The fact that both SLUH and DeSmet are operated by the Jesuits, however, brings a special fervor to their competitions.

The arch-rivalry with CBC (est. 1850) dates back to the late 19th century. For years the schools were located just two miles apart along Oakland Avenue/Clayton Road. The intensity of the rivalry was showcased for years at an annual football game played in Busch Stadium rather than on either school's home field. That practice ended in 1995 when Busch Stadium was remodelled into a baseball-only facility. In 2003, when both schools had nationally ranked soccer teams, the district playoff between them was attended by over 6,000 fans. This rivalry has continued to the most recent events for the Soccer State Championship and the Hockey state championship in 2009. Perhaps the signature event of the rivalry is the Running of the Bills, an annual event during which many members of the student body run to a football game from nearby Forest Park clad in blue paint to cheer on the Jr. Bill football team.

The school is one of very few in the area to have a rifle range and team. The "Riflebills" have won many awards over the years, including national titles, in both .22 caliber small-bore rifle and air rifle competitions, in a tradition initiated by Fr. Martin Hagan, S.J., in the early 1950s. In 2007, the team switched to the exclusive use of air rifles. In the summer of 2008, the Varsity Rifle team finished second in the nation in the three position competition at the Junior Olympics.

Notable alumni

Clergy

• William S. Bowdern, S.J., conducted an exorcism, some details of which were portrayed in William Peter Blatty's novel The Exorcist, as well as in the movie based upon that novel. In the movie Possessed, Timothy Dalton played the role of Fr. Bowdern in an attempt to present a more accurate version of events.
• Adolph John Paschang (Chinese: 柏增主教) was an American Maryknoll Catholic priest, missionary, relief worker, and educator working in southern part of China in the early 20th century.
• Michael J. Sheridan, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs.
• David Francis Hickey, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize.

Entertainment

• Dave Giuntoli, actor.
• James Gunn, filmmaker and screenwriter.
• Matt Gunn, writer for HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher.
• Sean Gunn, actor.
• George Hickenlooper, award-winning filmmaker.
• Ken Kwapis, film and TV director.
• Dan Potthast, ska musician and member of MU330, named after the class in which its constituents met.

Government

• John E. Bardgett, Missouri Supreme Court justice.
• Terrence L. Bracy, former Assistant United States Secretary of Transportation under President Jimmy Carter. Appointed Chairman of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation by President Bill Clinton.
• Alfonso J. Cervantes, former mayor of St. Louis.
• Joseph Darst, former mayor of St. Louis.
• The Hon. Edward L. Filippine, United States federal judge.
• Raymond Gruender, federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
• Daniel Isom, former St. Louis City Chief of Police.
• Chris Koster, Missouri Attorney General.
• F. William McCalpin, attorney known as a strong advocate for legal services for the poor.
• Bryan Mullanphy, former mayor of St. Louis.
• Mel Price, former U.S. Congressmen from southern Illinois.
• William F. Quinn, first governor of the state of Hawaii, and former president of Dole Food Company.
• Eugene R. Sullivan, former chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals (Armed Forces), counsel on Richard Nixon's defense team during the Senate hearings concerned with the Watergate Scandal, and governor of Wake Island.
• Raymond Tucker, former mayor of St. Louis. Also, former chair of mechanical engineering at Washington University in St. Louis.
• Buzz Westfall, St. Louis County, County Executive, 1990 - 2003.

Historical

• Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, son of Sacagawea and Toussaint Charbonneau, members of The Corps of Discovery/Lewis and Clark Expedition, pictured as an infant on the U.S. One Dollar Coin.

Humanitarianism/Activism

• Thomas Anthony Dooley III, humanitarian, medical doctor, activist, author and Congressional Gold Medal recipient. During the late 1950s he established and worked in numerous clinics in Viet Nam and Laos. The organization he helped establish (MEDICO) was later incorporated into CARE (relief agency).
• Henry Hampton, Civil Rights Movement activist, recipient of the Heinz Award, film maker, and producer of the documentary Eyes on the Prize.
• E. Michael Harrington, Harvard professor, author, and founder of the Democratic Socialists of America. Included among his many books is The Other America, a book which had a significant impact on John F. Kennedy's and Lyndon B. Johnson's administrations.
• Max Starkloff, founder of Paraquad.
• Jack Warner, SJ, in 1979 founded Teatro la Fragua, a Theatre Group in Honduras that gives free performances and theatre workshops for the poor, in an attempt to help them express their lives and problems. Concerning his role as Jesuit and as a promoter of theatre among the poor, Warner has said: "Art and religion spring from our need to be in touch with something beyond the littleness we feel as human beings."

