Bishop O'Dowd High School
Encyclopedia
Bishop O'Dowd High School is a Catholic, co-educational, college preparatory school in Oakland, California
, administered by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland
and named for the late auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, James T. O'Dowd (1907–1950). About 44% of students are non-Catholic. The school requires all students to attend school liturgies (Catholic Mass and prayer services), to enroll in religious studies courses each semester, and to complete its 4-year service learning program.
O’Dowd is a Catholic high school community of 1,120 students. Its students show good academic performance and high test scores, engage in award-winning fine and performing arts, strong athletics, and campus ministry offered to the student body. The school has a faculty and staff of 120, as well as over 75 coaches and moderators.
More than 700 athletes participate in 16 interscholastic sports on 57 teams, including rugby, water polo and lacrosse as well as traditional sports. In March 2010, the men’s varsity basketball team advanced
to the Division III state championship game. In April 2010, the school’s speech and debate team won the state title in parliamentary debate.
Ninety-five percent of O’Dowd graduates are accepted to four-year colleges and universities in California and nationwide. Each year, nearly 60 percent of the senior class is admitted to the UC System, placing O’Dowd in the top five percent of all public, Catholic and independent high schools in Northern California. More than 12,000 graduates have been added to the ranks of alumni since the first class graduated in 1955, fulfilling roles of leadership and service in the Bay Area and worldwide.
O’Dowd’s college preparatory curriculum includes Advanced Placement courses in 17 subjects, and an enhanced range of services to accommodate college preparatory students with learning differences. The curriculum includes honors courses in mathematics, language, English, social studies and science, and computer programming and multimedia design. A fully integrated arts and drama program, an environmental science program, and five languages are also offered. In addition, students participate in a 100-hour service learning program.
A wireless technology environment allows students and faculty access to the Internet and encourages student-centered learning. Through O’Dowd’s 1:1 laptop program, all students receive laptops and use them in class. The school offers online classes to support the school’s mission of preparing students for life after high school.
In June 2010, O’Dowd successfully completed a three-year, $9 million dollar comprehensive
fundraising campaign and funds raised were split about evenly between capital development and program enhancement. Funds contributed to renovation of many elements of the classroom buildings — from floors to ceilings, interior and exterior, every classroom, lab and locker, from ventilation to technology infrastructure.
Currently the school is working build a LEED-certified Environmental Science Center and further expand its environmental science curriculum, including environmental engineering. In addition, the school is now offering only compostable plates and utensils at its sports events to promote awareness about environmental protection.
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, administered by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland
Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Northern California. The diocese comprises Alameda and Contra Costa Counties in the San Francisco Bay Area...
and named for the late auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, James T. O'Dowd (1907–1950). About 44% of students are non-Catholic. The school requires all students to attend school liturgies (Catholic Mass and prayer services), to enroll in religious studies courses each semester, and to complete its 4-year service learning program.
History
Bishop O’Dowd High School is named in memory of the former Superintendent of Schools of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Bishop James T. O’Dowd, who died of an automobile accident at the age of 43. At the time of O'Dowd's sudden death, having just helped to establish Marin Catholic and Riordan high schools, he was in the process of drawing up plans for a new Catholic high school in the East Bay.O’Dowd is a Catholic high school community of 1,120 students. Its students show good academic performance and high test scores, engage in award-winning fine and performing arts, strong athletics, and campus ministry offered to the student body. The school has a faculty and staff of 120, as well as over 75 coaches and moderators.
More than 700 athletes participate in 16 interscholastic sports on 57 teams, including rugby, water polo and lacrosse as well as traditional sports. In March 2010, the men’s varsity basketball team advanced
to the Division III state championship game. In April 2010, the school’s speech and debate team won the state title in parliamentary debate.
Ninety-five percent of O’Dowd graduates are accepted to four-year colleges and universities in California and nationwide. Each year, nearly 60 percent of the senior class is admitted to the UC System, placing O’Dowd in the top five percent of all public, Catholic and independent high schools in Northern California. More than 12,000 graduates have been added to the ranks of alumni since the first class graduated in 1955, fulfilling roles of leadership and service in the Bay Area and worldwide.
O’Dowd’s college preparatory curriculum includes Advanced Placement courses in 17 subjects, and an enhanced range of services to accommodate college preparatory students with learning differences. The curriculum includes honors courses in mathematics, language, English, social studies and science, and computer programming and multimedia design. A fully integrated arts and drama program, an environmental science program, and five languages are also offered. In addition, students participate in a 100-hour service learning program.
A wireless technology environment allows students and faculty access to the Internet and encourages student-centered learning. Through O’Dowd’s 1:1 laptop program, all students receive laptops and use them in class. The school offers online classes to support the school’s mission of preparing students for life after high school.
In June 2010, O’Dowd successfully completed a three-year, $9 million dollar comprehensive
fundraising campaign and funds raised were split about evenly between capital development and program enhancement. Funds contributed to renovation of many elements of the classroom buildings — from floors to ceilings, interior and exterior, every classroom, lab and locker, from ventilation to technology infrastructure.
Currently the school is working build a LEED-certified Environmental Science Center and further expand its environmental science curriculum, including environmental engineering. In addition, the school is now offering only compostable plates and utensils at its sports events to promote awareness about environmental protection.
