Oakland Catholic High School, located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s cultural, educational, and medical center, 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 as it provides a college-preparatory formation grounded in Catholic values to each of its over 500 students. In the official announcement of Oakland Catholic’s inception, then-superintendent Dr. Rosemarie Cibik spoke of looking forward to the emergence of an outstanding diocesan school for young women. Since then, Oakland Catholic has lived up to and exceeded everyone’s expectations by defining itself as a premier college-preparatory institution that sends over 98% of its graduates to four-year universities. OC graduates receive thousands of dollars annually in academic scholarships to a variety of university programs including upper-echelon schools and the Ivy League.

Students are regularly recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and continually noted both locally and nationally for their academic accomplishments. Just 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.

A powerhouse not only in academics, but also in athletics, Oakland Catholic students compete in over 15 different sports and have won numerous regional, state, and national titles in basketball, bowling, cheerleading, crew, fencing, and swimming. In 2001, President of OC, Mrs. Katherine D. Freyvogel, and the school’s Board of Directors investigated the feasibility of a capital campaign to enhance the physical facilities. Spread over three phases, the ongoing capital campaign and construction efforts have been positively received by the OC community of current families, alumnae, supporters, and benefactors. The first phase of construction resulted in a new art wing, fitness center, dining hall, the Donahue Pavilion (a state-of-the-art gymnasium), athletic rooms, and common areas for the students’ comfort. The second phase is currently underway and will produce new science labs, a brand-new library/research facility, renovated wireless classrooms in the main building, new guidance and administrative space, and a chapel. The third phase will complete the construction of our new facility with an auditorium, additional classroom space, lecture and conference rooms, and a music wing. Once completed, Oakland Catholic High School will stretch out along Craig Street with a graded courtyard sloping down to its cafeteria in the rear and a landscaped parking lot that will provide for several additional parking spaces.

Rich in tradition and still evolving, Oakland Catholic’s history assures its students that they will benefit greatly from the educational experience received while they prepare for their future.