August 12, 2013 by Shelby Joe

St. Thomas High School

Three priests from the Congregation of St. Basil founded the school, then named St. Thomas College, in 1900 in an unused building of the Franciscan Monastery in downtown Houston. That first location in a warehouse was temporary as the school quickly moved to a location on Main Street in 1903. It moved to its current location in 1940. Today, St. Thomas educates more than 700 young men every year.

St. Thomas High School

4500 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77007 Rev. Kevin Storey, C.S.B., President

713-864-6348 Mr. Jon Moody, Director of Admissions

www.STHS.org

Religious Affiliation

St. Thomas was founded by and remains an institution of the Basilian Fathers. The Basilian fathers are a Catholic religious congregation originating in France during the French Revolution. The Basilians became active in Texas beginning in the 1930’s. The University of St. Thomas is also a Basilian institution. Approximately 20% of St. Thomas students are non-Catholic, but all students must participate in the school’s religious activities.

Location and Facilities

The school’s campus is centrally located within the 610 loop at the intersection of Shepherd and Memorial Drives. Buffalo Bayou is directly to its south. The DePelchin Children’s Center is across Shepherd on the west side and the High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice on the north side. An increasingly gentrifying community of young professionals lives to the East in apartments, town homes, and older single-family homes. The school’s athletic facilities include two tennis courts, a multipurpose soccer/ football/ track stadium, baseball diamond, and multipurpose field. The campus also boasts a large, outdoor amphitheater.

Admissions

St. Thomas seeks to admit a socio-economically diverse group of students of average to well above average academic achievement. The school uses the following criteria when evaluating applicants: compatibility with the school, applicant’s desire to attend school, HSPT scores, junior high school record, recommendations, and quality of application essay, and involvement in school activities. All applicants are personally interviewed upon the receipt of their completed application. The school does accept non-Catholic students, but everyone is required to take Theology classes, attend class retreats, and worship with the St. Thomas community.

Academic Tracks and Curriculum

St. Thomas offers three tracks—On Track, Honors, and Advanced Placement. Honors classes are offered beginning freshman year. Approximately 60% of students participate in at least one Honors or AP class. Theology is required every year.

Twenty-eight credits are required for graduation; each credit is equivalent to one year or two semesters—Theology (4), Mathematics (4), Social Studies (4), English (4), Science (4), Foreign Language (2), Technology (1), Health/ PE (2), Speech (.5), Fine Arts (.5), Electives (2).

Special Needs

No information provided about accommodations for students with learning differences such as ADHD, dysgraphia, or processing disorders.

Foreign Languages

Students are required to take two years of a language to meet graduation requirements. The school offers instruction in French, Latin, and Spanish up to four levels. AP Spanish is also offered. The school hosts clubs for all three languages, as well.

Arts

St. Thomas requires one semester of a fine art to graduate. Students can choose from approximately 20 classes across the visual art, music, and theatre departments. Arts choices include photography, orchestra, jazz band, and theatre. Students host their own theatrical productions in the school’s new Moran Fine Arts Center or join forces with the sister schools of Duchesne, Incarnate Word Academy, and St. Agnes.

Technology

Students are required to take two semesters of technology courses. Sophomores are required to take a course in computer applications where they learn about Microsoft Office and other applications. Juniors can choose between MS Office (intermediate/advanced), Visual Basic, and Java. Web design and advanced Java programming are offered as electives. St. Thomas has initiated a “One to One” Initiative that will provide each student with an Asus Transformer Android-based tablet with keyboard to use in the school’s Mobile Learning Environment. The cost of this tablet is included in tuition.

Extracurricular Activities

Clubs and organizations at St. Thomas include campus ministry, foreign language, art, music, speech and debate, student government, and student publications. The school publishes a list and descriptions of some clubs on its website. Approximately 95% of the student body participates in at least one extracurricular activity. The students publish an annual yearbook, annual literary magazine, and a biweekly or monthly newspaper.

Athletics

Students are required to complete four semesters of health/ physical education classes to graduate. All students are encouraged to try out for any of the school’s interscholastic or intramural athletic teams. The school fields freshman, junior varsity, and varsity level teams in thirteen sports: baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, golf, lacrosse, roller hockey, rugby, soccer, swimming, track, tennis, wrestling. St. Thomas is a member of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.

Parent Involvement

Mothers of boys in the school are automatically members of the Mothers’ Club, which oversees all special events at the school. Parents may also join the Booster Club to support athletics.

St. Thomas High School Fast Facts

Overview
School Type	Religious, Boys
Religious Affiliation	Catholic
Date Founded	1900
Endowment	N/A
Grades Served	9-12
Enrollment	709
Grade 12	170
Grade 11	165
Grade 10	192
Grade 9	182
Student to Teacher Ratio	18:1
Faculty with Advanced Degrees	N/A
Minorities in Student Body	37%

Curriculum
Academic Tracks Offered	On-Track, Honors, AP
Advanced Placement Courses Offered	10
Languages Offered	French, Latin, Spanish
Calendar (Semester / Trimester / Other)	Semester
Interscholastic Sports Programs	13

Graduating Seniors
National Merit Semi-Finalists 2012 (#/%)	1/1%
Average SAT Scores	N/A
Mathematics	N/A
Critical Reading	N/A
Writing	N/A
% Students Admitted to 4 Year University	99%

Admissions
Prime Entry Points	9, 10
Grades 9-12	$13,750
Registration Fee	$500
Books	$350-$750
Students on Financial Aid	30%