Demographics
43 percent European American, 20 percent African American, 12 percent Asian American/Pacific Islander, 14 percent Latino American, 1 percent Middle Eastern, 1 percent Native American, 9 percent other (mostly mixed race).Notable alumni
- Dave MenikettiDave MenikettiDavid Alan "Dave" Meniketti is the singer, songwriter and lead guitarist for 70's/80's Hard Rock/Heavy Metal band Y&T. He has also released two solo efforts, one of which is more blues-oriented, but he still tours with Y&T.-History:...
- Singer/Guitarist of Y&TY&TY&T is an American hard rock/heavy metal band formed in 1974. They hail from Oakland, California... - Amaya Brecher - Cast member of The Real World: HawaiiThe Real World: HawaiiThe Real World: Hawaii is the eighth season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras follow their lives and interpersonal relationships. First airing in 1999, the...
season on MTVMTVMTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs.... - Eric BjornsonEric BjornsonEric Thomas Bjornson is a former professional American football tight end in the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 1995 NFL Draft...
- NFL player for the Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
(1995–2000) and New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
(2000) - Greg Norton - Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player (Chicago White SoxChicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Seattle MarinersSeattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, Atlanta BravesAtlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
) - Ryan DreseRyan DreseRyan Thomas Drese is an American professional baseball pitcher currently in the Houston Astros organization. He is a graduate of the University of California Berkeley and Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, California....
- Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player (Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, Washington NationalsWashington NationalsThe Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
) - Garry Hill-Thomas - NBA scout for the Minnesota Timberwolves
- Tarik GlennTarik GlennTarik Glenn is a former American football offensive tackle who played for the Indianapolis Colts. Glenn performed as two-way lineman at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, California....
- NFL player for the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
(1997–2006) - Michael A. GoorjianMichael A. GoorjianMichael Antranig Goorjian is an American actor and filmmaker.-Early life:Goorjian was born and raised in Oakland, California. He has been singing, acting, directing, and choreographing since he was in junior high school...
- Emmy-winning actor - Burl Toler, IIIBurl Toler, IIIBurl Toler, III is an Arena football Wide Receiver for the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League and is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Cal.-Early...
- NFL player for the Washington Redskins - Kirk MorrisonKirk MorrisonKirk David Morrison is an American football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
- NFL player for the Jacksonville Jaguars former Oakland Raider - Brian Shaw - Retired NBA player, now a Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
coach - Langston WalkerLangston WalkerLangston Branden Walker is an American football offensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Raiders in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at California...
- NFL player for the Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Aaron NagelAaron NagelAaron Nagel is the original trumpet player for punk rock/ska core act Link 80, born and raised in Berkeley, California. He currently plays guitar in the band DESA with other former Link 80 members Ryan Noble, Adam Davis, and Barry Krippine....
- Trumpet player in Link 80Link 80-Band history:Link 80 started in late 1993 in the East Bay of California. In the beginning, original members played around town as Drano, The Rag-Tags, and Mr... - Matt Bettinelli-OlpinMatt Bettinelli-OlpinMatt Bettinelli-Olpin is an American actor, writer and musician.-Biography:Raised in Oakland, California, Bettinelli-Olpin later attended the University of California, Santa Cruz.-Music:...
- Guitarist of Link 80Link 80-Band history:Link 80 started in late 1993 in the East Bay of California. In the beginning, original members played around town as Drano, The Rag-Tags, and Mr... - Matt Malley - Bassist for Counting CrowsCounting CrowsCounting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
- Shawn HarrisShawn HarrisShawn Harris was the lead singer and guitarist for pop punk group, The Matches. He is an artist and has done the art for several albums, including Matchbook Romance's Voices and Bayside's Shudder. He was born in Oakland, California, and attended Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland...
- Singer and Guitarist of The MatchesThe MatchesThe Matches are a United States-based band formed in 1997 in Oakland, California. It currently is composed of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Shawn Harris, lead guitarist and backup vocalist Jonathan Devoto, bassist and backup vocalist Dylan Rowe, and drummer Matt Whalen... - Tajai Massey- Rapper Souls of MischiefSouls of Mischief-Studio albums:-Singles:-External links:* [ Allmusic Biography]* *...
- Tyson RossTyson RossTyson William Ross is an American Major League Baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics. He attended Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, which is located mere miles away from where he currently plays...
- Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player, Oakland AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum.... - The GrouchThe GrouchThe Grouch may refer to:*Dyskolos, a comedy by the Greek dramatist Menander whose title has been translated as The Grouch, The Curmudgeon, or The Misanthrope*The Grouch *Oscar the Grouch, a character on Sesame Street...
- Underground Rapper - J. J. JelincicJ. J. JelincicJoseph John Jelincic, Jr., better known as J.J. Jelincic, is a member of the California Public Employees' Retirement System Board and is the past president of the California State Employees Association , a labor group representing 140,000 active and retired state employees...
- CalPERSCalPERSThe California Public Employees' Retirement System or CalPERS is an agency in the California executive branch that "manages pension and health benefits for more than 1.6 million California public employees, retirees, and their families"...
Board Member (elected), former President of the California State Employees AssociationCalifornia State Employees AssociationThe California State Employees Association , was founded in 1932 in Sacramento, California. Its early achievements include creation of the first retirement system for California state workers , creation of a credit union for state employees, winning collective bargaining rights for state and... - Ian McArdle - Jazz Pianist
- Joe RossJoe RossJoe Ross may refer to:* Joe E. Ross , American actor born in New York City* Joe Ross , referee in the Football League* Joe Ross , trader, trading educator, and author of several books on trading...
- Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player, San Diego PadresSan Diego PadresThe San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
Notable staff
- Gene Luen Yang (comic book artist - Yang teaches computer science and manages the school database)