Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School
Encyclopedia
Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School is a private
, Roman Catholic high school
in St. Louis, Missouri
. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Louis
.
In 1977- 1978, a community representative task force was established by the Board of Catholic Education of the St. Louis Archdiocese to study the future existence of a Catholic school in the old Labouré location at in North St. Louis. Arrangements to establish Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School as a co-educational college preparatory high school began in August 1979.
On May 18, 2003, Cardinal Justin Rigali dedicated the new Cardinal Ritter Preparatory High School at 701 N. Spring Avenue, St. Louis. The school opened its doors for students in August 2003.
Cardinal Ritter Prep provides an educational program that prepares students for leadership roles in a multi-ethnic society. Although we are a Catholic high school, our student body represents a wide variety of faiths. The majority of the student body is not Catholic. Our school serves as a magnet, inviting and attracting students who are committed to their education and to becoming the best possible citizen.
Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School has educated students from the entire St. Louis region for more than 25 years. It opened a new, state-of-the-art school in Grand Center in 2003. All Cardinal Ritter Prep seniors graduate and move on to college.
Cardinal Ritter Prep is a national model for successful urban education. Partnered with the Archdiocese, businesses and the community, they are known for their commitment to high academic standards, innovation, and student and alumni community involvement.
Cardinal Ritter College Prep has a college preparatory curriculum that applies the most advanced learning theories and technology, and their world-class facility provides a strong learning environment. They have developed partnerships with art and cultural organizations, universities, businesses and community groups to give students a breadth of experiences. Their mission is to help students build knowledge, appreciation and understanding of the community and the larger world.
The Cardinal Ritter Prep environment is loving, nurturing, and fun, with energetic and committed faculty and staff who hold high expectations for themselves and their students. Graduates take great pride in their high school alma mater and serve as role models and community leaders.
Curriculum
Note: * - Third place; ** - Second place; *** - Semifinals
The ILP, which was funded by a generous grant from the Danforth Foundation, gives African-American youth opportunities beyond college graduation, to encourage leadership in the St. Louis community and to develop youth as highly productive, responsible citizens.
Cardinal Ritter Prep juniors and seniors in the ILP can receive leadership scholarships and summer internships with local major employers. ILP is a six-year program, with students trained in professional development and placed in internships throughout college. Upon college graduation, participants are in an excellent position to earn a job with the company for which he or she has interned through the program. The first phase of ILP students graduated from college in 2007.
- Lebanese Basketball League
Player
Chris Carrawell
- NBA Player
Jahidi White
- ex NBA Player
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
, Roman Catholic high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Louis
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Louis
The Archdiocese of St. Louis is the Roman Catholic archdiocese that covers the City of St. Louis as well as the following Missouri counties: Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, Perry, Saint Charles, Saint Francois, Ste. Genevieve, St...
.
Background
- Cardinal Ritter Prep opened its doors on September 6, 1979. Named for Cardinal Joseph Ritter, Archbishop of St. Louis in the mid-1900s, Cardinal Ritter Prep honors its namesake as one of the most prominent and influential church and civic leaders of the century.
In 1977- 1978, a community representative task force was established by the Board of Catholic Education of the St. Louis Archdiocese to study the future existence of a Catholic school in the old Labouré location at in North St. Louis. Arrangements to establish Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School as a co-educational college preparatory high school began in August 1979.
On May 18, 2003, Cardinal Justin Rigali dedicated the new Cardinal Ritter Preparatory High School at 701 N. Spring Avenue, St. Louis. The school opened its doors for students in August 2003.
Cardinal Ritter Prep provides an educational program that prepares students for leadership roles in a multi-ethnic society. Although we are a Catholic high school, our student body represents a wide variety of faiths. The majority of the student body is not Catholic. Our school serves as a magnet, inviting and attracting students who are committed to their education and to becoming the best possible citizen.
Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School has educated students from the entire St. Louis region for more than 25 years. It opened a new, state-of-the-art school in Grand Center in 2003. All Cardinal Ritter Prep seniors graduate and move on to college.
Cardinal Ritter Prep is a national model for successful urban education. Partnered with the Archdiocese, businesses and the community, they are known for their commitment to high academic standards, innovation, and student and alumni community involvement.
Cardinal Ritter College Prep has a college preparatory curriculum that applies the most advanced learning theories and technology, and their world-class facility provides a strong learning environment. They have developed partnerships with art and cultural organizations, universities, businesses and community groups to give students a breadth of experiences. Their mission is to help students build knowledge, appreciation and understanding of the community and the larger world.
