- O'Connell College Preparatory School
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O'Connell College Preparatory School 
Address 1320 Tremont
Galveston, Texas, (Galveston County), 77550
United StatesCoordinates 29°17′49″N 94°47′26″W / 29.29694°N 94.79056°WCoordinates: 29°17′49″N 94°47′26″W / 29.29694°N 94.79056°W Information Religious affiliation(s) Christian Denomination Roman Catholic Established 1967 Founder Ursuline Academy Founded 1847
Dominican High School
Founded 1882
Kirwin High School
ounded 1927
O'Connell High School
Founded 1968
O'Connell College Preparatory School
Founded 2007 - Present
School board President Judge Wayne Mallia
Vice President
Mrs. Addie Earthman Pappous
Members
Mr. Leeroy Armador
Mr. Michael Christiansen
Mrs. Cynda Mullikin
Oversight Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Principal Mr. Marc Martinez Asst. Principal Mrs. Patti Abbott Staff Mrs. Carey Dunn Finance Manager
Mrs. Cynda Mullikin
Director of College Prep Program
Ms. Erin C. McAfee
Director of Business Development
Mr. Eric Cashiola
Director of Operations and Facilities
Mrs. Jennifer Nelsen
Administrative Assistance
Grades 9–12 Enrollment Approx. 125[1] (2010) Classes Ma Student to teacher ratio 15:1 Color(s) Red and Black Athletics conference T.A.P.P.S. Team name Buccaneers Accreditation(s) Catholic Schools Accreditation Agency Newspaper The O'Chronicle Tuition $7,000 Communities served Galveston County, Texas Feeder schools Holy Family Catholic School Athletic Director Mr. Bob Newton Website http://www.oconnellprep.com O'Connell College Preparatory School (formerly O'Connell Consolidated High School) is a 4-year coeducational parochial/private high school in Galveston, Texas, United States that offers university-preparatory programs. It was founded in 1968 as a consolidation of Galveston Island's three existing Catholic high schools: Kirwin High School (Boys, founded in 1927) and Dominican High School (Girls, founded in 1882) and Ursuline Academy (Girls, founded in 1847) and is the only Roman Catholic high school in Galveston County.[2]
Contents
History
In the fall of 1968, the religious orders operating the three schools agreed on consolidation as a means of continuing Catholic secondary education in Galveston, offering a broader curriculum than was possible in any of the three smaller high schools. Bishop John Morkovsky, S.T.D., approved the plan and appointed a Board of Trustees composed of laymen and priests representing all the parishes in Galveston County. The Board named the newly consolidated school after the Right Rev. Monsignor Daniel P. O’Connell, P.A., pastor of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Galveston from 1933 until his death in 1966, and a long time supporter of Catholic education.[3]
In 2003, after incurring many years of financial debt, Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza announced O’Connell High School would close at the end of the 2003-2004 school year.[citation needed]
Archbishop Fiorenza offered to allow the school to remain open, if funding could be secured that would enable the school to operate without any subsidy from the Archdiocese.[citation needed]
In the spring of 2004 a plan was presented to the Archbishop in which a private foundation, the O’Connell Foundation, would be established with funds from alumni and others in the community. The foundation would offset any expenses previously covered by the Archdiocese, as well as provide for the lease of the campus, which the Archbishop wanted to sell.[citation needed]
Archbishop Fiorenza approved the plan and on July 1, 2004 the school was reopened as O’Connell Consolidated High School. In the spring of 2007, the school's board of trustees decided to rename the school O'Connell College Preparatory School, to help distinguish it from other local public and private schools of secondary education.[2]
In 2008 the Houston Press reported that O'Connell may close due to damage from Hurricane Ike.[4]
See also
- Education in Galveston, Texas
- List of schools in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
References
- ^ Statistical information gathered from Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston's official site [1]
- ^ a b Taylor, Heber. "O'Connell seeks to redefine itself." Galveston County Daily News. September 23, 2007.
- ^ O'Connell Student Handbook
- ^ Connelly, Richard. "Galveston's O'Connell High May Close." Houston Press. Friday November 7, 2008. Retrieved on November 5, 2009.
External links
Categories:- Education in Galveston, Texas
- High schools in Galveston County, Texas
- High schools in Texas
- Private schools in Greater Houston
- Roman Catholic secondary schools in Texas
- Educational institutions established in 1968
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