Cathedral High School (El Paso, Texas)
Encyclopedia
Cathedral High School is a private
, Catholic
high school
for boys, in El Paso, Texas
. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso
which owns and administers the school. Its mission is to "Teach minds and touch hearts"
the Brothers of the Christian Schools (known in the U.S. simply as the Christian Brothers) have been involved in the school since its foundation.
According to recent statistics, Cathedral High School has a population of just over 500, the vast majority (78%) being Hispanic ; the school also draws significant numbers from Ciudad Juárez
in Mexico
on the opposite side of the Rio Grande
and consequently, Spanish
is the language most often heard in the corridors, even among non-Hispanic
s.
For over 80 years, "La Cate", as it is affectionately called by its students and alumni, has striven to set a high bar for academic achievement. All sophomores are administered the College Board ACCUPLACER Test, a college entrance assessment test, to determine their eligibility to take college level courses under the Cathedral Early College Admission Program. College courses, taught at Cathedral High School in conjunction with the El Paso Community College
, afford junior and senior students the opportunity to complete their first year of college while still a Cathedral student. The class of 2007 graduated with a total of 2,238 transferable college credit hours, an average of 30 hours per student.
Cathedral High School is part of a network of Christian Brothers' Schools throughout the world that educate approximately 900,000 students. Over 90% of Cathedral's graduates continue their education at university level. As a Christian Brothers' institution, the school strives to educate the whole person, challenging each student to reach his fullest potential as a well-round individual who is intellectually competent, open to growth, religious, loving, and committed to doing justice
and generous service to the People of God
, especially those who are the disadvantaged members of society. A Christian Brothers' education strives to integrate faith with knowledge, and to encourage students to apply both to improve the world in which they live.
The school considers its programs in Campus ministry
, community service
and religious education
to be central to the incorporation of Catholic
Christian
spirituality
into the daily lives of students. For Cathedral campus ministry promotes such goals through activities that foster spiritual and emotional growth. The community service program is meant to provide opportunities for students to examine their own faith and to develop leadership skills by expressing this faith in the contemporary world, while at the same time establishing meaningful relationships with those being served.
. John Baptist de la Salle in the 17th century. John Baptist founded training colleges for teachers, reform schools for troubled youth, technical schools, and secondary schools for modern languages, arts, and sciences. He was one of the first to educate students according to age level and ability as well as to teach in the language of the students rather than through Latin; until De la Salle, it was common practice for one teacher to educate students of different ages and abilities at the same time in one room. Until the late 1950s the faculty of Cathedral High School was composed entirely of Brothers.
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...
, Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
for boys, in El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso
Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso
The Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in West Texas. Covering , it encompasses the Texas counties of El Paso, Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Loving, Presidio, Reeves, Ward and Winkler with approximately 668,000 professing members,...
which owns and administers the school. Its mission is to "Teach minds and touch hearts"
Background
Since its inception in 1925, Cathedral High School has existed to educate and prepare young men to become leaders in the community. Rooted in the LaSallian tradition that reaches as far back as the seventeenth century, Cathedral strives to help students grow in faith and service through active participation in their worship communities. Though the school is owned and administered by the Diocese of El PasoRoman Catholic Diocese of El Paso
The Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in West Texas. Covering , it encompasses the Texas counties of El Paso, Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Loving, Presidio, Reeves, Ward and Winkler with approximately 668,000 professing members,...
the Brothers of the Christian Schools (known in the U.S. simply as the Christian Brothers) have been involved in the school since its foundation.
According to recent statistics, Cathedral High School has a population of just over 500, the vast majority (78%) being Hispanic ; the school also draws significant numbers from Ciudad Juárez
Ciudad Juárez
Ciudad Juárez , officially known today as Heroica Ciudad Juárez, but abbreviated Juárez and formerly known as El Paso del Norte, is a city and seat of the municipality of Juárez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Juárez's estimated population is 1.5 million people. The city lies on the Rio Grande...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
on the opposite side of the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
and consequently, Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
is the language most often heard in the corridors, even among non-Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
s.
For over 80 years, "La Cate", as it is affectionately called by its students and alumni, has striven to set a high bar for academic achievement. All sophomores are administered the College Board ACCUPLACER Test, a college entrance assessment test, to determine their eligibility to take college level courses under the Cathedral Early College Admission Program. College courses, taught at Cathedral High School in conjunction with the El Paso Community College
El Paso Community College
El Paso Community College is a community college district headquartered in El Paso, Texas. EPCC operates five campuses in the Greater El Paso area, as well as courses offered at nearby Fort Bliss....
, afford junior and senior students the opportunity to complete their first year of college while still a Cathedral student. The class of 2007 graduated with a total of 2,238 transferable college credit hours, an average of 30 hours per student.
Cathedral High School is part of a network of Christian Brothers' Schools throughout the world that educate approximately 900,000 students. Over 90% of Cathedral's graduates continue their education at university level. As a Christian Brothers' institution, the school strives to educate the whole person, challenging each student to reach his fullest potential as a well-round individual who is intellectually competent, open to growth, religious, loving, and committed to doing justice
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
and generous service to the People of God
People of God
"People of God" is a description that the Tanakh or Old Testament applies to the Jewish people and that the New Testament applies to Christians. Within the Catholic Church, it has been given greater prominence because of its employment in documents of the Second Vatican Council .-Usage in the...
, especially those who are the disadvantaged members of society. A Christian Brothers' education strives to integrate faith with knowledge, and to encourage students to apply both to improve the world in which they live.
The school considers its programs in Campus ministry
Campus Ministry
Campus Ministry may refer to:*Religious organizations on college campuses College religious organizations*The collegiate student ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ is also called The Campus Ministry...
, community service
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
and religious education
Religious education
In secular usage, religious education is the teaching of a particular religion and its varied aspects —its beliefs, doctrines, rituals, customs, rites, and personal roles...
to be central to the incorporation of Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
into the daily lives of students. For Cathedral campus ministry promotes such goals through activities that foster spiritual and emotional growth. The community service program is meant to provide opportunities for students to examine their own faith and to develop leadership skills by expressing this faith in the contemporary world, while at the same time establishing meaningful relationships with those being served.
The Brothers
The Brothers of the Christian Schools were established by the education pioneer SaintSaint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
. John Baptist de la Salle in the 17th century. John Baptist founded training colleges for teachers, reform schools for troubled youth, technical schools, and secondary schools for modern languages, arts, and sciences. He was one of the first to educate students according to age level and ability as well as to teach in the language of the students rather than through Latin; until De la Salle, it was common practice for one teacher to educate students of different ages and abilities at the same time in one room. Until the late 1950s the faculty of Cathedral High School was composed entirely of Brothers.
Traditions
- De La Salle Day
- Spirit Walk
- Pep Rally
- St. Patrick's Parade
- Retreat
- River Street
Athletics
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross-Country
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer (State Champions 2002-2003)
- Swimming (State Champions 1984-1985, 1987-1989, 1991-1996, 1998-2011)
- Tennis
- Track & Field
- Rugby
- Lacrosse