The North Shore’s Private High Schools

Picturesque high school campuses are not just for movie sets and photo shoots. While the historic buildings and beautiful grounds may look like mere idyllic settings, the private schools throughout the North Shore have a much bigger purpose: learning. These schools have tremendous history, and boast some of the nation’s best and brightest students of yesterday and today. Continuing on with this rich tradition, North Shore private schools are building the foundation for our children’s success tomorrow, right in our own backyard.

• Central Catholic High School
• Austin Preparatory High School
• Malden Catholic High School
• Clark School

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Clark School

One private school boosts enrollment by cutting tuition. While private schools throughout eastern Massachusetts are
raising tuitions, a small school in Danvers has cut the yearly price tag—for some grades nearly in half.

Under Clark School’s “Recession Reality Pricing,” tuition for the lower school (K-8) is now a flat $11,600 instead of $15,700 to $17,900. High School (9-12) tuition costs $10,600, significantly down from last year’s $17,900.

“Despite the poor economic climate, every private and parochial school I surveyed in Greater Boston has raised tuition for the coming school year,” says Clark School Headmaster Jeffrey Clark. “We want to do what’s right for families and at the same time, help us grow the student body for the long run.

The lower tuition has already paid off, Clark says. The High School has 18 students enrolled for the fall, up from eight a year ago. “Parents are impressed with the quality of a Clark education and are thrilled with our more affordable tuition,” Clark says. “We’ve given them an alternative in the private education market. For some, only the parochial schools were within their financial reach. Now we are.”

Founded in 1978, Clark School offers a stimulating, multi-age learning environment for children in kindergarten through 12th grade. Classes are capped at 15 students, allowing teachers to customize each child’s education. Students once considered academically or socially weak in larger classrooms quickly thrive at Clark. Clark students blossom in the non-competitive environment that is as committed to emotional and social growth as it is to academic excellence. Because students are encouraged to take risks and to learn from their errors, they strengthen their self-esteem and develop well-earned maturity.

In the High School, Clark’s innovative “Portfolio Curriculum” invites students to investigate potential careers while they strengthen and expand their academic foundation. The Portfolio Curriculum teaches students to critically examine educational requirements, professional training and the probability of success of not one, but several possible career choices. Parents appreciate the time their child spends learning about and preparing for professional career paths even before applying to college.

Please visit the lovely Clark School campus anytime. There is no deadline to enroll, but space is limited. See for yourself how Clark instills in its students a quality education along with a deep sense of mutual respect, shared responsibility and cheerful co-operation.

Founded: 1878
Enrollment: 91
Tuition: K-8: $11, 600, High School: $10,600 Rolling Admissions
Open Classrooms:
Thursday October 22, 9-10:30
Thursday November 19, 9-10:30
Thursday January 21, 9-10:30
Open House: Sunday, February 7, 1-3:30

487 Locust Street, Danvers, MA 01923
TEL: 978.777.4699
www.clarkschool.com

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Malden Catholic High School

Since 1932, Malden Catholic High School, an independent, college preparatory school, has crafted both a tradition of academic excellence and a family-like community of faith at its fully modern campus in Malden. It is these two interwoven priorities that define the unique experience of a Malden Catholic student.

Sponsored by the Xavarian Brotherhood, Malden Catholic seeks to instill in its young men high personal standards, so that their quality of character can aid them beyond their years here. Though the school has seen great success and growth since its humble beginnings as a small parish high school, it strives to maintain the intimacy of such origins provided for generations of young men bound for rewarding university experiences and successful careers. Students have gone on to pursue goals at such schools as Harvard, MIT, Boston College and Northeastern. The young men here are fostered not just by caring faculty and staff, but also by the community at large.

This nurturing structure as a whole works diligently to ensure that a Malden Catholic education continues to be available to a variety of students by providing more than $1 million annually in financial aid.

Today, Malden Catholic values and celebrates the size and diversity of its community, providing a wide range of both curricular and extracurricular programs. The student body is not only comprised of representatives from more than 40 different communities, but also international students from as far as Korea, China and Europe. The school offers an impressive 13 advanced placement courses, and recently established the St. Francis Xavier Scholars Program to honor students who score in the top 95th percentile on the school’s placement tests. Equal care and consideration is given to the development of skills in those students who may be struggling academically through the Brother Kevin Program, which allows for smaller classes and individualized instruction led by a learning specialist. Recognizing and appreciating the variety of talents the students possess, the school strives to be sensitive to individual differences, calling on each student to develop their full potential.

