Saint Joseph High School recognized as one of 'America's Most Challenging' for academics

Jim Bentz, SJCHS

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Dr. Monika Serbinowska works with AP Statistics students during the fourth-period class. Courtesy photo/Jim Bentz, SJCHS

OGDEN — Saint Joseph Catholic High School has been named one of "America’s Most Challenging High Schools" by the Washington Post.

St. Joseph made the list because such a high percentage of its graduating students take Advanced Placement exams, compared to the national average. The school, which offers 15 AP courses, has boasted a 100 percent four-year graduation rate for several years. Students’ average ACT score is 23.8; their average SAT score is 1,972. Current enrollment is 153.

The ranking means that "we finally get the recognition that we’ve deserved for a long time; the academics have always been really strong at this school and it’s nice that outside organizations are recognizing us for that," said Aaron Ulle, who teaches AP Physics and AP Chemistry at the school.

Patrick Lambert, Saint Joseph Catholic High School principal, agreed, saying he’s heard that the school "is the best-kept secret in the valley … but people should know about the excellent education here, and we’re excited that the word is getting out."

Lambert attributes that excellent education to a highly dedicated faculty, some of whom have been at the school for more than 20 years.

"Each teacher is constantly trying to improve student performance in the class, improve their own delivery," he said. "For being a small school, we’re able to offer this extraordinary number of high honors or AP-level classes. That’s a lot of work for the teachers, to be able to take on those additional responsibilities, but they’re more than willing to do it."

The students also accept the challenge of the advanced-level courses, Lambert said.

One way the students are prepared for the college-level courses is by having met high standards in their regular classes, Ulle said. "Then they recognize that they can achieve these high expectations and so I think that that encourages them to try an even harder class the following year."

The students aren’t always confident of their abilities, Ulle said. For example, 13 of his students took the AP Chemistry test last year, "and if you asked those 13 students who thought that they were going to do well on the test, probably only three or four would have been confident going into the test. Our students at St. Joe’s – they’re surrounded by so many strong students that sometimes they might feel like they’re not quite as good as they really are."

Nevertheless, all but one of the students passed the test, with six of the 13 achieving a perfect score.

Over the years, St. Joseph students’ average on the AP Calculus test is 4.8 out of a perfect 5, compared to the national average of below 3, said Dr. Monika Serbinowska, the school’s math teacher.

Still, the best proof she has of what the school offers is when her former students contact her and thank her for teaching them not only math but life lessons, she said.

Ulle and Serbinowska, as well as all the other teachers at St. Joseph, are dedicated to helping their students succeed, said Joanna Wheelton, president of Saint Joseph Catholic Schools. Both Serbinowska and Ulle answer emails from students at night and on the weekends, they said.

"That’s what I’m here for. That’s my job, right? It’s to help them to learn, and if they need some help I’ve got to help them," Ulle said.

While the national ranking brings attention to the high-achieving students, diversity in learning is appreciated at the school, Wheelton said. "The care for students and the dedication for students isn’t just for our top students it’s for all of them."

With an 8:1 student to teacher ratio, "the teachers here, they recognize when a student starts to slip so they’re able to meet, we’re able to figure out what may be happening in the student’s life and then be able to provide the support that’s needed," Lambert said. "We’re able to have enough sets of caring eyes on the students to be able to help them navigate their school career."

In addition to the stellar academics, St. Joseph offers an award-winning drama department and sports, among other extra-curricular activities.

"That makes for a well-rounded education," Lambert said. "No one in the school can be one-dimensional."

The national ranking didn’t come about overnight, he added. "I don’t think any of it is a surprise to the alumni. It’s a culture, and it’s been building over a number of years."

The school’s mission is to help the students achieve academically, socially, spiritually and physically, and part of its culture is its Catholic identity, Lambert said. Theology is required in all four years, and the students and teachers gather daily for prayer.

"In a way, our Catholic identity brings it all together. We’re not just another private school, we’re a Catholic school. It’s one thing to be high-achieving academically, but it’s a whole ’nother thing to treat each other well in the hallways and be able to recognize that there’s another goal as well: to develop their sense of morality," he said.