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St. Francis de Sales High School (Chicago, Illinois)
Encyclopedia
St. Francis de Sales High School is a private
, Roman Catholic High School
in Chicago, Illinois. It is located on the southeast side of the city, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
.
of Geneva and Doctor of the Church
.
The school was started by the School Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Joliet who staffed the St. Francis de Sales parish schools, starting in 1893. In the late 1890s the school began to offer high school courses, though the school did not become a four-year high school until 1937. In the 1950s enrollment saw a significant increase and it became evident that if the school were to meet the educational challenges before it, an expansion of facilities was eminent.
Ground was broken for a new school occurred on February 19, 1956, and two years later, on April 20, 1958 the new building was dedicated. In 1962, the Archdiocese of Chicago officially took over operation of the school.
The current facility houses 30 classrooms and laboratories, a cafeteria, gymnasium, multi-purpose rooms and a chapel.
be successful.
The departments of Art, Technical Graphics, English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Theology, Science and Social Studies each offer comprehensive, four-year programs.
. Teams for young women compete in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC). The men's teams are called the Pioneers, while the women's teams are called the Lady Pioneers. St. Francis de Sales is also a member of the Illinois High School Association
(IHSA) which governs most sports and competitive activities in Illinois, as well as sponsoring many of the state championship tournaments.
The school sponsors interscholastic teams for young men and women in basketball
and soccer. Young women may also compete in cheerleading
, softball
, and volleyball
. Young men may also compete in baseball
, football
, and wrestling
.
The following teams have placed in the top four of their respective IHSA state tournaments or meets:
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 Chicago, Illinois. It is located on the southeast side of the city, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
The Archdiocese of Chicago was established as a diocese in 1843 and as an Archdiocese in 1880. It serves more than 2.3 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties in Northeastern Illinois, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese is divided into six vicariates and 31 deaneries...
.
History
The school is named for St. Francis de Sales (1567–1622), a BishopBishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
of Geneva and Doctor of the Church
Doctor of the Church
Doctor of the Church is a title given by a variety of Christian churches to individuals whom they recognize as having been of particular importance, particularly regarding their contribution to theology or doctrine.-Catholic Church:In the Catholic Church, this name is given to a saint from whose...
.
The school was started by the School Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Joliet who staffed the St. Francis de Sales parish schools, starting in 1893. In the late 1890s the school began to offer high school courses, though the school did not become a four-year high school until 1937. In the 1950s enrollment saw a significant increase and it became evident that if the school were to meet the educational challenges before it, an expansion of facilities was eminent.
Ground was broken for a new school occurred on February 19, 1956, and two years later, on April 20, 1958 the new building was dedicated. In 1962, the Archdiocese of Chicago officially took over operation of the school.
The current facility houses 30 classrooms and laboratories, a cafeteria, gymnasium, multi-purpose rooms and a chapel.
Campus
St. Francis de Sales is located in Chicago, at 102nd and Ewing. The school is accessible by public transportation, but does provide limited transportation to students not otherwise served by public transportation.Academics
Accredited by the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges, St. Francis de Sales’ academic program is guided by standards designed to provide a competent faculty, and a variety of instructional strategies, which allow each student tobe successful.
The departments of Art, Technical Graphics, English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Theology, Science and Social Studies each offer comprehensive, four-year programs.
Athletics
St. Francis de Sales is a member of two athletic conferences. Teams for young men compete in the Chicago Catholic LeagueChicago Catholic League
The Chicago Catholic League is a high school athletic conference based in Chicago, Illinois, USA. All of the schools are currently part of the Illinois High School Association, the governing body for Illinois scholastic sports...
. Teams for young women compete in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC). The men's teams are called the Pioneers, while the women's teams are called the Lady Pioneers. St. Francis de Sales is also a member of the Illinois High School Association
Illinois High School Association
The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High...
(IHSA) which governs most sports and competitive activities in Illinois, as well as sponsoring many of the state championship tournaments.
The school sponsors interscholastic teams for young men and women in basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and soccer. Young women may also compete in cheerleading
Cheerleading
Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
, softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, and volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
. Young men may also compete in baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
, and wrestling
Scholastic wrestling
Scholastic wrestling, sometimes known in the United States as Folkstyle wrestling, is a style of amateur wrestling practised at the high school and middle school levels in the United States. This wrestling style is essentially Collegiate wrestling with some slight modifications. It is currently...
.
The following teams have placed in the top four of their respective IHSA state tournaments or meets:
- Basketball (boys): 4th place (1996–97); 2nd place (1987–88)
- Softball: 3rd place (1987–88)
Notable alumni
- Eric AndersonEric Anderson (basketball)Eric Walfred Anderson is a retired American college and professional basketball player. He attended St. Francis DeSales High School on Chicago's far southeast side and was named 1988's Mr. Basketball for the state of Illinois....
was a professional basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, playing for the New York KnicksNew York KnicksThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
(1992–94) in the NBA.
- Mike Sullivan was a professional offensive lineman (1992–95), playing his entire career for the NFL's Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
. Sullivan is now an offensive line coach for the San Diego ChargersSan Diego ChargersThe San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.