Althoff Catholic High School
Encyclopedia
Althoff Catholic High School is a secondary education
, Roman Catholic, private school
, in Belleville, Illinois
, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville
.
In 1960, Albert R. Zuroweste, the Bishop of Belleville, met with lay leaders of the Belleville area concerning conditions existing at the Cathedral High School for boys and the Academy of Notre Dame for girls. Since both schools were overcrowded, it was decided that new, co-ed facilities must be provided for students coming in from the area's Catholic grade schools. The high school was dedicated on August 30, 1964, and named in honor of the previous Bishop, Henry J. Althoff
. The new high school opened its doors on September 3, 1964.
As of 2008, Althoff has graduated 9123 students, including 1105 Illinois State Scholars, 2 National Merit Finalists (top 1% of the nation), 91 National Merit commended Students (top 5% in nation), and 22 National Merit Finalists (top 1% in the nation).
Incoming freshmen must take a placement test. This is used along with 7th and 8th grade transcripts to determine placement in classes. Classes are generated for the average and above average. Students with strong grades and score in the 90% on the placement test are placed in Honors classes.
Transfer students are admitted for the first three years. However, seniors are typically not accepted, but it is at the principal's discretion. Transfer requirements include two letters of recommendation, grades, standardized test scores, and transcripts showing that classes taken are similar to Althoff's curriculum.
Students must take 24 hours to graduate and have more than 100 courses to choose from. Students are required to take four years of theology and English. Three years are required for mathematics, science, and social studies. In addition, Health, Technology Skills, and Information Processing are all required courses for graduation. Two years of an art, music, or foreign language is necessary as well.
To fulfill Althoff's Mission Statement, a retreat each year is required for graduation. Freshmen and Sophomores attend a "Day of Recollection." Juniors attend a closed retreat that is overnight. Lastly, seniors participate in a Senior Service Project. For the first three weeks of January they spend their time giving back to the community. Popular places for this include day cares, grade schools, and nursing homes.
Students are required to wear a uniform to class every day. Polo shirts in white, yellow, and navy with an Althoff logo must be worn. An Althoff sweatshirt and cardigan is also available. No outerwear is to be worn at any time during the school day. Khaki pants or shorts, with no cargo pockets, are acceptable. And girls are allowed to wear skirts in the school plaid.
Classes start every day at 8:20 with dismissal occurring at 3:05. Late days are every Wednesday and classes do not start until 9:25. Seniors are eligible for early dismissal, in which case, they do not have a seventh hour class and are finished at 2:15.
Over 90% of students are involved in one or more activity on campus.
Boys athletic teams include: baseball, basketball, football, golf, hockey, soccer, swimming, tennis, volleyball, and wrestling. Girls sports include: basketball, cheerleading, golf, poms, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, and volleyball. In addition, the co-ed sports are: bowling, and cross country.
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
, Roman Catholic, private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
, in Belleville, Illinois
Belleville, Illinois
Belleville is a city in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city has a population of 44,478. It is the eighth-most populated city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area and the most populated city south of Springfield in the state of Illinois. It is the county...
, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville
Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern Illinois region of the United States. It comprises the southern counties of the state of Illinois and is administered from the City of Belleville. The prelate is a...
.
In 1960, Albert R. Zuroweste, the Bishop of Belleville, met with lay leaders of the Belleville area concerning conditions existing at the Cathedral High School for boys and the Academy of Notre Dame for girls. Since both schools were overcrowded, it was decided that new, co-ed facilities must be provided for students coming in from the area's Catholic grade schools. The high school was dedicated on August 30, 1964, and named in honor of the previous Bishop, Henry J. Althoff
Henry J. Althoff
Henry J. Althoff was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Belleville from 1914 until his death in 1947.-Biography:...
. The new high school opened its doors on September 3, 1964.
As of 2008, Althoff has graduated 9123 students, including 1105 Illinois State Scholars, 2 National Merit Finalists (top 1% of the nation), 91 National Merit commended Students (top 5% in nation), and 22 National Merit Finalists (top 1% in the nation).
Admissions
For potential students, a "Spend-A-Day Program" is offered. When a grade school student does not have school, but Althoff does, they are able to attend classes and lunch with a current ACHS student. This is helpful in the decision making process of which high school to attend.Incoming freshmen must take a placement test. This is used along with 7th and 8th grade transcripts to determine placement in classes. Classes are generated for the average and above average. Students with strong grades and score in the 90% on the placement test are placed in Honors classes.
Transfer students are admitted for the first three years. However, seniors are typically not accepted, but it is at the principal's discretion. Transfer requirements include two letters of recommendation, grades, standardized test scores, and transcripts showing that classes taken are similar to Althoff's curriculum.
Academics
Althoff Catholic High School has ten academic departments. These are: art, business, English, foreign language, mathematics, music, physical education, science, social studies, and theology.Students must take 24 hours to graduate and have more than 100 courses to choose from. Students are required to take four years of theology and English. Three years are required for mathematics, science, and social studies. In addition, Health, Technology Skills, and Information Processing are all required courses for graduation. Two years of an art, music, or foreign language is necessary as well.
To fulfill Althoff's Mission Statement, a retreat each year is required for graduation. Freshmen and Sophomores attend a "Day of Recollection." Juniors attend a closed retreat that is overnight. Lastly, seniors participate in a Senior Service Project. For the first three weeks of January they spend their time giving back to the community. Popular places for this include day cares, grade schools, and nursing homes.
Student life
There are currently 564 students, 158 seniors.Students are required to wear a uniform to class every day. Polo shirts in white, yellow, and navy with an Althoff logo must be worn. An Althoff sweatshirt and cardigan is also available. No outerwear is to be worn at any time during the school day. Khaki pants or shorts, with no cargo pockets, are acceptable. And girls are allowed to wear skirts in the school plaid.
Classes start every day at 8:20 with dismissal occurring at 3:05. Late days are every Wednesday and classes do not start until 9:25. Seniors are eligible for early dismissal, in which case, they do not have a seventh hour class and are finished at 2:15.
Over 90% of students are involved in one or more activity on campus.
Student Clubs
ACHS offers a variety of student clubs and organizations. The clubs Althoff offers are: Art Club, CAAD, Campus Ministry, Drama Club, F.C.A., French Club, Gospel Crusaders, Math Club, Model UN, Newspaper, National Honor Society, Risk Club, Anime Club, Praise Dance Ministry, Rotary Interact Club, St. Vincent de Paul, Saturday Scholars, Scholar Bowl, Science Club, Show Choir, Spanish Club, Speech Team, Student Ambassadors, Student Council, and Yearbook.Athletics
The Althoff Crusaders offer both girls and boys athletics, as well as co-ed teams.Boys athletic teams include: baseball, basketball, football, golf, hockey, soccer, swimming, tennis, volleyball, and wrestling. Girls sports include: basketball, cheerleading, golf, poms, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, and volleyball. In addition, the co-ed sports are: bowling, and cross country.