| St. Thomas Aquinas High School | |
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Vita ∙ Deo ∙ Veritas
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| Address | |
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| 2801 SW 12th Street Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33312-2953  United States |
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| Coordinates | 26°6′28″N 80°10′49″W / 26.10778°N 80.18028°WCoordinates: 26°6′28″N 80°10′49″W / 26.10778°N 80.18028°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Private |
| Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1936 |
| Oversight | Archdiocese of Miami |
| Dean | Mr. Robert Biasotti |
| Principal | Mrs. Tina Jones |
| Supervising Principal | Monsignor Vincent T. Kelly |
| Faculty | 121 |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Enrollment | 2,152 (2009) |
| Student:teacher ratio | 18:1 |
| Campus size | 20 acres (8 hectares) |
| Campus | Urban |
| Color(s) | Blue and Gold |
| Nickname | Raiders |
| Accreditation(s) | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools [1] |
| Average SAT scores | 578 Critical Reading 576 Mathematics 578 Writing |
| Average ACT scores | 24 (mean composite score) |
| Publication | Spectrum (Literary Magazine) |
| Newspaper | Raider Review |
| Yearbook | Veritas |
| Tuition | $9,500 $7,600 for students and families participating and contributing in a Catholic Parish |
| Website | www.aquinas-sta.org |
St. Thomas Aquinas High School (also known as STA) was established in 1936, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA as St. Anthony Catholic High School. In 1952, it was renamed Central Catholic High School. Finally, in 1961, it was renamed St. Thomas Aquinas High School. Sponsored by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the school has 2,152 students on its 20-acre (81,000 m2) campus in southwest Fort Lauderdale.
Contents |
Academic achievements
- In 1985 and 1996 the school was recognized by the Department of Education initially as a "School of Excellence" and later was awarded the Blue Ribbon Award.
- In 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 the Catholic High School Honor Roll named STA as one of "the Top 500 Secondary Schools in the nation." STA is unique in that it is one of only 111 high schools in the nation to have received this honor in four consecutive years. It is also the only high school in the state of Florida to have this distinction.
National Merit achievements
| Class Year | Semi and Finalists |
Commended | National Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 16 | 32 | |
| 2008 | 33 | 30 | |
| 2007 | 22 | 34 | |
| 2005 | 16 | 23 | |
| 2004 | 27 | 29 | |
| 2003 | 36 | 13th | |
| 2002 | 21 | 35 | |
| 2001 | 25 | ||
| 2000 | 16 | ||
| 1999 | 21 |
Arts achievements
The news television show Raider is aired weekly. The program features student broadcasters from two teams (Blue and Gold, the school's colors) who deliver information on campus news, sports events, and activities around the campus. These broadcasts make the anchors local celebrities and imbue the school with a sense of pride and fun as a morning diversion from the school's courses.[2]
There is an annual film festival. STAsis (St. Thomas Aquinas script into screen - the school's film organization) sponsors the festival which was started in 2005. Held in the last week of April, the festival showcases student films and offers prizes for the top three films. The festival is open to any students of the school.
The St. Thomas Aquinas Choir traveled to Rome, Italy in the spring of 2007 to sing for Pope Benedict XVI.[citation needed]
St. Thomas's drama students performed George Orwell's Animal Farm in March 2009. Two students received Cappie Awards for their achievements in the play.[citation needed]
Several band and orchestra players have become members of the Florida Youth Orchestra, and one student was accepted by the All-State orchestra for the 2008-2009 school year.[citation needed]
Athletic Achievements
- In 2008, the football team was ranked #1 in the nation by USA Today
- In 2005, the school was recognized by Sports Illustrated as the third "Best High School Athletic Program" in the nation.[3]
- STA has won the Broward County All-Sports Trophy for 27 consecutive years.
- STA has won the Dodge Sunshine Cup FHSAA All-Sports award for 12 consecutive years.
State Championships
Men
- Football - 1992, 1997, 1999, 2007, 2008
- Baseball - 1995, 2003
- Basketball - 2001
- Soccer - 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005
- Swimming - 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
- Tennis - 1989, 1994, 2009
- Track and Field - 2008, 2009
- Wrestling - 1985
- Ice hockey - 2006, 2008
Women
- Golf - 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 2001
- Soccer - 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005
- Softball - 1986, 1993, 2002, 2003
- Swimming - 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004
- Tennis - 1972, 1985, 1986, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008
- Track and Field - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
- Volleyball - 1985, 2004
- Lacrosse - 2007
Notable alumni
Athletics
- Foluke Akinradewo - collegiate volleyball player, 2007 NCAA Player of the Year
- Joe Castiglione - athletic director, University of Oklahoma
- Jeremy Cain - professional football player
- Audra Cohen - professional tennis player, 2007 NCAA Women's Singles Champion
- Eric Eichmann - former professional soccer player and participant in the 1990 FIFA World Cup
- Chris Evert - former professional tennis player, member of International Tennis Hall of Fame
- Sean Gallagher - professional baseball player
- Tyler Greene - professional baseball player
- Tavares Gooden - professional football player
- Stefan Humphries - professional football player
- Michael Irvin - professional football player, member of Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Mark Merklein - professional tennis player, competed in men's doubles at 2004 Summer Olympics
- Chad Mottola - professional baseball player
- Kirk Olivadotti - linebackers coach, Washington Redskins
- Sterling Palmer - professional football player
- Brian Piccolo - professional football player, inspiration for the film Brian's Song
- Vladislav Polyakov - Olympian, gold medalist in 200m Breaststroke at 2006 FINA World Championships
- Daryl Porter - professional football player,
- Sanya Richards - U.S. Olympian, Bronze medalist in Women's 400m at 2008 Summer Olympics
- Shawn Riggans - professional baseball player
- Twan Russell - professional football player
- Nate Salley - professional football player
- Mike Stanley - professional baseball player
- Seilala Sua - U.S. Olympian, placed 10th in the Discus at 2000 Summer Olympics
Arts, Entertainment, and Civil Service
- Steven Conrad - American screenwriter and producer, The Weather Man, The Pursuit of Happyness
- Chris Conrad - American Actor, The Next Karate Kid, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
- Michael Connelly - American author, The Black Echo, Blood Work
- Billy Crudup - American actor, Without Limits, Almost Famous, Big Fish
- C. Dale Young - American poet and author, finalist 2004 James Laughlin Award
Law
- William J. Zloch - former U.S. District Court Judge, Southern District of Florida
Other
- Gerard Schaefer - murderer[4]
References
- ^ SACS-CASI. "SACS-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement". http://www.advanc-ed.org/schools_districts/school_district_listings/?. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
- ^ Podcast
- ^ Menez, Gene; Woo, Andrea (May 11, 2005), "Best High School Athletic Programs", Sports Illustrated, http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/magazine/05/11/top.high.school0516/
- ^ "Gerard Shaefer". TruTV. http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/predators/gerard_schaefer/3.html. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
External links
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