| Vincentian Academy | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| McKnight and Peebles Roads Pittsburgh (McCandless), Pennsylvania, United States |
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| Information | |
| Type | Private, coeducational |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic; Sisters of Charity of Nazareth |
| Established | 1932 |
| CEEB Code | 393940 |
| President | John Fedko |
| Principal | Joe Behun (interim) |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | ca. 227 (2011) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 11:1 |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Campus size | 67 acres (270,000 m2) |
| Color(s) | Royal Blue and Gold |
| Mascot | Lion |
| Team name | Royals |
| Accreditation(s) | Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools[1] |
| Website | impels.us/vincentianacademy |
Vincentian Academy is a Roman Catholic college preparatory school near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.
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The Academy comprises three buildings housed on a 67-acre (270,000 m2) campus in McCandless Township, a north suburb of Pittsburgh. There is an approximate 14:1 student-to-teacher ratio,[2] and the enrollment as of the 2011-2012 school year consisted of 70 freshmen, 54 sophomores, 64 juniors, and 39 seniors, a total of 227 students.[3]
Vincentian Academy maintains 100 percent university placement.[3] Vincentian is one of twelve schools in Pennsylvania that offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program.
At Vincentian Academy approximately 80 percent of all juniors and seniors take some IB courses. These courses include anything from IB Higher Level Biology to IB Standard Level Mathematics.[3] Overall, 84 percent of all those students taking IB exams pass. Over the past eight years Vincentian IB diploma candidates have achieved an 82 percent pass rate, which is higher than the world pass rate of 78 percent, and significantly higher than the United States pass rate of approximately 75 percent.[4]
The school was founded by the Vincentian Sisters in 1932 as Vincentian High School. It began an affiliation with Duquesne University in 1995, whereupon it adopted the International Baccalaureate curriculum; the affiliation, during which the school was known as Vincentian Academy–Duquesne University, ended in June 2010.[5]
Early in the 1990s, Duquesne University president Dr. John E. Murray was investigating the possibility of a high school for Duquesne, disturbed by contemporary reports that American high schools were inferior to schools in Europe, Asia, and even third-world countries.[6] Reasoning that a university-affiliated school could be a model for the region and offer an advanced curriculum and integrate the resources of a major university into its operation, Murray explored the possibility as an extension of Duquesne's Spiritan tradition of often unconventional leadership.[6]
Dialogue with the Vincentian Sisters began in 1993; an agreement was finalized 1994, and the inaugurating class was set to enroll in 1995, with Dean Derek Whordley of the Duquesne University School of Education to be president of the new school. In September 1995, Vincentian Academy–Duquesne University became officially operational, and 31 new Academy students were assimilated into the high school classes.[6] A slow expansion was planned, with the new Academy gradually replacing the old Vincentian High School.
The International Baccalaureate program was selected as the new Academy's curriculum because of its international appeal and academic quality.[6] Moreover, it would be an attractive venue for university researchers and a unique experience for teachers. In adopting the IB, Vincentian Academy-Duquesne University became the only Catholic IB school in the world that was part of a major university.[6]
In late January 2010, Duquesne University announced that it would be ending its 15-year partnership with Vincentian Academy. As such, Duquesne no longer has a part in performing administrative duties, nor will it determine a president for the school. The split became effective on June 30, 2010.[5]
Duquesne University had begun to provide administrative support services for Vincentian in 1995 for a five-year period, whereafter the partnership agreement was renewed in 2001 for a 10-year period. Academy principal Sr. Camille Panich noted that the reasons for the partnership had been achieved: "Duquesne has helped strengthen the Academy and position it for long-term success".[7] Duquesne University president Charles J. Dougherty likewise noted that "our partnership agreement for administrative services is concluding with a stronger Vincentian Academy".[7]
Though the formal partnership has ended, some of the benefits that Duquesne University afforded to students, including use of the university's library and science facilities, will continue.[7]
On July 21, 2011, it was announced that Vincentian had appointed as its new president local media personality John Fedko. A press release by the school noted that Fedko would be operating in the role of "Chief Communicator", and principal Sr. Camille Panich noted that he would be working to "help generate even greater awareness of our academy."[8]
The original school's alma mater dates from the founding of Vincentian High School, and so retains that wording.
The current alma mater, which was instituted in 2007, carries the same tune but to different words.
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