York Catholic High School

York Catholic High School
175px Maria Impende Juvamen O Mary, bestow your aid
Address
601 East Springettsbury Avenue York, Pennsylvania, (York County) 17403 United States
Coordinates
Information
Type	Private, Coeducational
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Principal	Katie Seufert
Grades	7-12
Enrollment	688  (2009)
Average class size	22
Student to teacher ratio	15:1
Mascot	Fighting Irish
Accreditation	Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Newspaper	The Spectator
Yearbook	Rosa Mystica
Website	[4]

York Catholic High School is a Catholic high school located in York, Pennsylvania, USA, and operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg for boys and girls in the 7th through 12th grades.

Campus

York Catholic High School is located at 601 East Springettsbury Avenue in downtown York. The campus and athletic fields stretch north and westward, stopping at Vander and Sampson Avenues. The school is located next to the York City Ice Arena, as well as various other locales downtown.

The School is composed of a main classroom building reaching three floors in height, as well as The Brady Science Hall wing primarily used by the junior high students (grades 7-8). While many of the core junior high classes are in this area, students in all grades can have classes in the wing or in the main building.

A Fact Sheet about York Catholic is available on the official school website at www.yorkcatholic.org or click York Catholic Fact Sheet 2011-2012.

Academics

The School teaches college preparatory and advanced placement curricula. This is evident in the seniors’ SAT scores, which are consistently higher than state and national averages. In addition, York Catholic’s high level of academic excellence has repeatedly earned the school merit from the Middle States Association. Middle States is an institution that accredits secondary schools and colleges which meet “prescribed qualitative standards of the Middle States Association within the terms of the school's own stated philosophy and objectives.”

The following are a few academic statistics from the York Catholic website:

• Current average class size is 22 and current student/teacher ratio is 15 to 1
• 90+% of graduating seniors pursue further education
• Weekly ineligibility/failure check
• Dedicated, certified faculty
• Middle States accreditation
• Art and Music programs

Many parents of current and past students have praised York Catholic on the quality of its academics. Widely-recognized greatschools.net is host to many accolades by various YCHS parents. In October 2005, one parent commented that “[York Catholic has a] high college attendance ratio, even for a private school. Discipline and 'esprit de corps' has worked wonders for kids who otherwise might have been left behind in the more managed environment of a public school. Staff have an attitude of not giving up on anyone.” Students are challenged academically while at York Catholic and many graduates return to note how well they were prepared for college.

York Catholic has been a major force in education since the 1920s. Employers seek out YC students and graduates because they notice something different—something special. This subtle difference is often mentioned and duly recognized. It is a source of pride for all those who support York Catholic.

Religious orientation and spiritual life

Although Catholicism is not a requirement for admission to the school, York Catholic’s curriculum encourages the Christian faith, as well as teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, while following guidelines from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. York Catholic’s desire to foster Catholic values prompts the school to "create an environment that develops personal integrity, respect for one another, reverence for God, and stewardship for our world."

The following are a few religious statistics from the York Catholic website:

• School day begins and ends with a prayer
• Frequent reception of the Sacraments
• Youth Groups – CROSS, PRAISE, Respect Life
• Annual retreats for all students

Students are also required to perform community service as part of their service requirement. This is to help foster habits of performing service to others through volunteer work. Students are to perform either 12 or 16 hours of community service per year depending on their grade.

Student activities and athletics

Listed below are various extra-curricular student activities and athletic sports offered by York Catholic, according to its website:

Senior high level

Activities

• ALPHA Peer Helpers
• Chapel/Library/AV Aids
• Chess Club
• Choruses
• Concert Band
• Dramatics/Stage Crew
• Jazz Band
• Language Clubs
• Liturgical Music Group
• Lit Society
• Marching Band
• Math Counts
• Mission Moderators
• Mock Trial
• National Honor Society
• Pit Orchestra
• Praise Team
• Respect Life
• "Rosa Mystica" (Yearbook)
• SADD
• Science Fair
• "Spectator" (Student Newspaper)
• Student Council

Athletics

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Cheerleading
• Cross Country
• Football
• Golf
• Lacrosse
• Soccer
• Softball
• Tennis
• Track (with York Tech)
• Volleyball
• Wrestling (with York Tech)

York Catholic is home to the four-time state championship and three-time runner-up girls' basketball team (1979–2012) and the five-time state championship and three-time runner up boys' basketball team (1944–2005). The boys' cross country team also won state championships in 1983 and 1985.

Junior high level

Activities

• Chorus
• Dramatics/Stage Crew
• Marching Band
• Concert Band
• Math Counts
• Mission Moderators
• Stage Crew
• Student Council

Athletics (in addition to Parish CYO Programs)

• Cheerleading
• Cross Country
• Football
• Basketball
• Volleyball
• Track