St. Patrick Catholic High School (Biloxi, Mississippi)

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Coordinates: 30°33′10″N 89°1′19″W / 30.55278°N 89.02194°W / 30.55278; -89.02194
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St. Patrick Catholic High School
Address
Map
18300 St. Patrick Road

Biloxi
,
(Harrison County)
,
Mississippi
39532

United States
Coordinates30°33′10″N 89°1′19″W / 30.55278°N 89.02194°W / 30.55278; -89.02194
Information
TypePrivate, Coeducational
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
Patron saint(s)St. Patrick
Established2007
School districtDiocese of Biloxi
SuperintendentDr. Rhonda Clark
DeanOrin Eleuterius (2023-Present)
PrincipalBobby Trosclair (2007-2012)

Renee McDaniel (2012-2016) Dr. Matt Buckley (2016-2023)

Trey Bailey (2023-Present)
Grades7–12
GenderCoeducational
Enrollment540 (2020)
Color(s)Navy blue, Green, and Gold    
Athletics conferenceMHSAA 3A
Team nameFighting Irish
RivalSacred Heart High School (Hattiesburg, Mississippi)
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools[2]
TuitionApproximately $7,500
AffiliationNational Catholic Educational Association[1]
Websitewww.stpatrickhighschool.net

St. Patrick Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Biloxi, Mississippi. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Biloxi. The school began as a merger between Mercy Cross High School in Biloxi and St. John High School in Gulfport which were both heavily affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Background[edit]

St. Patrick Catholic High School opened August 13, 2007. The first Catholic high school in Biloxi was Sacred Heart Academy which opened in 1875 as a co-educational school. In 1942 it was decided to open a separate school for boys. This school was named Notre Dame High School. In 1980 it was decided to bring the students back together into one school. This school was named Mercy Cross after the Mercy nuns who opened Sacred Heart High School and the Holy Cross brothers who opened Notre Dame High School.

The first Catholic high school in Gulfport was St. Francis de Sales High School which opened in 1901 and was later renamed St. John High School.

In 2007 the schools in Biloxi and Gulfport came together when Mercy Cross High School in Biloxi and St. John High School in Gulfport combined into St. Patrick Catholic High School.[3]

Recognition[edit]

  • St. Patrick Catholic High School was named the best Catholic High School in the state of Mississippi by Niche in 2019 and has held that honor since in 2020 and 2021.[4]
  • In 2019, St. Patrick Catholic High School was added to the U.S. Department of Education's list of Blue Ribbon Schools.[5]
  • St. Patrick Catholic High School has been recognized by Niche as having a "C" rating for diversity, as well as recognizing in polling that on average, two-thirds of students feel safe at the school, and half feel happy. 89.5% of the school is white.[6] Niche also recognizes that just over one-third of the school student body believes that "kids at this school are friendly," and words that come to mind for students include "Conservative, close-minded, diverse, friendly, unhappy, and unique," with "conservative" coming up in 29% of student responses, and the rest at 14%.

Athletics and Activities[edit]

St. Patrick is a member of the Mississippi High School Activities Association and competes at the 2A level.[7] The school's consistently strong athletic program has won 41 state championships since its founding in 2007.[8] Currently the school provides students with opportunities to participate in:[8]

  • Band
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • Cheer – State Champions 2008
  • Cross Country – State Champions (Men) 2017, 2018, 2020 (Women) 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020[9]
  • Dance – State Champions 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
  • Football
  • Golf – State Champions (Men) 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014 (Women) 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012[10]
  • Powerlifting
  • Soccer – State Champions (Men) 2014, 2016, 2017[11]
  • Softball – State Champions 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018[12]
  • Swim
  • Tennis
  • Track – State Champions (Men) 2021 (Women) 2010, 2011, 2018, 2019, 2021[13][14]
  • Volleyball

Controversy[edit]

  • Sexual controversy: In 2014, a member of the St. Patrick's staff, a mathematics teacher, was arrested and escorted off campus by the Federal Bureau of Investigation due to one count each of transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity and interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.[15] William Richard Pryor confessed to molesting eight boys from 1973 to 2005 while they were students at Bayou View Middle School.[16] Pryor was sent to prison in March 2015 to serve 10 years on one count each of transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity and interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. Pryor filed for compassionate release due to health reasons in October 2021, but it was denied, though in exchange for his plea in the case, prosecutors dismissed two other charges. Pryor was released from the low-security federal prison in Beaumont, Texas at age 77, on Feb. 25, 2023. He will remain on probation for three years after his release and must register as a convicted sex offender for the rest of his life.[17]
  • Racial controversy: In 2016, a photo circulated of a member of the St. Patrick's softball team in the dugout during a game wearing a monkey mask, insinuating racist intent. The school opened an investigation and found no wrongdoing. "The whole idea behind it is to get them fired up and have fun in the dugout. I honestly from the bottom of my heart do not believe that it was the intent of that student to offend anyone," said Matthew Buckley, principal.[18] In contrast, racist behavior, including "calling them [the] Philadelphia team and crowd apes, monkeys and the N-word." Superintendent Mike Ladner responded to these allegations by stating that it is standard behavior for students to wear animal masks in the dugouts, even going so far as to have named it "The Zoo."[19]
The response provided by the Superintendent contradicts what the school principal said, with the Superintendent saying the team simply calls its dugout "The Zoo," while in contrast, the principal stated that the team was hosting a themed event, and different members were wearing different masks. "Buckley said the team chose the theme "The Zoo" and was emulating other SEC college teams that wear masks and props during games." Dr. Buckley also argues that the allegations of racist remarks were untrue, as they were not reported to the opposing team's coach. The remarks were reported to news agencies.[18]

References[edit]

  1. ^ NCEA. "NCEA School Locator". Archived from the original on 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2015-09-24.
  2. ^ AdvancED. "AdvancED-Find Accredited Institutions". Retrieved 2015-09-24.
  3. ^ Biloxi Diocese. "Catholic Schools of Biloxi". Retrieved 2006-12-31.
  4. ^ "2021 Best Catholic High Schools in Mississippi". Niche. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  5. ^ Philippe, Joyce. "St. Patrick Catholic High School earns 1 of 4 National Blue Ribbon awards in Miss". WLOX. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  6. ^ "St. Patrick Catholic High School Students". Niche. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  7. ^ "2019–21 MHSAA Classifications". Mississippi High School Activities Association.
  8. ^ a b "Campus Life – St. Patrick Catholic High School".
  9. ^ "Cross Country Champions". Mississippi High School Activities Association.
  10. ^ "Golf Champions". Mississippi High School Activities Association.
  11. ^ "Soccer Champions". Mississippi High School Activities Association.
  12. ^ "Fast Pitch Champions". Mississippi High School Activities Association.
  13. ^ "Track Champions". Mississippi High School Activities Association.
  14. ^ "HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: The St. Patrick track teams are state champs. Here's who stood atop the podium". Sun Herald. May 3, 2021.
  15. ^ "Former Gulfport teacher sentenced to 10 years in prison for child molestation". gulflive. 2015-03-03. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  16. ^ "Former teacher admits to engaging in sex acts with eight teenage boys from 1973–2005". gulflive. August 21, 2014.
  17. ^ Baker, Margaret (2021-12-03). "Ex-Coast teacher molested young boys for 30 years. Will he get out of prison early?". Sun Herald. Retrieved Mar 28, 2023.
  18. ^ a b "St. Patrick Catholic High responds to racial allegations". WLOX. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  19. ^ Quezada, Angie (2016-05-11). "Racism Alleged at High School Softball Game". Delta Daily News. Retrieved 2020-08-31.

External links[edit]

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