St. Francis Preparatory School
Encyclopedia
St. Francis Preparatory School, commonly known as St. Francis Prep, is a private, independent Catholic college preparatory school in the Fresh Meadows
neighborhood of the New York City
borough of Queens
. It is the largest non-diocesan Catholic high school in the United States. St. Francis is run by the Franciscan Brothers
, who maintain a residence on the top floor of the school. The school has a student body of about 2,750 students and graduates between 600 and 700 students annually. Under the college preparatory curriculum, over 99 percent of graduating seniors continue on to a higher education.
in 1952. The school moved to its current location in Fresh Meadows, Queens
in 1974 when it acquired the facility that formerly housed Bishop Reilly High School, a co-educational Catholic high school. The school began admitting female students that same year. There are currently plans to add a three-story addition to the rear of the existing building.
The program will support students interested in the arts.
as an "Outstanding American High School" and is consistently ranked as one of the top high schools in the country.
dispatched a team of investigators to the school after 150 students complained of symptoms consistent with swine flu
. Several of the students had recently traveled to Mexico. Eight of the New York school cases were said to be "probable" swine flu by New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Frieden on April 25. On April 26 in a 3:00 PM EDT advisory the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed that the Queens cases are indeed associated with the H1N1 virus. The students suffered only mild symptoms, and all have since recovered. On April 27 federal officials confirmed 20 new cases.
, fueled particularly by their football
teams. Known as the "Battle of the Boulevard" due to the two schools being located only 2 miles apart on Francis Lewis Boulevard
, the rivalry between the Prep Terriers and the Holy Cross Knights has been called "arguably the greatest rivalry in New York City football."
The St. Francis Prep girl's tennis team has been undefeated for 12 consecutive years, making them 11 time CHSAA champions.
In 2011 the St. Francis Prep Varsity Handball team won their 9th consecutive CHSAA championship (with an undefeated season). In 2011 their Junior Varsity Handball team won their 8th consecutive undefeated championship, (that being their 5th perfect season since 2003).
Other teams include:
Co-curricular clubs include:
Fresh Meadows, Queens
Fresh Meadows is a residential neighborhood in northeastern section of the New York City borough of Queens.-Location:Fresh Meadows is located on the northeast side of Hillcrest, bordered to the east by Cunningham Park, to the south by Union Turnpike and St. John's University, and to the west by...
neighborhood of the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
borough of Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
. It is the largest non-diocesan Catholic high school in the United States. St. Francis is run by the Franciscan Brothers
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
, who maintain a residence on the top floor of the school. The school has a student body of about 2,750 students and graduates between 600 and 700 students annually. Under the college preparatory curriculum, over 99 percent of graduating seniors continue on to a higher education.
History
St. Francis Preparatory opened in 1858 as St. Francis Academy, a small all-boys high school on 300 Baltic Street in Brooklyn, New York. It took its current name in 1935, then moved to a larger facility in Williamsburg, BrooklynWilliamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bordering Greenpoint to the north, Bedford-Stuyvesant to the south, Bushwick to the east and the East River to the west. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 1. The neighborhood is served by the NYPD's 90th ...
in 1952. The school moved to its current location in Fresh Meadows, Queens
Fresh Meadows, Queens
Fresh Meadows is a residential neighborhood in northeastern section of the New York City borough of Queens.-Location:Fresh Meadows is located on the northeast side of Hillcrest, bordered to the east by Cunningham Park, to the south by Union Turnpike and St. John's University, and to the west by...
in 1974 when it acquired the facility that formerly housed Bishop Reilly High School, a co-educational Catholic high school. The school began admitting female students that same year. There are currently plans to add a three-story addition to the rear of the existing building.
The program will support students interested in the arts.
Recognition
St. Francis Prep was recognized by the U.S. News & World ReportU.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
as an "Outstanding American High School" and is consistently ranked as one of the top high schools in the country.
