The private Catholic college preparatory school for boys in Los Angeles has a rather fascinating history. It opened its doors for the first time in 1925. To learn more about the school and its mission, visit losangeles1.one.
History of the school’s founding
Cathedral High School (CHS) was founded in 1925 by John Joseph Cantwell. He was an Irish-born American prelate of the Catholic Church who headed the Archdiocese of Los Angeles from 1917 until his death in 1947. He succeeded in becoming its first archbishop (in 1936). His efforts led to the creation of the National Legion of Decency, a Catholic group committed to detecting obscene content in motion pictures. Incidentally, John Joseph Cantwell was himself critical of the United States film industry, which prompted him to create this Legion.
CHS was founded by The Most Reverend Archbishop of Los Angeles as the first archdiocesan high school for boys in Los Angeles. It was built on the site of the Old Calvary Cemetery located at 1253 Bishops Road, Los Angeles, CA 90012. It is known that many influential tycoons of the country found their final resting place here. As the city filled up with immigrants, Old Calvary Cemetery steadily grew. Later, the Old Calvary Chapel was built on the site. It is preserved today within the parish and buildings of St. Peter’s Italian Catholic Church. Although historically, Old Calvary Cemetery has been overbuilt, most of it is now occupied by the CHS.
The first high school for boys
The institution of such a plan, founded by the Archdiocese, was indeed a first. The Brothers of the Christian Schools have been in charge of the institution since its inception. In 1996, CHS reached a historic agreement with the Archdiocese, which allowed it to function as a private Catholic institution. The agreement, which took the form of a lease, was renewed annually. The Brothers of the Christian Schools used the extra funds to increase salaries for teachers and staff, expand educational programs and provide more financial assistance to students.
CHS mission
The institution educates over 700 boys each year. Typically, they all come from low-income families. These families live in the oldest neighborhoods and parishes of Los Angeles.
The primary mission of CHS was to provide education for the working class and disadvantaged youth, providing them with quality college preparatory training.
According to records from the archives, the institution provided education to students across Southern California between 1925 and the end of World War II. Responding to the growing population and the need for more educational facilities, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles took the initiative to build new high schools in the suburbs. During those years, CHS students were predominantly Hispanic.
Who saved CHS from closure?
In 1984, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles made a sad announcement that the school’s assets had been sold off and the institution would be closing by late 1985. This news raised concerns among students, their parents and alumni. This decision was reversed with great effort by all the residents of Los Angeles concerned.
However, it wasn’t all that easy. In December 1984, the Archdiocese declared a moratorium, so CHS remained in operation till June 1987. A significant milestone was the appointment of Bishop Roger Mahony of Stockton as Archbishop of Los Angeles in 1985. He stated that the sale of the school’s assets was invalid and that CHS for boys would continue its work.
The difficulties lay in the dire financial straits of the Christian Brothers. Things worsened by the 1990s due to declining enrollment (down to 300 students), while staff turnover increased. At that time, the Christian Brothers utilized funds from the Benilde Charitable Trust and negotiated an agreement with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. As a result, CHS was transformed into a private Catholic school under a Board of Trustees.
Renovation and repair
Subsequently, it was time to make positive transformations, specifically through renovating the school facilities and implementing a 7-day Programme of Study. CHS also expanded and improved its extracurricular and sports programs. As a result, student enrollment has significantly grown, reaching 500 students. Currently, there are 700 students per year.
In 2003, it was announced that plans were underway to build a new classroom facility and gymnasium. The source of funding came from donations. The old gymnasium was torn down in 2005 and a new one was completed in 2007.
It was decided to retain some things from the previous structure in the new building. So, the wooden floor and the old scoreboard remained intact.
Notable alumni
As early as the late 1960s, students were already learning at the college level. Considerable attention has been paid specifically to those students who were expected to attend 4-year colleges or universities. In addition, every CHS alumnus met the entrance requirements for admission to the University of California.
What is also interesting is that CHS alumni have been admitted to Harvard, Yale, Notre Dame and other nationally prestigious institutions. They have excelled in significant positions within state or local government, business, church, sports, or cultural life.
Here are some notable alumni of the institution who have achieved success and recognition:
- Sal Castro, a Mexican-American educator and activist
- Eric “Bobo” Correa, an American percussionist and member of the hip-hop group Beastie Boys
- Bryce Christopher Young, an American football quarterback for the Carolina Panthers of the NFL who transferred to Mater Dei in his junior year
- Bob McMillen, a silver medalist in the 1500 meters at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics
- Ramario Xolo Ramirez, an American actor. Audiences know him as Xolo Maridueña. Among his famous works are the sitcom Parenthood and the action film Cobra Kai.
This list could go on and on. The CHS has become a place where young men gain a strong foundation of knowledge that they can use to achieve their goals.
Things to know about CHS
It’s worth adding that CHS has been featured in countless films and even music videos. It’s no wonder, as the school location attracts artists with its stunning views and architecture. Vivid examples of movies, television shows and music videos filmed on the school grounds include
- City of Angels (1998)
- All You’ve Got (2006)
- Be Somebody (2016)
- I Do!, a music video by Toya
- Mesmerize, a music video by Ja Rule.
Interestingly enough, the high school’s track and field teams are called the Phantoms due to their location on the site of an old cemetery.
CHS has the motto Signum Fidei (Sign of Faith) and the colors royal purple and white. Since 1984, CHS has been a Los Angeles Historical and Cultural Landmark with reference number 281.
Quality preparation for admission
The institution provides its students with a high-quality education that covers a wide range of subjects. It offers advanced and honors courses to cater to the diverse interests and academic abilities of the students. Additionally, students attend seven classes per day, which sets it apart from the typical six classes offered by Catholic schools.
Additional courses are required in order to be admitted to college each semester. In addition to their studies, students participate in other courses and clubs of interest that help them acquire fundamental skills as well as discover and improve their talents. For instance, the program offers music, theater, studio art, television production and media graphics classes. The sports program includes water polo, swimming, tennis, golf and volleyball, which are not commonly found in other city schools.
With all this in mind, the institution is highly regarded and cherished by the community for providing boys with a first-rate religious and academic education in a Catholic environment.