St. Pius X is proud to announce its new educational initiative

St. Pius X School is pleased to be working closely with Loyola University to introduce the highly sought after Montessori primary program. Loyola has one of the premier Montessori graduate programs in the country and its Center for Montessori Education houses the oldest Association Montessori Internationale (AMI)-accredited training center in North America. (Read the FAQ).

Archdiocesan Schools awarded accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI)

Dr. Ronald J. Valenti, Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, informed school administrators and families of students in Archdiocesan schools this week that the Archdiocese’s Division of Schools and all Archdiocesan Catholic schools have been awarded accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), an accreditation division of AdvancED, the world’s largest accrediting and school improvement organization. Formerly affiliated with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the Archdiocese sees the change as instrumental in promoting accountability and quality as it continues the process of strengthening its entire school system. (Read the full press release).

If my child is going from a consolidated school to any Catholic school, do I have to pay the application fee?

There have been many questions regarding application fees - those fees used to cover processing applications and other tasks associated with the application process. Through our calls, we understand that many families have been paying application fees, and in some instances, multiple application fees as they attempt to find a new school. Archbishop O’Brien is quite concerned about this negative impact of application fees. The Archbishop has asked that all schools (not just receiving schools) waive the application fee for any child coming from a consolidated school. Schools that have already accepted application fees have been asked by the Archbishop to issue a refund. (Note: This refund only applies to the application fees.)

(Read the full FAQ's)

A New Catholic Elementary School at Seton Keough

Opening Late August 2010!

Operating on the campus of the Seton Keough High School (across from S. Agnes Hospital), this school will serve children PreK(4)-8th Grade. Schedules will be created for sharing common areas, as well as staggering of arrival and departure times. Students will have access to the Cafeteria, gym, and auditorium and there is plenty of outdoor green space for recess and activities.

(Download the PDF brochure)

Architectural Renderings of Proposed School

We are prepared to build the first new Catholic school in Baltimore City in 50 years on the campus of the Seton Keough High School if we meet our fundraising goal through our capital campaign. Further, we hope to provide an equally dynamic enhancement to Catholic school education in East Baltimore with a total renovation and expansion of the 163-year-old building that will be the new home for both Ss. James and John and St. Katharine students.

Does the Archdiocese plan to sell the properties or buildings on the consolidated school grounds?

The Archdiocese has not been involved in any negotiations to sell the properties on which the schools are located. Several Cardinal Gibbons students and alumni believe that we have sold the Cardinal Gibbons School property to St. Agnes Hospital. These rumors are unfounded. We have not entered into any type of an agreement with St. Agnes Hospital relative to the sale of the property. We will be conducting an evaluation over the next year to determine the use of all school buildings impacted by the consolidations. Many of the consolidated school buildings are owned by a Catholic parish, that will determine whether the building is retained for the parish’s use, leased or sold. School buildings owned by the Archdiocese will be considered for lease, sale or redevelopment.

On March 5, 2010 the Baltimore Sun released a statement from St. Agnes Hospital regarding their lack of interest in the Cardinal Gibbons property.

(Read the full article)

Bishop Madden meets with Cardinal Gibbons students

“A day after finding out their school would be one of 13 consolidating in June, about 150 students and supporters of The Cardinal Gibbons School showed their spirit March 4 outside the Catholic Center, the Archdiocese of Baltimore headquarters” . . .

(Read the full article)

Analysis: Economics, era lead to reorganization of Archdiocesan schools

“When Monsignor Robert L. Hartnett was appointed executive director of schools planning for the Archdiocese of Baltimore in early 2009, the task was unenviable: head a team that would develop recommendations concerning school consolidations” . . .

(Read the full article)