Bishop O'Dowd High School

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Bishop O'Dowd High School
Image:school_544.gif

motto = Cor unum in Christo
trans. One heart in Christ.
Established 1951
Religious affiliation Roman Catholic
Administration Stephen Phelps, Ed.D., President
Joseph G. Salamack III, M.A., M.S., Principal
Barbara Goodson, Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Lisa Tortorich, M.A., Assistant Principal for Academics
Location Oakland, CA, USA
Campus Urban
Enrollment 1170
Faculty 77
Average class size 27
Student:teacher
ratio		 15:1
Average SAT
scores (2006)		 603 verbal
643 math
Athletics 16 CIF Varsity teams
Color(s) Black and Gold
Mascot Dragon
Homepage www.bishopodowd.org

Bishop O'Dowd High School is a Catholic, co-educational, college preparatory school in Oakland, California, administered by the Diocese of Oakland. Bishop O'Dowd requires all students to participate in Catholic Christian religion classes, but a vast number of students are of other faith backgrounds or do not practice an organized religion. The school has a strong academic program, high college matriculation, and well-known alumni. Bishop O'Dowd is also regarded as a more affordable alternative to secular private college preparatory schools schools such as College Preparatory and Head Royce.

Contents

[edit] History

Bishop O'Dowd High School is named in memory of the former Director of Education of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Bishop James T. O'Dowd. At the time of his sudden death, the Bishop was in the process of drawing up plans for a new Catholic high school in the East Bay.

Archbishop of San Francisco John Joseph Mitty established O'Dowd as a Catholic, co-institutional high school (boys and girls on the same campus, but separated for most activities). The school opened in September 1951 with 120 freshmen in facilities provided by St. Louis Bertrand School, with a faculty of two Diocesan priests, four Adrian Dominican Sisters and Fr. Mark J. Hurley as the first principal.

In September 1952, classes met for the first time on the present campus. A grade level was added each year until the school reached capacity enrollment of 900 students with its first graduates in 1955. In these early years Diocesan priests administered the school.

After the new Diocese of Oakland was formed in 1962, Bishop Begin transferred the administration of the school to the California Province of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1966. Later the school became fully co-educational served by both Adrian Dominican Sisters and the Oblate Fathers.

In 1978 the Diocese transferred the administration of the school to the Congregation of St. Basil (Basilian Fathers). The Adrian Dominican Sisters continued to staff the school until 1994 when they withdrew, citing declining numbers. It was during this era that the school began to see major physical changes to the campus, which included a football field with bleachers, additional parking, new computer labs and expanded library facilities with a computerized on-line system.

In 1991, the science labs were updated and the school was made accessible to the physically challenged with the addition of an elevator. A two-story, ten-classroom addition opened in 1993 to replace the five portables that had served as classrooms since the 1960's.

On July 1, 2005 the Diocese of Oakland established a President/Principal model of governance with a Board of Regents of Limited Jurisdiction designed for the 21st century. Three Basilian Fathers remained in non-administrative roles for the 2005-06 school year, but withdrew in June of 2006 because of declining numbers. For the first time, laymen and women administered Bishop O'Dowd High School.

[edit] Recent Upgrades

In the summer and fall of 2006, a science classroom was added, and in more than 10 classrooms, ceiling-mounted projectors were added. The wireless network access was upgraded to provide for whole-campus coverage, and all teachers were provided with a Tablet PC.

[edit] Academics

Bishop O'Dowd's college preparatory curriculum includes Advanced Placement courses in 19 subjects, and an enhanced range of services to accommodate college preparatory students with learning differences. The curriculum includes honors courses in mathematics, language, English, social studies and science, and computer programming and multimedia design. A fully integrated arts and drama program, an environmental science program, and five languages are also offered. Students participate in a 100-hour service-learning program. A wireless technology environment allows students and faculty easy access to the Internet, and encourages student-centered learning. Students are encouraged to bring and use their laptops on campus.

The average SAT score for the O'Dowd class of 2005 was 1246. The national and state averages were 1028 and 1020.

Approximately 98 percent of graduating seniors enroll in colleges and universities in California and across the nation.

[edit] Demographics

African American 15%, Asian 10%, Euro-American 48%, Latino 7%, other 20%.

[edit] Student Life

[edit] Clubs

An extensive student activities program includes student government, an award-winning Junior State of America program, Dragon Ambassadors, the ski club, and more than 30 student clubs.

[edit] Athletics

Over 800 athletes participate in 16 interscholastic sports on 55 teams. Popular sports include Football, Men's Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Water Polo and Men's and Women's Lacrosse.

[edit] Technology

Bishop O'Dowd's technology program has increased greatly in its capacity. Teachers are encouraged to integrate technology into the classroom, and students are encouraged to bring laptops to class. All students and faculty at Bishop O'Dowd have access to computer labs on campus and in-house technology support. Technology Department head: Paul Jackson. Department Head of Audio / Visual: Mike Rieder, successor to Owen Derby.

[edit] Accreditation and Membership

O'Dowd is accredited by and/or affiliated with the following organizations:

[edit] Notable Alumni

Notable Bishop O'Dowd alumni include:

[edit] External links

[edit] References

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