Boston College High School

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Boston College High School
BostColHi.png
Address
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
150 Morrissey Boulevard

Boston
,
Massachusetts
02125

United States
Coordinates42°18′58″N 71°2′47″W / 42.31611°N 71.04639°W / 42.31611; -71.04639Coordinates: 42°18′58″N 71°2′47″W / 42.31611°N 71.04639°W / 42.31611; -71.04639
Information
TypePrivate high school
MottoLatin: Ut Cognoscant Te[1]
(So they may know You.)
Religious affiliation(s)Jesuit, Roman Catholic
Established1863; 158 years ago (1863)
FounderJohn McElroy
OversightRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
CEEB code220180
NCES School ID00600981[2]
PresidentGrace Cotter Regan
PrincipalAdam Lewis
Grades7–12
GenderBoys
Color(s)    Maroon and gold
Fight songFor Boston
AthleticsMIAA Division 1
Athletics conferenceCatholic Conference
NicknameEagles
RivalsCatholic Memorial, St. John's Prep, Xaverian
AccreditationNew England Association of Schools and Colleges[3]
PublicationThe Botolphian (literary magazine)
NewspaperThe Eagle
Endowment$100M
AffiliationJesuit
Websitewww.bchigh.edu

Boston College High School (also known as BC High) is an all-male, Jesuit, Catholic college preparatory secondary school for grades 7-12 in Boston, Massachusetts. It is located on Columbia Point in Dorchester.

In the 2020–21 academic year, the high school had 1,132 students, while the Arrupe Division, serving the middle school, had 265.[4] In total, the enrollment was 1,397.

History[]

Boston College High School was founded in 1863 as Boston College. Boston College was founded to appeal to the rising number of Irish-Catholic immigrants living in Greater Boston. For most of its early history, BC offered a singular 7-year program corresponding to both high school and college. Its first entering class of 22 students ranged in age from 11 to 16 years. The curriculum was based on the Jesuit Ratio Studiorum, emphasizing Latin, Greek, philosophy and theology. While BC's mission was to "educate pupils in the principles and practice of the Catholic faith," its founding documents reflect the historical realities of the time. The great influx of immigrants to Boston in the nineteenth century corresponded with growing anti-Catholic sentiment among the city's aristocratic elite. As a result, BC's charter was revolutionary for its time in stating that "the profession of religion will not be a necessary condition for admission to the College." The high school shares its history with Boston College until 1910 when the college moved from its original location in the South End to its current in Chestnut Hill. By the start of the 20th century, BC's enrollment had reached nearly 500. Expansion of the South End buildings onto James Street enabled increased division between the high school and the college. The 1907 purchase of farmland for a new college campus in Chestnut Hill allowed BC High to fully expand into the South End buildings, though it remained a constituent part of Boston College until 1927 when it was separately incorporated. In 1950, BC High moved to its current location.[5]

Following the Great Depression, BC High was characterized by increasing enrollment and aging facilities. By the 1940s, the South End buildings proved inadequate once again. Overcrowding and a demand for athletic fields led Jesuit President Robert A. Hewitt to purchase 70 acres (28 ha) on Columbia Point, in the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester in 1948, a move that was controversial at the time. At a cost of $240,000, critics warned that BC High would be abandoning its city roots and moving to an undeveloped part of the city. But Hewitt had a vision, and he dreamed of "a modern high school with a full range of scholastic facilities, including science laboratories and a library; the necessary ecclesiastical facilities, including a Jesuit faculty residence and a church; a wide range of athletic facilities, including a gymnasium, field house, and outdoor areas for a variety of sports, both interscholastic and intramural, and areas for general recreation, faculty walks, parking, and campus landscaping."

Hewitt's dream began to see fruition in 1950, with the opening of McElroy Hall and the relocation of the junior and senior classes to the new campus. By 1954, the entire student body had moved to Columbia Point, though members of the Jesuit Community remained at the South End Residence until 1957. In that year, Loyola Hall, the new Jesuit residence, was completed. Successive building campaigns saw the opening of the Walsh Hall Science Center in 1965, the Student Training, Athletic and Recreation Complex (S.T.A.R.) in 1975, Corcoran Library in 1997, and the multi-use McNeice Pavilion in 1988.

