Holy Cross High School (San Antonio)
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[edit] About Holy Cross of San Antonio
Holy Cross of San Antonio was started by the Brothers of Holy Cross, members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, as an all boys college preparatory, which has a tradition of education tried and proven over more that 175 years. Currently, the Congregation of Holy Cross administers forty-three schools around the world, including nine universities (most notably The University of Notre Dame) and eighteen middle and secondary schools in the United States. In the tradition of our founder Father Basil Moreau, Holy Cross understands the importance of developing the spiritual, intellectual, and physical capacities of our students.
Located at 426 North San Felipe (1 mile from St. Mary's University), Holy Cross of San Antonio is an independent Catholic all boys middle and high school that has been serving the community since 1957. With a current enrollment of 473 students, and a 14.1 to 1 student - teacher ratio, Holy Cross offers value centered, quality education to 6th through 12th graders. Holy Cross welcomes students of different abilities and backgrounds and prepares them to integrate Christianity into their learning and living, to address the challenges of society, and to acquire virtues for effective service to others.
Holy Cross of San Antonio fulfills and exceeds the requirements of The Texas Catholic Conference Education Department and also exceeds the Curriculum Guides of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, and the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). All teachers, library staff, counselors and paraprofessionals at Holy Cross must meet the Educational Personnel Requirements as determined by The Texas Catholic Educational Department.
Holy Cross of San Antonio has been a Blue Ribbon school since 1984 and is distinguished by being the first Blue Ribbon school in all of San Antonio. Equipped with state-of-art science labs, a multimedia facility and the latest in educational technology, Holy Cross will continue to serve as a beacon of hope and educational prosperity. Upon graduation, our graduates amass on average over 1.1 million dollars in scholarships, grants, and financial aid. 100% of our graduates will have earned the necessary credits and requirements to enroll in college. The goal is to have all students perform at their highest level of competence. This philosophy accounts for more than 90% of graduates enrolling in colleges throughout our country.
[edit] History of Holy Cross
During the mid 1950's the Archdiocese of San Antonio planned a trade school for boys to be located on the predominately lower-income West Side of San Antonio. But further planning and deliberation changed the direction from establishing a trade school to establishing a college preparatory high school. This led to the Brothers of Holy Cross accepting responsibility for the administration of the new high school and it was named Holy Cross High School. Brother Harold Young, C.S.C. was named the first principal and on September 3, 1957, Holy Cross opened as an Archdiocesan high school for boys with 84 freshmen. The entire faculty consisted of 3 Brothers of Holy Cross and Msgr. Alexander Wangler. These students and faculty described themselves as "pioneers", and the high standards they set continue making Holy Cross synonymous with excellence.
During their first four years these pioneers accepted the responsibility of initiating the many traditions that only a charter class could perform. They chose blue and gold for the school colors. Recognizing the affiliation of the Brothers of Holy Cross and the University of Notre Dame, they chose the famous "Notre Dame Victory March" for their school song. For their mascot they chose "Knights". When the "pioneers" arrived on September 3, 1957, there was only the library, eight classrooms, the cafeteria, and the Brothers Residence. They wasted no time pulling weeds and planting trees. It was their school and they proudly let it be known.
Gradually facilities were enlarged or increased, and activities were introduced. In January of 1961 the science building was completed. In 1963, after two years of hard work by a dedicated group of parents and their sons, the quarter-mile cinder track was ready for use. In 1964 the gym was completed and the basketball team no longer had to practice on the outdoor courts. In 1965 the baseball field was completed. Parents and students played significant roles in campus development. Not only did parents and students develop the original facilities but also through the years the parents and students have continued maintaining and improving the facilities.
When Holy Cross opened in 1957 it received subsidy from the Archdiocese of San Antonio. In subsequent years tuition costs rose but so did the subsidy. Then in February of 1968, Holy Cross was informed that at the end of the school year, the Archdiocese could not and would not provide further financial subsidy. Through the efforts of the parents, alumni, and friends, Holy Cross was able to avoid closure and was able to continue its education ministry. Most notable during this time and the following years were the many Benefit Concerts of Miss Vikki Carr.
During the early years, a large percentage of students who entered Holy Cross were from Catholic elementary schools located in South and West San Antonio. Unfortunately, many of these Catholic elementary schools began experiencing financial hardships and decreasing enrollments that led to their closing. Committed to its mission of Catholic education Holy Cross responded by expanding to include both seventh and eighth grades.
Between 1968 and 1998, Holy Cross continued offering its quality, value centered, college preparatory education although it was really without an owner. The Archdiocese of San Antonio owned the property but was removed from any financial obligations or responsibilities. Alumni remained loyal and attached. Then in 1998, a group of representative Alumni approached the Archdiocese of San Antonio, seeking ownership of Holy Cross High School. In April of 2001 all understandings and agreements were completed and ownership of Holy Cross was transferred to Holy Cross Community Services, a non-profit corporation. To give deserved recognition to the Middle School Division, (which now includes sixth grade) the name "Holy Cross High School" was changed to "Holy Cross of San Antonio". As an independent Catholic school Holy Cross continues its mission of Catholic education under direction of its school board. The spirit of the founders, those "pioneers" to whom all who are associated with Holy Cross are so thankful, continues today in the students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends.
[edit] Mascot
Holy Cross "Knights" named for the social position originating in the Middle Ages. The Irish is the mascot of Notre Dame in South Bend Indiana, also a Brothers of Holy Cross Institution.
[edit] Athletics
Holy Cross High School offers a variety of sports such as Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Track and Golf. Although the school is most noted for their Football team who has won four TCIL State Championships(1992,1993,1994,1995) in the early to mid 90's and two strait district titles from(2005,2006)since entering TAPPS. Every year the Football team plays Central Catholic Marianist High School in the Holy Bowl.
[edit] Alumni & Friends
Since Holy Cross of San Antonio's first graduating class in 1961, the schools alumni have gone on to serve as federal judges, lawyers, business executives, teachers, priests, law enforcement representatives, principals, CEO's of major companies, surgeons, dentists, CPA's, engineers, professors, business executives, even Grammy Award winning artists and many, many more. Holy Cross of San Antonio bases its reputation on the students it produces and not on the student it accepts. Holy Cross strives to eliminate economic conditions as a factor in a child's opportunity for educational prosperity. Holy Cross Alumni continue to lead the way in providing outreach programs to local youths, scholastic endowments to the under-privileged, health and welfare education courses for the local community, and a continued financial dedication to the only college preparatory school on the West Side of San Antonio, Texas. The effort to produce academic excellence as well as social, physical, and spiritual achievement will always remain a foremost concern. The Holy Cross of San Antonio community understands the need for an educational institution that prepares the kind of graduates that freely give back to their community.
