Mission
Oakland Catholic High School is a Christ-centered, college
preparatory school for young women of diverse backgrounds.
The Oakland Catholic community is committed to an environment that
promotes spiritual formation, excellence in education, a wide range
of activities and athletics, and service to others. Formed
under the patronage of St. Joan of Arc, Oakland Catholic is
dedicated to teaching young women to lead lives of faith, courage
and commitment as they lay the foundation for their future as
responsible and respected global leaders.
Philosphy and Goals
Oakland Catholic High School, a Roman Catholic school, dedicates
itself to providing a value-oriented, college preparatory education
for young women in an atmosphere that regards the Churchʼs values
as catalysts for action. We serve several constituencies: The
Bishop and the Diocese of Pittsburgh, the students and parents, and
the broader community. Aware of the dignity of students in our
care, we fulfill our mission by developing their spiritual,
intellectual, and personal potential. Spirituality, Scholarship,
and Service represent the focal points of our mission and
philosophy.
Set in the heart of the cityʼs academic, cultural and healing
center, Oakland Catholic offers students opportunities that come in
todayʼs urban setting while inspiring them to prepare for
tomorrowʼs global needs. We offer a variety of courses that
challenge each student to achieve her fullest potential. We develop
the analytical and independent thinking skills that are needed for
a lifetime of learning. We teach decision-making grounded in
morality. We promote a respect for God, self, and others through
retreats, liturgy, prayer, and service opportunities.
Rooted in Gospel values, the Oakland Catholic community holds
itself and its students accountable for the development of healthy,
creative, and expressive women who are encouraged to use their
God-given talents in pursuits that satisfy both personal and
communal needs.
History
Oakland Catholic High School has been educating
young women from the city, suburbs, and beyond since its
establishment by Bishop Donald Wuerl in 1989. Continuing a 155-year
diocesan tradition of educating young women in all female settings,
Oakland Catholic draws upon the histories, foundation, and alumnae
of the former parish high schools of Sacred Heart and St. Paul
Cathedral, Divine Providence Academy, Our Lady of Mercy Academy,
St. Augustine High School, St. John the Baptist High School, St.
Lawrence O'Toole High School, St. Mary High School, St. Raphael
High School, St. Rosalia High School and Ursuline Academy.
Providing a college-preparatory formation grounded in Catholic
values to each of its over 600 students, Oakland Catholic has
exceeded everyone's initial expectations and defined itself as a
powerhouse in both academics and athletics.
As the premier and largest college preparatory school for young
women in southwestern Pennsylvania, Oakland Catholic serves as an
important regional asset. Educating students from forty-five
school districts and eighty-seven parishes in five western
Pennsylvania counties, the Oakland Catholic student body represents
a broad base of cultures and faith traditions. OC graduates
have gone on to study at some of the nation's most prestigious
universities and almost 100 percent of its graduates attend their
first- or second-choice college or university. Each
graduating class of Oakland Catholic receives hundreds of thousands
of dollars in academic scholarships to a variety of university
programs. Our students are regularly recognized by the
National Merit Scholarship Corporation and continually noted both
locally and nationally for their academic accomplishments. Recently
placed on the Catholic High School Honor Roll by the Acton
Institute, a private non-profit organization that tracks the
achievements of Catholic High Schools across the nation, Oakland
Catholic was named one of the top 50 Catholic high schools overall
and ranked one of the top 20 for academics.
Excellence in athletics nicely complements the academic successes
of our students. Competitors in over 15 different sports and
recipients of numerous regional, state, and national titles in
basketball, bowling, cheerleading, crew, fencing, and swimming, OC
students take all performances seriously. In 2001, President
of OC, Mrs. Katherine D. Freyvogel, and the school's Board of
Directors felt it was important that the physical facilities match
the excellence of the school's programs and its students'
performance. A capital campaign and construction plan to
enhance the physical facilities was spread over three phases.
Due to the efforts and support of families, alumnae, and
benefactors, the physical facilities now encompass an expanded art
wing, a fitness center, a welcoming dining hall, a state-of-the art
gymnasium named the Donahue Pavilion, athletic rooms, common areas
for the students' comfort, new science labs, and a brand-new
library/research facility. The entire campus is wireless and
includes more classroom space than previously, a lecture hall,
conference rooms, new Guidance and office space, and a beautiful
chapel that incorporates elements of the convent that stood on the
same site for years.
With over 10,000 members in the Alumnae Association, more than
2,200 of whom have graduated from Oakland Catholic, the OC
community represents women who have given generously of their time
and talents on behalf of their families and communities. They
are women of faith who take on the roles of professionals, mothers,
and leaders in various arenas of life. They strive to make
the world in which we live a better place. With the support
of our growing alumnae association, the richness of our tradition,
and the promise of so many future talented students, Oakland
Catholic will continue to evolve while providing the young women of
this region a great educational experience that prepares them to be
leaders of the future.