In 2002, Stephen F. Dawber was suspended from his teaching duties after accusations of sexual assault. This came just days after two other priests were accused of abuse about a decade prior.[6] In 2005, Jesuit priest James Talbot, who was also a teacher and coach at the school, pleaded guilty to rape, assault with intent to rape, and three counts of assault and battery, related to two students he sexually abused during his time there. He was removed from the school in 1998 after allegations of sexual assault surfaced from his time at Cheverus High School in Portland, Maine.[6] Boston College High School was featured in the Spotlight film based on the "Spotlight" team at The Boston Globe and their investigation into the child sex abuse scandal by Boston priests.

Academics[]

Boston College High School offers 27 Advanced Placement courses for its 1,397. In 2019–20, the average ACT score was 27, while the average SAT score was 1259.[4]

Global Education[]

The Hyde Center for Global Education was founded was established in 2012 with the gift of Lawrence Hyde, who was a member of the Class of 1942.[5] The program offers a variety of international programs to 18 different countries.[7]

Innovation[]

In 2020, alumnus Jack Shields donated $5 million to establish the Shields Innovation Center. The program aims to "prioritize entrepreneurial thinking while preparing students for the rapidly evolving innovation economy". The program's curriculum will encourage students to become critical thinkers on society's most pressing issues, expand the alumni network and connections, and offer hands-on experience with technology.[8] The program will connect students to innovators of the many companies in Greater Boston, including alumni of the school.[9]

Facilities[]

McElroy Hall is the original building of the present campus when it opened in 1950. Shortly after, Cushing Hall opened in 1953, followed by the new Jesuit residence, Loyola Hall, in 1957. The Walsh Hall Science Center opened in 1965. Walsh Hall was renovated in 2007 for the opening of the Arrupe Division, which serves grades 7-8. McQuillan Hall and Cadigan Hall are the two newest buildings on the campus. McQuillan Hall houses the new science center and cafeteria.[5]

Cadigan Hall opened in 2013 after alumnus Pat Cadigan donated $12 million for a new "arts and recreation building". The hall features an atrium to facilitize alumni and outreach events.[10] Cadigan Hall serves the art and music departments as well as the athletic program.[5]

In the spring of 2016, Monan Park opened as the new home for the home for baseball at Boston College High School and the University of Massachusetts Boston. The complex features a baseball stadium with seating for 500 spectators and identical dimensions to Fenway Park, as well as a secondary field for baseball, lacrosse, and soccer. The joint project with the neighboring University of Massachusetts Boston was made possible with a $2 million donation from the Yawkey Foundation.[11]

Extracurricular activities[]

Athletics[]

Boston College High School teams are known as the Eagles, a name they share with Boston College. They compete as a member of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Division 1 level, competing in the Catholic Conference (CC). As of 2021, the school offered 20 varsity sports teams. Sponsored sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, rowing, rugby, sailing, skiing, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, ultimate, volleyball, and wrestling.[12]

The mascot for all Boston College High School athletic teams is the Eagle, generally referred to in the plural, i.e., "The Eagles". The school colors are maroon and gold. The fight song is For Boston.

The football team has a long-standing rivalry with Catholic Memorial School. They have faced off every year since 1962.[13] The winner of the Thanksgiving Day game wins the Pumpkin Trophy.[14]

The 2009 Indoor Track Relay Team won the Massachusetts State Relays.[15][16] The baseball team won the State Finals in 2001, 2008 and 2009.[17] The soccer team won the Massachusetts State Championship in 2004.[18] The hockey team has won the Super 8 hockey tournament six times, the second-most in the tournament's history, behind only conference rival Catholic Memorial School. In 2019, the team won the championship game at the TD Garden over Pope Francis Preparatory School 2–1 in 4OT to win their second-straight title, the longest game in tournament history.[19] The BC High Lacrosse Team has won the Division 1 South Sectional Championship 4 times in the last 5 years: 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2021 (No Season in 2020 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic). The team won the Massachusetts Division 1 State Championship over Acton-Boxborough Regional High School in 2018 by a score of 16-3.

