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St. Thomas High School (Houston)

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St. Thomas High School is an all-boys, Catholic college preparatory school in Houston, Texas. Founded in 1900, St. Thomas is the second oldest continuously operating private high school in Houston behind Incarnate Word Academy, which was founded in 1873. The school is operated by the Basilian Fathers in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

St. Thomas High School
Address
Map
4500 Memorial Drive

Houston
,
Texas
77007

United States
Coordinates29°45′44″N 95°24′29″W / 29.76222°N 95.40806°W / 29.76222; -95.40806
Information
TypePrivate boys secondary school
MottoTeach me Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge
DenominationRoman Catholic
Patron saint(s)St. Thomas Aquinas
Founded1900 (1900)
PresidentFr. James Murphy, CSB
PrincipalDr. Aaron Dominguez
Grades9–12
CampusUrban
Color(s)Red and White    
SongSt. Thomas Alma Mater
Fight songEagle Fight Song
Athletics conferenceTAPPS 6A
MascotTom Eagle
NicknameEagles
RivalsStrake Jesuit,
St. Pius X
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools[1]
NewspaperThe Eagle
YearbookAquin
Tuition$25,550
AffiliationBasilian Fathers
Websitewww.sths.org

Entrance to St. Thomas High School

History

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St. Thomas High School was established in 1900 as St. Thomas College and housed that year at Franklin Avenue and Caroline Street. The founders were the Rev. Nicholas Roche, C.S.B. and two other Basilian Fathers. When the original school suffered hurricane damage, the Fathers relocated to Capitol and Main. In 1903, permanency was assured when Father Roche bought a block of land at Austin and Hadley and constructed Houston's first College Preparatory School for boys. Thanks to the foresight of a native Texan, The Rev. T.P. O'Rourke, C.S.B., educator and author, St. Thomas High School in 1940 moved to the current site on the bank of Buffalo Bayou. The college section later became the University of St. Thomas. Father A.L. Higgins directed the building of the new facility, which has expanded in later years. During Houston's 20th century growth into a focus of world culture, St. Thomas High School has trained men of vision and responsibility, winners of national and international fame; statesmen, churchmen, artists, historians, athletes, civic and business leaders, industrial pioneers, and citizens of many talents.

The school was named after St. Thomas Aquinas, the patron saint of students and education. St. Thomas has occupied its current (as of 2023) site since 1940. The school's location in central Houston on the north bank of the Buffalo Bayou at Memorial and Shepherd which places it 3 miles from Downtown Houston. The campus is self-contained with a fine arts center, computer lab, library, competition gymnasium, baseball field, chapel, and stadium, most housed in distinguished Texas Cordova Shell Stone[2] buildings.

By the 2010s St. Thomas sought to expand but lacked land needed to build more buildings.[3] As of July 2013 St. Thomas High School and the investment group AV Dickson Street were engaged in a dispute over the acquisition of the High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice (HSLECJ) property of the Houston Independent School District (HISD).[4] On Thursday July 18, 2013 the HISD board rejected both requests. David Thompson, the HISD board attorney, stated that both bidders violated the district's code of silence policy.[5] In November of that year HISD sold the former HSLECJ to St. Thomas.[6] HISD received $60 million from St. Thomas.[3]

At the time of sale HISD was still using the HSLECJ campus and St. Thomas had to wait until the new campus for HSLECJ opened before repurposing it.[7] HSLECJ, later renamed to High School for Law and Justice, moved to its new campus in 2018.[8] The HSLECJ was named the Joplin Campus,[9] and select portions were opened in 2020.[10] The dedication was held November 2020.[11]

Location

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St. Thomas High School is situated west of Downtown Houston on the wooded banks of Buffalo Bayou at the corner of Memorial Drive and Shepherd.

Feeder schools

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A majority of students at St. Thomas come from various private, Catholic, and parochial grade schools such as St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Anne (Houston), St. Michael's, St. Cecilia's, St. Rose of Lima, St. Theresa, and The Regis School of the Sacred Heart within the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston, but a significant part of the student body comes from other area Christian schools. Students from public middle schools also often choose to apply for admission for their freshman year.