2009 swine flu outbreak
On April 24, 2009, New York City Department of Health and Mental HygieneNew York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is a department of the Government of New York City responsible for public health along with issuing birth certificates, dog licenses, and conducting restaurant inspection and enforcement...
dispatched a team of investigators to the school after 150 students complained of symptoms consistent with swine flu
Swine flu
Swine influenza, also called pig influenza, swine flu, hog flu and pig flu, is an infection by any one of several types of swine influenza virus. Swine influenza virus or S-OIV is any strain of the influenza family of viruses that is endemic in pigs...
. Several of the students had recently traveled to Mexico. Eight of the New York school cases were said to be "probable" swine flu by New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Frieden on April 25. On April 26 in a 3:00 PM EDT advisory the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed that the Queens cases are indeed associated with the H1N1 virus. The students suffered only mild symptoms, and all have since recovered. On April 27 federal officials confirmed 20 new cases.
Co-curricular activities and athletics
St. Francis Prep has a rivalry with Holy Cross High SchoolHoly Cross High School (Flushing)
Holy Cross High School is an all-boys Roman Catholic high school in Flushing, in the New York City borough of Queens. Founded in 1955, the school was chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools...
, fueled particularly by their football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
teams. Known as the "Battle of the Boulevard" due to the two schools being located only 2 miles apart on Francis Lewis Boulevard
Francis Lewis Boulevard
Francis Lewis Boulevard is a boulevard in the New York City borough of Queens. The roadway is named for Francis Lewis, a Queens resident who was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence.-Route description:...
, the rivalry between the Prep Terriers and the Holy Cross Knights has been called "arguably the greatest rivalry in New York City football."
The St. Francis Prep girl's tennis team has been undefeated for 12 consecutive years, making them 11 time CHSAA champions.
In 2011 the St. Francis Prep Varsity Handball team won their 9th consecutive CHSAA championship (with an undefeated season). In 2011 their Junior Varsity Handball team won their 8th consecutive undefeated championship, (that being their 5th perfect season since 2003).
Other teams include:
- Basketball- Boys & Girls; JV, Varsity
- Baseball- Boys; Freshmen, JV, Varsity
- Softball- Girls; JV, Varsity
- Tennis- Boys & Girls; Varsity
- Football- Boys; Freshmen, JV, Varsity
- Volleyball- Boys & Girls; JV, Varsity
- Golf- Co-ed; Varsity
- Soccer- Boys & Girls; JV, Varsity
- Lacrosse- Boys & Girls; JV, Varsity
- Track and Field- Boys & Girls; Various events
- Hockey- Boys; Varsity
- Bowling- Co-ed; JV, Varsity
- Swimming and Diving- Boys & Girls; Freshmen, JV, Varsity
- Handball-JV, Varsity
- Gymnastics- Girls; Varsity
- Dance- Girls; Varsity
- Step Squad- Co-ed; Varsity
- Cheerleading- Girls; Freshmen, JV, Varsity
Co-curricular clubs include:
- Academic - Biology Club, Chemistry Club, Diplomacy Club, Duns Scotus Speech/Debate Club, Studio Arts Workshop, Mathematics Club, Mathematics League, Math National Honor Society, Mock Trial Club, Model United Nations, National Honor Society, NYS Science Honor Society, Political Science Club, Prepmun, Science Olympiad, Student Technical Service (STS), Women in History Club, National Arts Honor Society, Alvernian Drama Society, Model UN.