The Cardinal Ritter Prep environment is loving, nurturing, and fun, with energetic and committed faculty and staff who hold high expectations for themselves and their students. Graduates take great pride in their high school alma mater and serve as role models and community leaders.
School Mission
- "Cardinal Ritter College Preparatory High School is a Catholic urban high school which educates primarily African-American young men and women who are both traditional and non-traditional college bound students.
- At graduation, through the triple thrust of Academic Excellence, Faith Development, and Leadership Development, young men and women will be able to successfully serve their African-American and global communities."
Thekla Ave. (1979-2003)
- When the school first opened, it was located on 5421 Thekla Ave. Saint Louis, Missouri, 63120, located in the neighborhood of Walnut Park. The school had a great relationship with its surrounding community.
North Spring Ave. (2003-Present)
In 2003, at the beginning of he school year, the new state-of-the-art Cardinal Ritter was erected on 701 N. Spring Ave, St. Louis, Missouri, 63108. It is in the heart of the Grand Center.Academics
- Cardinal Ritter, being a College Preparatory school, has a varied grading scale compared to other high schools in its area. Here, you need 30 credits to graduate.
Curriculum
- English (4.5 credits)
- Mathematics (4.5 credits)
- Theology (4 credits)
- Science (4 credits)
- Social Studies (3 credits)
- Foreign Language (2 credits)
- Physical Education (1 credit)
- Computer Science (1 credit)
- Orientation (1 credit)
- Leadership (1 credit)
- Fine Arts (1 credit)
- Health (.5 credit)
- Consumer Econ. (.5 credit)
- Keyboarding (.5 credit)
- Electives (2.5 credits)
Athletics
- The school is in MSHSAA Class 3. The athletic conference they are a member of is the Archdiocesan Athletic Association. The school has 8 varsity sports. Sports offered here are Football, Volleyball, Dance, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Baseball, Boys Track & Field, and Girls Track & Field.
State championships
| Boys Basketball | 1990, 1995, 1996, 2001(*) 2003, 2006, 2010 |
| Girls Basketball | 2009, 2010(**) |
| Boys Track & Field | 1990, 1994, 1998 |
| Boys Football | 2005(***), 2008 (**) |
Note: * - Third place; ** - Second place; *** - Semifinals
Student Organizations
- Art Club
- Book & Breakfast Club
- Brotherhood
- Chess
- Club
- Choir
- Diversity
- Drama Club
- Fusion Teen
- Golf Club
- Intern Leadership Program
- National Honor Society Pastoral Team
- Sisterhood
- Spanish Club
- Spoken Word
- Student Ambassador
- Student Council
Intern Leadership Program (ILP)
- The mission of the Intern Leadership Program (ILP) is to provide incentives for talented African-American youth to choose to live in, work in and provide leadership in the St. Louis region for civic and economic life after college graduation.
The ILP, which was funded by a generous grant from the Danforth Foundation, gives African-American youth opportunities beyond college graduation, to encourage leadership in the St. Louis community and to develop youth as highly productive, responsible citizens.
Cardinal Ritter Prep juniors and seniors in the ILP can receive leadership scholarships and summer internships with local major employers. ILP is a six-year program, with students trained in professional development and placed in internships throughout college. Upon college graduation, participants are in an excellent position to earn a job with the company for which he or she has interned through the program. The first phase of ILP students graduated from college in 2007.
Notable alumni
Loren WoodsLoren Woods
Loren Woods is an American professional basketball player, currently playing with Zob Ahan Isfahan BC in the Iranian Basketball Super League...
- Lebanese Basketball League
Lebanese Basketball League
The Lebanese Basketball League or FLB League or BANKMED FLB League is the top basketball league in Lebanon and one of the top leagues in Asia. It is organised annually as a national championship with playoffs and a national cup by the Lebanese Basketball Federation . The Men Division A made up of...
Player
Chris Carrawell
Chris Carrawell
Chris Carrawell is an American professional basketball player who was selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2nd round of the 2000 NBA Draft. Carrawell attended high school at Cardinal Ritter College Prep and played collegiately at Duke University.-External links:**...
- NBA Player
Jahidi White
Jahidi White
Jahidi White is a former NBA professional basketball player.-Basketball career:Jahidi White attended high school at Cardinal Ritter College Prep. While at Ritter, White teamed with future Duke University player Chris Carrawell, and ex-NBA player Loren Woods...
- ex NBA Player