Transportation

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As of 2019, the school has four bus routes: Pearland,[12] Christ the Redeemer Catholic School in Cypress, St. Martha Catholic School in Kingwood, and St. Edward Catholic School in the Spring area.[13]

Campus

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In 2012 Richard Connelly of the Houston Press ranked St. Thomas as the third most architecturally beautiful high school campus in Greater Houston. Connelly said that "An appropriately churchy feel to the entrance relieves the somewhat banal industrial feel of the wings."[14]

The Joplin Campus includes strength/conditioning and sports medicine facilities as well as 20,000 square feet (1,900 m2) locker rooms for basketball and wrestling teams.[10] The weight training room was previously a cafeteria. The auditorium at Joplin has a capacity of 630. St. Thomas also built a new baseball field summer of 2023 (Fr. Wilson Field).[7]

Student body

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In 2013 there were 745 students, with 63% being non-Hispanic White, 21% being Hispanic or Latino, 7% being African-American, 6% being Asian, and 3% being multiracial. In 2013 students came from over 130 ZIP codes. The school administration stated that this is because St. Thomas is in the center of the Houston metropolitan area. In 2013 it had 105 full-time employees.[3]

Notable alumni

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Athletics

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St. Thomas originally competed in the now defunct T.C.I.L. (Texas Christian Interscholastic League) That league began in 1935 under the direction of Rev. Albert Mitchell (principal of Central Catholic, San Antonio) St. Thomas' last year of competition in the T.C.I.L. concluded when the league came to a close in the 1999-2000 athletic season. The Eagles are proud owners of numerous District, Regional and State Championships in various sports that date back from over the past 100 years, as well as several within the past five years in their current league. The athletic department provides 12 different programs which are: Baseball, Basketball, Cross-Country, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Rugby, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track & Field, and Wrestling.

Currently, St. Thomas competes in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS). The Eagles have prospered well in its league with numerous district and state championships. The most recent state championship came in 2023 with the cross-country team winning the state title.

In May 2008 the school hired Craig Biggio, the former Houston Astros second baseman and Hall of Famer, as head baseball coach.[22] Biggio remained the head coach until he stepped down at the conclusion of the 2012–2013 school year.[23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ SACS-CASI. "SACS-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement". Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved June 23, 2009.
  2. ^ [St. Thomas High School In the 20th Century, Copyright 2000 by St. Thomas High School]
  3. ^ a b c Wilkinson, Emily (November 22, 2013). "Deal of the Week: St. Thomas nabs coveted HISD land for $60M". Houston Business Journal. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  4. ^ Willey, Jessica. "Old HISD building center of property fight." KTRK-TV. Tuesday July 16, 2013. Retrieved on July 18, 2013.
  5. ^ Mellon, Ericka. "HISD board rejects both bids for high school property." Houston Chronicle. July 18, 2013. Retrieved on July 18, 2013.
  6. ^ Wray, Dianna (November 18, 2013). "HISD Sells High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice to St. Thomas". Houston Press. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Smith, Cara (May 6, 2016). "Exclusive: Houston private school reveals plans for 11-acre prime plot". Houston Business Journal. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  8. ^ "High School for Law and Justice celebrates new building with grand opening". Houston Independent School District. August 28, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  9. ^ "Kirksey Architecture Uniting Two Distinct Campuses with Joplin Expansion". St. Thomas High School. December 21, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Proud to Unveil Jane and Bill Joplin '54 Campus Expansion || Advancing the St. Thomas Footprint". St. Thomas High School. August 9, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  11. ^ "Joplin Campus Dedication || Commitment to Change, Serve, Succeed". St. Thomas High School. November 20, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  12. ^ "St. Thomas High School Bus Transportation Information Sheet" (PDF). St. Thomas High School. Retrieved October 25, 2019. and "2019-20 School Bus Route". St. Thomas High School. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  13. ^ "Transportation". St. Thomas High School. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  14. ^ Connelly, Richard. "The 7 Best-Looking High Schools in Houston." Houston Press. Tuesday May 22, 2012. 2. Retrieved on May 27, 2012.
  15. ^ 1979 Official Congressional Directory: 96th Congress, 1st Session. Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1979.
  16. ^ Dooley, Tara (September 13, 2005). "Houston native ready to dance with the stars". Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  17. ^ "In the on-deck circle of life, Craig Biggio's son now a budding pro". HoustonChronicle.com. March 15, 2017.
  18. ^ Hauser, Melanie (January 15, 2018). "HCHSA Insider: As he turns 95, Jackie Burke Jr. still dishes out lessons on golf and life". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  19. ^ Vara, Richard (April 11, 2008). "Houston priest named San Antonio auxiliary bishop". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  20. ^ Baddour, Dylan (July 15, 2015). "Houston GOP activist Steven Hotze: 'Kids will be encouraged to practice sodomy in kindergarten'". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  21. ^ "St. Thomas High School:Hall of Honor". sths.org. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  22. ^ "St. Thomas hires Biggio, Hollas (w/audio)." Houston Chronicle.
  23. ^ Jenkins, Jeff (March 4, 2014). "Lousteau hopes to add new chapter to St. Thomas baseball legacy". Retrieved April 9, 2019.
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