Lourdes High School is a Roman Catholic high school in Oshkosh, Wisconsin

Oshkosh, Wisconsin

As of the census of 2000, there were 62,916 people, 24,082 households, and 13,654 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,662.2 people per square mile . There were 25,420 housing units at an average density of 1,075.6 per square mile...

, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay

Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay was established on March 3, 1868 by Pope Pius IX. It covers the city of Green Bay as well as Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Forest, Kewaunee, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago counties,...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. Established in 1959, it is the oldest existing high school in Oshkosh.

History

The planning and construction, in the late 1950s, of a central 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....

 represented the combined efforts of the six Catholic parishes of Oshkosh, Wisconsin

Oshkosh, Wisconsin

As of the census of 2000, there were 62,916 people, 24,082 households, and 13,654 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,662.2 people per square mile . There were 25,420 housing units at an average density of 1,075.6 per square mile...

: St. Mary, St. Peter, St. Vincent, Sacred Heart, St. Josaphat, and St. John.

Construction of Lourdes High School began in September 1958, with the first classes beginning in September 1959. The first year there were 307 freshmen and sophomores (155 girls and 151 boys) enrolled. Boys and girls attended separate classes with the upper floors for girls and lower floors for boys. Some facilities were used by both, including science and chemistry labs, the gymnasium, chapel, cafeteria, and library. The school was known as Lourdes Academy until 1996, and staffed with De La Salle Christian Brothers until 2001.

Addition

The Bill Behring Commons, completed in 2005, is a large open space facing Witzel Avenue. It serves as cafeteria, all-school worship site, and performing arts center. The commons has a large gathering hallway and space with adjoining rest rooms, trophy cases, concession facilities, the athletic directors' office, and staff lounge. The lobby connects gym facilities, band room and the student commons, and serves as a reception and gathering area. A new gymnasium and a new band classroom were also constructed.