Saint Joseph Catholic High School boasts 100 percent graduation rate four years in a row

Intermountain Catholic

+ Enlarge

Saint Joseph Catholic High School graduates bow their head in prayer after receiving their diplomas and tossing their caps. All of them have been accepted to institutions of higher learning. IC photo/Marie Mischel

OGDEN — With small class sizes, the lowest student:teacher ratio in the state and an emphasis on academics, Saint Joseph High School has had a 100 percent graduation rate for the past few years.

"This is not an ordinary group of kids," said Joanna Wheelton, president of Saint Joseph Catholic Schools of Utah. Although the school’s demographics reflect that of the Ogden area both ethnically and economically, all of the graduating seniors have been accepted at higher learning institutions, with about 50 percent going out of state for their freshman year. Cumulatively they earned $3.9 million, or an average of about $80,000 per senior.

Academic success at St. Joseph comes from the supportive atmosphere, said the three students interviewed for this article.

"What I have learned here in my three years at St. Joe’s is that you always have help," said Alex Henabray, Class of 2013 valedictorian. "There’s always help available to you.... You don’t have to go through a difficult time alone. You have faculty and students here willing to listen to you and help you, which I think is one of the most important things that has helped me be successful."

Like many St. Joseph students, Henabray was involved in many extracurricular activities: He was a member of the tennis team and participated in theater. In addition, he volunteered with the American Red Cross, where he sat on the Board of Directors for a year, and held a part-time job for the past four years.

Although Henabray isn’t Catholic, like the majority of St. Joseph students and staff, "everyone here has been very welcoming... They accept you for who you are," he said.

The school is like a family, said Rachael Sutherland, last year’s Junior Class president who is also a member of the cross country and track teams. "It’s such a tight community that you can do a sport and do varsity cross country, but then also be involved in student government but then also be really academic, too."

Although "everybody knows everything about each other, that’s not a bad thing," Sutherland added. "It’s kind of like a gigantic family. It’s nice to actually have even more support."

Kate Weil, a Sophomore Class officer who also plays soccer and runs cross country, agreed. "They aren’t pushy and in your business, they’re just supportive. If you want to talk, they’ll talk, but if you don’t, then they’re good with letting you be. They just want you to thrive. If you need help they’ll help you whenever you need help. It’s just a great community."

The feeling of family continues even after students leave the school, said Alex Salvo, the athletic director and dean of students. He has been coaching at St. Joseph for 21 years, and many past students stop by at times to talk, he said.

The school has a no-cut policy for sports and other extra-curricular activities, so all the students have an opportunity to learn sportsmanship, team building and the time management skills demanded of athletes, Salvo added. Rather than emphasizing winning, "here it’s about experience and building the person," he said.

Relatively new to the St. Joseph family is Joe Cravens, the educational guidance counselor who also coaches the girls’ basketball team. He came on full-time two years ago after one year part-time. After a 30-year career coaching around the country, he said he was pleased to find that all the teachers at St. Joseph are committed to helping their students.

"I expected my first year as a counselor in dealing with some of these less talented academic students to hear a teacher say, ‘You know, this kid doesn’t belong her,’ and I’ve never, ever heard that. I’ve only heard, ‘Will they stay after school and meet with me? What can we do to help?,’" Cravens said. "At the end of the day, it’s nice to win championships, but it’s their academic future that is most important."