Principal athletic facilities include Edward T. Barry Ice Rink (capacity: 1,000), McNeice Pavillion, Monan Park (500), and Viola Stadium. BC High athletics has been considered one of the best programs in the nation. Specifically, the school was ranked #10 on Sports Illustrated's list of Top High School Athletic programs in 2007.[20]

Notable alumni[]

References[]

  1. ^ John 17:3 "That they may know You."
  2. ^ "Search for Private Schools – School Detail for Boston College High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  3. ^ NEASC-CIS. "NEASC-Commission on Independent Schools". Archived from the original on 2009-06-16. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "2020–21 Boston College High School Profile" (PDF). Boston College High School. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Our Heritage". BC HIGH. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Pfeiffer, Sacha; Farragher, Thomas; Robinson, Walter V. (6 March 2002). "BC High suspends priest accused of student molestation". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Global Citizens". BC HIGH. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  8. ^ Szaniszlo, Marie (27 October 2020). "Boston College High School alumnus donates $5 million to found 'innovation' center". Boston Herald. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  9. ^ Chesto, Jon (23 October 2020). "Health care entrepreneur Jack Shields gives $5 million to BC High for new innovation center - The Boston Globe". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  10. ^ Andersen, Travis (8 May 2012). "Grateful alumnus gives BC, BC High total $27m - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  11. ^ Taylor, Conrad (10 June 2015). "BC High, UMass Boston to build baseball complex - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Athletics". BC HIGH. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  13. ^ "BC High, CM start new Thanksgiving tradition". ESPN.com. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2021. Catholic Conference rivals Catholic Memorial and BC High have competed in an annual Thanksgiving day football game since 1962.
  14. ^ Cunningham, Matthew (30 November 2018). "A Last Time For Everything: A Senior's Goodbye to the Thanksgiving Day Rivalry". Catholic Memorial School.
  15. ^ Raymond, Jonathan (January 18, 2009). "BC High: Group dynamic". The Boston Globe.
  16. ^ Herald, track Archived June 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ "State Finals". Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Association.
  18. ^ "A look back at the history of co-championships (and a near-miss) in MIAA sports".
  19. ^ Pollard, Dave (18 March 2019). "Super Eight: BC High outlasts Pope Francis in 4 OT thriller, repeats as champion". Boston Herald. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  20. ^ "SI.com - Nation's Top 10 athletic programs - Jun 19, 2007". CNN. June 19, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  21. ^ Board of Trustees: William M. Bulger Archived 2013-02-05 at the Wayback Machine, Boston Public Library. Accessed January 5, 2017. "Upon his graduation from Boston College High School in 1952, President Bulger enrolled at Boston College."
  22. ^ Boston College High School Archived 2018-01-06 at the Wayback Machine, Baseball-Reference.com. Accessed January 5, 2017.
  23. ^ English, Bella. "General rallying the troops of Pan-Mass riders", The Boston Globe, July 30, 2012. Accessed January 5, 2017. "Young George attended boarding school in Rome, and when his father was on a Harvard fellowship for a year, he and his brother enrolled at Boston College High School.... He did his senior year at BC High in 1966."
  24. ^ Terry Driscoll, Basketball Reference. Accessed January 5, 2017.
  25. ^ Nowlin, Bill. Ed Gallagher, Society for American Baseball Research. Accessed January 5, 2017. "Ed Gallagher was a 1928 graduate of Boston College High School and a 1932 graduate of BC itself, where he starred in baseball, football, and hockey."
  26. ^ Hanson, Fred. "Milton family celebrates Alex Hassan's call-up by Red Sox", The Patriot Ledger, May 30, 2014. Accessed January 5, 2017. "An outfielder/first baseman, Hassan was a four-year letterman for Boston College High School."
  27. ^ "Edwin McDonough, 72, of Needham, Army vet". Boston Herald. 2016-02-12. Archived from the original on 2016-02-13. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
  28. ^ Clark, Jim. "BC High's Ryan Shea, Nobles' Luke Stevens chosen in NHL draft" Archived 2017-01-06 at the Wayback Machine, Boston Herald, June 27, 2015. Accessed January 5, 2017. "BC High star defenseman Ryan Shea was taken by the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks with the final pick in the fourth round, No. 121 overall."

External links[]

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