In addition to a proud athletic tradition, the school offers 30 extracurricular clubs in which each student can continue to develop high standards of scholarship, citizenship, and personal responsibility. Ranging from an award-winning Robotics Team to Model U.N. and Lancers-In-Action social outreach group to Mock Trial and Math Team, there is truly a place for each young man to feel integral, proud, and at home at Malden Catholic.

The Malden Catholic Community embraces the challenge of its tradition, expressed in the school’s motto Plus Ultra, which means “More Beyond.” In a highly competitive market, Malden Catholic is distinguished by its commitment to the spiritual, intellectual, creative, social, and physical development of its students, along with a dedication to the message of the Xaverian Brothers. The school offers value for today, and excellence for a lifetime. For consideration, apply online at www.maldencatholic.org.

Founded: 1932
Enrollment: 700
Average Class Size: 22
Student Teacher Ratio: 13:1
College Matriculation: 98%
Tuition: $10,650 (2009-10)
Financial Aid Awarded: $1 million+
Open House: Sunday, October 18th

99 Crystal Street, Malden, MA 02148
TEL: 781.322.3098
www.maldencatholic.org

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Austin Prepatory School

Austin Preparatory School is a Catholic,
independent day school founded in 1961 by the
Augustinian Friars of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova.  The school is coeducational and serves both middle and high school-aged students in the spirit of the Augustinian tradition, striving always as a community towards the ideal of its school motto:

“One mind, one heart, intent on God.”

Austin Prep enrolls just over 200 middle school and 500 high school students who represent over 55 communities in northeastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.  While we are a Catholic school, we welcome students from all faiths and religious backgrounds, claiming approximately 75% of our students as Roman Catholic. Through a rigorous liberal arts curriculum, extensive co-curricular program, and supportive, spiritually minded environment, Austin Prep students uniquely develop and mature in mind, body, and character.

Academically, Austin Prep offers a rigorous liberal arts curriculum through its unique Phase System, designed to ensure students are placed in courses corresponding to their academic ability.  Classes are small, and students work closely with the school’s dedicated faculty at a very low student/teacher ratio. The school’s curriculum allows students to learn personal responsibility and pride in achievement, as well as providing more than adequate preparation for the challenges of a university curriculum.

The Augustinian tradition in which the school was founded remains one of its most unique and distinguishing features.  At Austin Prep, it is understood that the school’s long-term impact on society must bear witness to its Catholic and Augustinian heritage.  Students are educated in the Catholic faith from every dimension, while seeking to unite the search for knowledge and the understanding of gospel values. These fundamental values are incorporated into students’ daily work and relationships with one another, creating a community of intellectually informed, morally grounded, and academically dedicated teachers and students.

Due to the extended nature of the Austin Prep program covering grades 6-12, the school has the resources and time necessary to offer wide-ranging opportunities for academic, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual growth at the most critical stages of a student’s adolescent development. Through consistent interaction with adults in the school community, along with encouragement to explore and discover new things, make new friends, and challenge oneself academically, students grow in confidence and self-esteem, and are instilled with such fundamental Augustinian values as honesty, integrity, generosity, and compassion toward others. It speaks to the quality of the Austin Prep experience that recent years have seen a surge in legacy enrollments. The ever-increasing number of siblings, cousins, sons, and daughters of the school’s proud alumni that choose Austin Prep contributes greatly to the family tradition and community atmosphere in which the school takes so much pride.

Founded: 1961
Enrollment: 725
Tuition: $13,700
Campus: 50 Wooded Acres
Communities Represented: 55 from Northeastern MA and Southern NH
Student Teacher Ratio: 11:1

101 Willow Street, Reading, MA 01867
TEL: 781.944.4900
www.austinprepschool.org

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Central Catholic High School

“In the midst of Lawrence city, stands the school we love,” intones the opening line of Central Catholic’s alma mater.  Be assured – this school is deeply loved by generations of its alumni and families!  With its 75th anniversary fast approaching and many exciting events planned for the celebration, alumni will be returning in droves. Some have yet to see the nearly $13M newest academic building completed just a few years ago.  Twenty new classrooms, state-of-the-art science laboratories, art studios and a host of other additions and renovations are certain to delight returning alumni.

