OGDEN — The thirty-six students in the 2008, graduating class of Saint Joseph Catholic High school achieved a 100 percent graduation rate, a 100 percent college acceptance rate, and were offered nearly $2 million dollars in scholarships; all while fielding athletic and academic teams that competed at the state level and providing over 3,850 hours’ service to the community. This balance of mental, physical and spiritual accomplishments typifies the school’s "whole student" approach. Through Saint Joseph’s, students living in the "Top of Utah" have access to a superior, Catholic education. Catholic education has long been important to the residents of Ogden. The original Saint Joseph Catholic School was established in a small wooden building in 1877 by the Rev. Lawrence Scanlan. The steady growth of the Catholic schools in Ogden led to an over-enrollment crisis in the early 1950s. Utah’s Catholic community responded generously and, in 1954, the present Saint Joseph Catholic High School opened its doors. In the half-century since that time the faculty, staff, and administration have worked hard to educate young people for life. This commitment is seen in the core values of prayer, study, work, community, and honesty. Small class sizes permit teachers time to give personal attention to each student and to organize effective before-and-after school study sessions. The athletic teams and clubs at Saint Joseph’s operate on a "no cut" policy which permits students to participate in whatever sport appeals to them. This might seem to be a recipe for creating mediocre teams. The opposite seems to be true. Saint Joseph’s routinely sees its students competing at the state level. Saint Joseph students also excel in the academic arena. Two accreditation agencies – the Northwest Accreditation Association and the Western Catholic Educational Association – provide quality oversight for all of the school’s programs. Being a member of the National Catholic Education Association strengthens the school, as well. The standards of all three of the agencies help shape the school and ensure that it remains competitive with schools across the nation. These high standards obviously pay off. Even with an enrollment of less than two hundred students, the high school is able to offer 10 Advanced Placement (AP) courses. The school’s AP pass rate called the "challenge index," ranks it among the top five percent of high schools in the nation regardless of type or size. Also, in the spring of 2008, the school fielded an Academic Bowl team that competed at the National Finals in Chicago, and has taken this year’s state award for a second year in a row. Even though students learn to be competitive during their time at Saint Joseph, the school manages to maintain its community-minded, Catholic atmosphere. The student lockers have no locks; not because of administrative mandate, but because the students choose to foster an environment of mutual respect and safety. Many of the students at the high school began their academic careers at Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary school. Like its larger sibling, Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary has a strong commitment to safety and academic effectiveness. Students at the elementary school consistently score 40 percent above, or higher, than the national average on standardized tests. These scores are a reflection of the school’s nurturing environment which challenges children to excel and reach their full potential. Both schools serve families from Weber, Davis, Box Elder and Morgan counties and represent a total of eight parishes. Tuition is competitive with other parochial schools in Utah and financial aid is available. Parents interested in enrolling their children at the elementary school are encouraged to attend the new parent information night scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 18. Information for that event can be obtained by calling (801) 393-6051. A similar event will be held at the high school on Thursday, Feb. 12. Interested parents can call (801) 394-1515 for details.
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