- Campus Ministry and Religious- Communion Services, Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, Franciscan Youth Movement, Lectors, Liturgical Committee, Liturgical Dancers, Liturgical Ensemble, Liturgy Assistants, Prayer Team, Retreat Leaders, Soup Kitchen Volunteers, Christian Awakening, St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Drama - Alvernian Drama Society, Alvernian Set Design, Alvernian Technical Services, Stage Crew
- Environment - Animal Rights Club, Environmental Club
- Ethnic - African American Heritage Club, Croatian Club, French Club, German Club, German Exchange Student Program, Greek Club, Guyanese Club, Indian Club, International Night, Irish Club, Italian Club, Korean Club, Polish Club, Spanish Club, Filipino Club, West Indian Club
- Intramurals - Basketball, Football, Handball, Softball, Volleyball, Ping Pong
- Literary - The Seraph (official student newspaper that is published bi-monthly, The Little Portion Literary Magazine (showcases creative writing and poetry from the students), San Fran Yearbook, Book Club
- Multi-Media - Channel One and a Half - Student Government Sponsored student produced News Program
- Mentoring - Drug & Alcohol Prevention, Peer Counseling, Tutoring
- Project Challenge - Backpacking, High Ropes, Orienteering, Snowshoeing
- Volunteer- Blood Drive, Bookstore Service, Library Aides, PS 4 Volunteers Peer Counselors
- Other Clubs- Anime, Bonsai, Break Dancing, Business, Chess, Color Guard, Dance, Fantasy Sports, Harry Potter Club, Hero Club (raises money for various organizations), Hip-Hop, Hockey, Key Club, Martial Arts, Paintball Club (monthly trips), Professional Wrestling, Rock Club, Ski and Snowboard, String Figure Club, Video Games
Notable alumni
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, stand-up comedian - Frank J. AquilaFrank J. AquilaFrancis J. Aquila is a corporate lawyer whose practice focuses on mergers & acquisitions and corporate governance matters. Following graduation from Columbia University and Brooklyn Law School , Aquila joined Sullivan & Cromwell L.L.P...
, corporate lawyer - Marco BattagliaMarco BattagliaMarco Antonio Battaglia is a former American football tight end in the National Football League who played for five different teams. Battaglia played college football at Rutgers University and was chosen in second round of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals...
, NFL football player - Des BishopDes BishopDes Bishop is an Irish comedian and was brought up in New York. He is now primarily based in Ireland, after moving to County Wexford in 1990 at the age of 14.-Approach to Comedy:...
, stand-up comedian - Father Robert S. SmithFather Robert S. SmithRobert S. Smith , the Robert R. Colbert Sr. '48 Catholic Chaplain and Distinguished Scholar at Cornell University, was a Catholic priest, author, and educator. His interests ranged from philosophy and theology to the ethics of medical care to interfaith dialogue...
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and hostess of reality show Big Brother - Carlos DenglerCarlos DenglerCarlos Andres Dengler , previously known as Carlos D., is an American musician best known as the former bassist for the band Interpol.-Early life:...
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, former college football coach and current Big Ten Network commentator - James DooleyJames Dooley (composer)James Michael Dooley is a film score composer. Dooley studied music at New York University, majoring in music composition. After finishing the university he moved to Los Angeles, where he studied music with prolific film score composers Christopher Young, Elmer Bernstein and Leonard Rosenman...
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, radio personality on New York City's Hot 97 - Peter FacinelliPeter FacinelliPeter Facinelli is an American actor. He became known as the star of Fox's 2002 television series Fastlane. He plays Carlisle Cullen in the film adaptations of the Twilight series. He is also well known for his role as Mike Dexter in the film Can't Hardly Wait...
, actor - Eric GioiaEric GioiaEric N. Gioia is a New York City politician of the Democratic Party. He served for eight years as a member of the New York City Council...
, New York City councilman - Dan HenningDan Henning-External links:...
, NFL football player and coach - Ed JenkinsEd Jenkins (American football)Edward Jay Jenkins is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Miami Dolphins, the Buffalo Bills, the New England Patriots, and the New York Giants. He played college football at the College of the Holy Cross and was drafted in the eleventh round of the...
, NFL football player - Vince LombardiVince LombardiVincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi was an American football coach. He is best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s, where he led the team to three straight league championships and five in seven years, including winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and...
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, writer and television producer - Bill PickelBill PickelWilliam George Pickel is a former defensive tackle who played for twelve seasons in the National Football League with the Los Angeles Raiders and the New York Jets . Pickel attended St. Francis Prep. He played college football for Rutgers University...
, NFL football player and sports broadcaster - Frank SerpicoFrank SerpicoFrancesco Vincent Serpico is a retired American New York City Police Department officer who is most famous for testifying against police corruption in 1971...
, New York police officer known for uncovering corruption - Joe TorreJoe TorreJoseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
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