Tampa Catholic High School

Tampa Catholic High School is a diocesan, Catholic, coeducational high school located in Tampa, Florida,[2] United States, founded in 1962. It is in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg. Its motto is "Veritas et Caritas," which means "Truth and Charity."

Tampa Catholic High School
Address
Map
4630 North Rome Avenue

,
Hillsborough
,
33603

United States
Coordinates27°59′8″N 82°28′32″W / 27.98556°N 82.47556°W / 27.98556; -82.47556
Information
TypePrivate, college-prep
MottoVeritas et Caritas
(Truth and Charity)
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
Patron saint(s)Blessed Edmund Rice[5]
Established4 September 1962
FounderMsgr. John F. Scully
OversightDiocese of Saint Petersburg
DeanClaire Harpool (Dean of Student Life)
PrincipalRobert Lees
ChaplainFr. Elixavier Castro and Br. Chris Burns (Director of Campus Ministry)
Faculty60
Grades912
GenderCo-ed
Enrollment764 [2] (2017-2018)
 • Grade 9197
 • Grade 10194
 • Grade 11182
 • Grade 12191
Average class size22-30
Student to teacher ratioStudent Teacher Ratio of 14.8:1 [1][2]
CampusUrban
Campus size40 acres (160,000 m2)
Color(s)   Green & white
Athletics20+ Sports Teams [3] [1]
MascotCrusader
Team nameCrusaders
RivalJesuit High
Berkeley Prep
Clearwater Central Catholic
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools[4]
School fees$600-$1,000
Tuition$11,540
AlumniChanning Tatum, Kevin Knox played for New York knicks currently with golden state warriors , Ed Brunson, Lewis Carter, Eddie Pierre-Louis
Websitetampacatholic.org

Description

edit

The Diocese of St. Augustine opened Tampa Catholic High School on September 4, 1962, to serve the needs of Catholic education for the parish families of Hillsborough County. The school was guided through its early years by Monsignor John F. Scully, the founding President, and was staffed by diocesan priests, the Dominican Sisters of Adrian, Michigan and dedicated lay personnel. The school opened with one classroom building and a convent.

After spending one year in temporary quarters at Christ the King parish, 230 9th and 10th grade students made their way to the new Tampa Catholic campus. TC was initially planned to house a girls' division to be known as Lourdes Academy; the boys' division was to be located elsewhere in Tampa. The plan was changed to provide a coeducational facility, taking into account the already operating Academy of the Holy Names and Jesuit High School. The campus consisted of only the South and Center buildings, with the library, chapel and administration located in the Center building. The early classes were held in eight classrooms with a chemistry-physics-biology laboratory, a home economics room, a library, and an administration area.

In 1964 the first class of seniors was enrolled and the multi-purpose building (now the cafeteria) was completed. In 1965 Tampa Catholic graduated its first class, numbering 51. This was also the first year TC had a full squad for a football team, playing a schedule of both JV and varsity games. At the time they were the Tampa Catholic Colts.

In 1968, Tampa Catholic became fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and saw the completion of the north building, chapel, gym, track and baseball diamond, all of which were dedicated by Bishop Charles McLaughlin, of the newly founded Diocese of St. Petersburg.

In the early 1970s the Assumptionist Brothers and the Sisters of Ste-Chrétienne assumed administrative and teaching duties. The administration building and the library complex were completed in 1972. These early years of the 1970s saw Tampa Catholic's enrollment rocket to nearly 1500 students. This was more than the buildings could accommodate so the school was separated into two campuses for three years. The 9th grade students attended the "East Campus" located on the grounds of Mary Help of Christians School, and additional portables were brought onto the TC campus to help house upperclassmen.

In late 1979 the leadership changed once again with the appointment of Br. Jude Byrne, of the Franciscan Brothers Community taking over as principal. Following several changes in administration, stability was once again gained by the 1984 appointment of Br. John Casey of the Congregation of Christian Brothers. By this time Tampa Catholic High School had grown to a nine-building campus stretching over 40 acres.

During the 1983–84 school year, TC entered into the tech era by installing the first computers on campus. They were used to teach students in computer programming classes.

In 2002 efforts moved forward to establish a master plan for the 40-year-old school. This plan called for needed upgrades to the academic portion of the campus. Ground was broken that same year. In 2003 these improvements were completed, including the Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley Science & Technology Center and the Blessed Edmund Rice Chapel. Bishop Robert N. Lynch dedicated both buildings on August 27, 2003.

In 2019, Tampa Catholic and alumni, Arnie Bellini – former CEO of ConnectWise – donated seven million USD to Tampa Catholic High School, as the first part of a US$70 million donation to the Tampa Bay area.[6] Tampa Catholic High School is planning the construction of five projects that support the innovation and modernization of programs around the arts, sciences, technology, and physical fitness.[7]

List of presidents and principals

edit
President Tenure Principal Tenure
Msgr. John F. Scully 1962-1968 Sr. Ann Bernard, OP 1962-1968
Fr. Norman Balthazar 1968-1971 Sr. Julie Sullivan, OP 1968-1978
none 1971–present Br. Venard Cullen, AA 1978-1979
Br. Jude Byrne, OSF 1979
Br. Patrick Ohmann, OSF 1979-1981
Mr. Frank Scaglione 1981-1984
Br. William Casey, CFC 1984-1987
Br. Michael Termini, CFC 1987-1991
Br. Myles B. Amend, CFC 1991-1994
Br. James J. MacDonald, CFC 1994-1999
Br. David M. McMahon, CFC 1999-2003
Ms. Patricia A. Landry 2003-2008
Mr. Thomas Reidy 2008–2016
Source:[8]

Notable alumni

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Quick Facts".
  2. ^ a b c "Search for Private Schools - School Detail for TAMPA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL".
  3. ^ "Sports Teams". www.tampacatholic.org. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  4. ^ SACS-CASI. "SACS-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement". Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  5. ^ "Blessed Edmund & Christian Brothers".
  6. ^ "Graduate who founded tech firm gives Tampa Catholic a $7 million gift". www.tampabay.com. Archived from the original on 2019-05-16.
  7. ^ http://TampaCatholic.org/news/Bellini-family-makes-70m-commitment-Tampa-bay-area [dead link]
  8. ^ "Principals & Presidents | Tampa Catholic High School". www.tampacatholic.org. Archived from the original on 2015-11-23. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  9. ^ "Chaz Green Stats, News and Video - OT". NFL.com.
  10. ^ "Darrell Jackson Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  11. ^ "Karter Knox, top 2024 high school prospect, leaves Florida over NIL laws". High School On SI. 31 July 2023.
  12. ^ Clemson football gets second commitment in as many days, this time from 4-star wide receiver TJ Moore
  13. ^ Putnam, Bob (November 3, 2016). "Football's a beacon after dark days for Tampa Catholic's Bentlee Sanders". tampabay.com. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  14. ^ "Interviews detail downward spiral of the Seminole Heights killing suspect". Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  15. ^ "Howell Donaldson III". 19 February 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  16. ^ "Denard Span Stats, Fantasy & News". Tampa Bay Rays. Retrieved 2018-04-21.
edit