Central Catholic High School, founded by the Marist Brothers in 1935, is one of the premier secondary schools on the North Shore. Strictly a day school, the private co-ed institution from its inception has educated generations of the Merrimack Valley’s doctors, lawyers, educators, political leaders and highly skilled professionals in a myriad of fields.   In fact, over 13,000 generous, talented alumni continue to maintain their connections to Central Catholic, in many cases, decades after graduating.

What is it about Central Catholic that attracts the enthusiastic, diverse student body enrolled at the school? First and foremost, the academic program is highly regarded by colleges and universities. With SAT scores consistently surpassing state and national averages, and Advanced Placement Exams with outstanding results, the college enrollment rate is 99% annually. Students matriculate at colleges and universities as diverse as the population itself, including some of the nation’s most elite institutions such as Brown, Columbia, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Notre Dame, Princeton and University of Pennsylvania.

As part of its mission to ‘serve the least favored’, Central Catholic has embraced a unique ethnic and socio-economic diversity resulting in a student-mosaic that enriches all who are fortunate enough to be a part of it.  Many students and their parents credit the caring, passionate faculty of the school for motivating and challenging the student body, however, teachers like Andrew Nikonchuk of the science department (an alumnus of both Central Catholic and Harvard), say it’s due to the many intangibles possessed by the students themselves. “We attract bright, motivated young men and women who are happy to come to school every day to be challenged. They love the environment here so it encourages teachers to make life- long learners out of them.” Like Nikonchuk, nearly 30% of the faculty and staff are graduates of Central Catholic and have a desire to extend this educational legacy – preparing hearts and minds for college and life. Faculty members are competitively compensated, supported by extensive professional development opportunities and are well respected by students, peers, and the larger educational world alike, as evidenced by the numerous national and regional awards and recognition faculty continue to receive.

Noticeable in the life of students at Central Catholic is the plethora of opportunities for extra-curricular involvement.  There are over 40 clubs and activities ranging from the competitive and highly successful MOCK TRIAL team to the completely recreational FISHING club, with many in between. The school’s outstanding athletic program will never be overlooked with nearly half the student body participating in sports and over 80% of the varsity teams competing at the state tournament level.  Central Catholic has a proud tradition of spirited fans celebrating its winning ways and student-athletes give their fans plenty to celebrate, including this year’s Massachusetts MIAA Division 1 Girls’ Basketball championship. 

It’s exposure to the arts that compels another component of Central Catholic’s talented student population to attend. Every freshman has a required fine or performing arts course to select from and there are numerous electives for students wishing to venture further into the arts. The school’s 35-year tradition in Theatre Guild continues to attract the creative to perform at sellout productions throughout the school year.  Both chorus and band are academic offerings available to students, with the school’s music program having proudly evolved over recent years to include pep, concert, jazz and liturgical bands. Lively fine and performing arts nights feature student-artists and their works with many outstanding individuals continuing on to pursue their interests at art and music schools including NYU and the Berklee College of Music.

The spiritual life of students at Central Catholic is fostered and deepened by the study of religion, participation in liturgies, prayer services, retreats, and community service projects.  Through Campus Ministry activities, the religiously diverse school community integrates faith actively into the academic, ethical and social realms of life.  Students are taught to focus on others through the ONE DAY Christian service program which partners Central’s students with over 100 area agencies.

Central Catholic High School is a vibrant community with many exciting opportunities planned for its future, including foreign and domestic travel programs, increased  ‘green’ initiatives (for which the school was recently recognized), development of athletic fields, and of course the excitement of celebrating 75 years of a tradition of excellence in college preparatory education.

Founded: 1935
Enrollment: 1350
Source of Students: Private Schools- 43%, Public Schools- 57%
Student/Teacher Ratio: 17:1
AP Courses: 13
Scoring 3 or better on 2009 AP exams: 92%
Tuition: $9,750
Communities Represented: 39 Northern MA and Southern NH
Interscholastic Athletic Teams: 56
Open House: Sunday, October 18th, 1-4 pm
Shadow Program: Sept. to Dec., by appointment
Entrance Exam Dates: Saturday Nov. 14th or Saturday Dec. 12th

300 Hampshire Street, Lawrence, MA 01841
TEL: 978.682.0260
www.centralcatholic.net

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