Journalism

• Greg Burke, journalist and senior communications advisor in the Vatican.
• Robert Hyland, radio executive at KMOX who created the talk radio format.
• George Michael, sportscaster for The George Michael Sports Machine.

Military

• Michael Blassie, former unknown soldier for Vietnam War.

Scholars, scientists, and inventors

• Joseph L. Badaracco, chaired professor of business ethics at Harvard University. Has integrated study of literature into study of business leadership and ethics.
• Michael R. DeBaun, chaired professor of pediatrics at Vanderbilt University, Sickle-cell disease expert and 2004 Backer Award recipient. He is an elected member of the National Academies' Institute of Medicine.
• Barnaby Faherty, historian and author of more than fifty books, one of which, "A Wall for San Sebastian" (1962), was the basis for the 1968 film La Bataille de San Sebastian starring Anthony Quinn and Charles Bronson.
• Gary Gutting, holder of endowed chair in philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. Through his publications in such media outlets as The New York Times he has adopted the role of a public intellectual.
• Robert J. Scherrer, professor of theoretical physics, developer of a model that explains dark matter and dark energy as two aspects of a single force, chairman of Vanderbilt University's Department of Physics and Astronomy, author of many science fiction works, and 2010 winner of the Klopsteg Memorial Award.
• Hubert Schlafly, studied electrical engineering and invented the teleprompter. He also helped promote the broadcasting of television signals via satellite feeds.
• Keith Schwab, quantum physicist and head of Schwab Research Group at Caltech; conducts pathbreaking work concerning quantum nature of the physical world and concerning nanotechnology.

Sports

• Nelson Burton Jr., professional bowler.
• Buzz Demling, professional soccer player and former member of the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team.
• Joe Germanese, former Major League Soccer player for the New England Revolution
• Cole Grossman, Major League Soccer player for Real Salt Lake.
• Henry Jones, former All-Pro defensive back for the Buffalo Bills.
• Bob Kehoe, soccer player and former head coach of the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team.
• William "Ty" Keough, sports broadcaster, retired professional soccer player and former member of the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team.
• Ed Macauley, professional basketball player and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
• Pat McBride, professional soccer player and member of the national soccer hall of fame.
• Tommy Meyer, professional soccer player for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
• Joe Schultz, professional baseball player and manager.
• Hank Raymonds, Marquette University basketball coach (1961–1983).
• Ken Sanders, former MLB player (Kansas City Athletics, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, California Angels, New York Mets, Kansas City Royals).
• Frank Simek, defender for English soccer club Carlisle United F.C. and member of the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team.
• Matt Sinclair, former professional football player, Washington Redskins.
• Luis Soffner, Major League Soccer goalkeeper, New England Revolution.
• Taylor Twellman, Major League Soccer player for the New England Revolution, named the 2005 MLS Most Valuable Player and member of the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team.
• George Werley, former MLB player (Baltimore Orioles).
• Ronnie Wingo Jr., NFL running back (Buffalo Bills).

Other notable people

• Charles "Dismas" Clark, taught mathematics and served as an administrator at SLUH during the 1930s. After returning from service as an army chaplain during WWII, he became an advocate of prison reform and rehabilitation. In 1959 he founded Dismas House, the first half-way house for parolees and former prisoners in the United States. The Hoodlum Priest, a film about Clark, was made in 1961. Don Murray played the role of "Dismas" Clark.
• Walter Halloran taught at SLUH during the 1970s. Prior to that he earned two Bronze Stars while serving as a paratrooper chaplain during the Vietnam War. In 1949 he assisted William S. Bowdern with what has since become a famous case of exorcism.

See also

• Saint Louis University

External links

• Saint Louis University High School
• Prep News