Best Catholic schools in Pittsburgh (Lebanon, Baldwin: neighborhoods, school districts, to live)

[Aqua Teen Carl]

I know a few folks that went to Central Catholic to avoid our awful city high schools and they enjoyed it. I'm not sure about the faith portion since they weren't religious but from what I gathered the overall experience was positive.

[BrianTH]

I've heard with Central it makes a big difference if you are in the Honors Program.

[hornet67]

Sweet Jesus, what a lot of weeping & gnashing of teeth! A modest request for a recommendation has turned into ( as so often does!) a transition into rants and outraged "morality."
I am Catholic, but not attend any parochial schools, but I believe that Central Catholic has an outstanding reputation, and is the alma mater of very many successful graduates, in Pittsburgh, and elsewhere.
The hazing was obviously repulsive, but will it scar those students for the rest of their lives? I am much older, but I certainly endured much more extended "treatment" in high school football, and USMC OCS, including being punched , along with the typical ongoing verbal abuse. Certainly not unique to me, and it "came with the territory" back then, and while perhaps not officially accepted, was condoned. Needless to say, it no longer is. It had no long term effect on me, physically, or mentality; one was not surprised by that type of behavior, and actually anticipated it. It was part of the rite of passage.
To me, the actions of some numbskull football players should not color one's view of an entire institution. Just my 1 1/2 cents worth.

[Kippy]

Are you only considering schools in Pittsburgh proper, or do you mean in the entire metro area? What areas does your home search include? Also, keep in mind that if you live within a ten mile radius of a parochial school, your local school district will provide transportation.

Oakland (all girls) and St. Joseph's (co-ed), both made the Catholic School Honor Roll. Greensburg Central Catholic (co-ed) got an honorable mention for catholic identity.

2010 Catholic High School Honor Roll Top 50

Once North Catholic (which will be renamed Cardinal Wuerl North Cathlolic) finishes building its new facility in Cranberry Township, I imagine that it will become a very popular school. However, it keeps getting pushed back; the latest I heard it was scheduled to open for the 2013/14 school year. They did open a brand new elementary school, St. Killian's, across the street. Just as retail and real estate is booming in Cranberry Township, so is the Catholic population (and other religions, too, I assume).

[Charles45]

Thanks for the replies and advice, everyone. I do think the Central Catholic incident in 2002 was relevant, and I would not send my kids to a school where that kind of thing was pervasive or even known to be a risk. However, we Catholics do believe in redemption and change and I would hope the school has put an end to this behavior. Sounds to me like they ultimately did the right thing.

SCR mentioned my Front Royal inquiry and I appreciate his input there. FR and Pittsburgh are two of half a dozen cities we are looking at. FR has the kind of school we're interested in with Chelsea Academy www.chelseaacademy.org and the area is known to have a strong homeschooling community as well. But I wasn't sure about the music scene in FR and I have a large musical family. Pittsburgh has an incredible music scene, but I need to explore the educational options.

Geographically we would need to be within 30 minutes of St. Boniface in the Spring Hill-City View district.

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

By the way, "The decision angered several parents" is not the same as "The decision angered the vast majority of parents".

You're suck a stickler for details.

[Charles45]

Here we go!

Aquinas Academy of Pittsburgh
Aquinas Academy of Pittsburgh, a PreK through Grade 12, Private, Catholic School, Home Page

Aquinas Academy is one of the great success stories in independent Catholic education. Since its founding in 1996 as a college preparatory school for students in grades PreK-12, Aquinas has emerged as a recognized leader in academic excellence and character formation. Our graduates are being recruited by some of the nation's top colleges and universities. Our students' performance on standardized achievements tests ranks Aquinas among the very top schools nationwide, public or private. In addition, our students score well above average on the National Latin Exam, the college-level Advanced Placement Program tests, and other leading measures of learning and achievement. We are committed to offering students the finest education possible in a Catholic environment totally faithful to the magisterium. Mass is celebrated daily in the campus chapel and religion is a core subject in our curriculum. We also offer a full range of competitive sports teams and creative opportunities outside the classroom. Aquinas Academy is located on a pretty, 12-acre campus in the suburbs north of Pittsburgh, just minutes from the Pennsylvania Turnpike and other major highways. If you are looking for a Catholic academy with a top-flight, dedicated faculty, small class sizes, and a proven program for developing your child's intellectual gifts and moral virtues, Aquinas Academy is for you. We encourage you to explore our website and then pay us a visit.

If anyone here knows about this school, its location, etc., please do share. Thanks again.

[str8]

What about Seton La Salle Catholic High School?

www.slshs.org

[Charles45]

Str8: Looks good for the most part, from the website. Seems to be strong academically, uniforms, good student conduct policies. Thanks for this. I think we'd prefer a more prominent faith emphasis. And the busty gal with the bare midriff in the "ministry" photos is worrisome. :-/

[Craziaskowboi]

I went to Central Catholic in 9th and 10th grade and realized in hindsight that most of my classmates were full of ****.