St. Vincent–St. Mary High School

St. Vincent–St. Mary High School is a private, co-educational, college preparatory Catholic high school in Akron, Ohio, United States. It is sponsored by the Society of Mary and is associated with the Diocese of Cleveland. As of the 2017–18 school year, the school had an enrollment of 638 students.[3]

St. Vincent–St. Mary High School
Address
Map
15 North Maple Street

,
44303

Coordinates41°5′19″N 81°31′21″W / 41.08861°N 81.52250°W / 41.08861; -81.52250
Information
TypePrivate, catholic, college preparatory
MottoYour Foundation, Your Future
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
Established1897 (St. Mary)
1906 (St. Vincent)
1972 (merger)
OversightSociety of Mary
NCES School ID01058639[3]
PresidentMark Butterworth
DeanDan Larlham
Grades912
GenderCoeducational
Enrollment638 (2017–18)
Average class size23
Color(s)  Green
  Vegas Gold
Athleticsbasketball, bowling, baseball, cross country, football, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, softball, soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field, wrestling, volleyball
Athletics conferenceOhio High School Athletic Association
MascotLeprechaun
NicknameFighting Irish
RivalsArchbishop Hoban
Walsh Jesuit
AccreditationOhio Catholic School Accrediting Association[1]
Cognia[2]
Ohio Department of Education
NewspaperThe Leprechaun Gold
YearbookThe Phoenix
Tuition$13,600 (2024–25)[4]
Websitestvm.com

History

The current St. Vincent–St. Mary High School was formed by the merger of St. Vincent and St. Mary High Schools in 1972. The newly merged school took on the athletic nickname of St. Vincent, the Fighting Irish.

St. Mary High School

In 1887 Richard Gilmour, then Bishop of Cleveland, had commissioned Rev. Dr. Thomas F. Mahar, pastor of St. Vincent Church,[5] the oldest Catholic church in Akron,[6] to establish a mission in south Akron. St. Mary Parish was founded by Rev. Mahar in 1896.[7] The high school was founded a year later. St. Mary's athletic teams were formerly known as the Crusaders.[8]

St. Vincent High School

A high school was opened in September 1906 to provide parishioners' sons with a classical education beyond grade school. The parish had already opened St. Vincent Grade School, Akron's oldest Catholic school still in operation.[9] At the time of the merger, St. Vincent High School had graduated over 6,000 students.[10]

In May 2013, St. Vincent–St. Mary alumnus LeBron James donated $1 million to the school for the purpose of renovating their basketball arena. The project included the installation of a new basketball floor, scoreboard, locker rooms, and bleachers, and the seating capacity, which was raised from 1,600 to 1,831. The subsequently renamed LeBron James Arena now also serves as home of the American Basketball Association's Akron Aviators.[11]


Athletics

The St. Vincent–St. Mary boys' basketball team celebrating a District Championship in 2022

STVM'S biggest rivals include Archbishop Hoban High School and Walsh Jesuit High School.

State championships

  • Football – 1972, 1981, 1982, 1988, 2012, 2013[12]
  • Boys' basketball – 1929**, 1984, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022[13][14][15][16][17]
  • Baseball – 1986, 1989[18]
  • Boys' golf – 1927*
  • Wrestling – 2001[19]
  • Girls' cross country – 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013[13]
  • Girls' basketball – 1979, 1980, 1995
  • Girls' softball – 1979, 1984[13][20]
  • Boys' track – 2011, 2013[13]
  • Girls' track – 2012[13]

* Title won by St. Mary High School prior to merger with St. Vincent.

** Title won by St. Vincent High School prior to merger with St. Mary

Notable alumni

References