Holy Cross High School history

The education history of Holy Cross High School really began on September 3, 1957 as eighty-four young men from the West Side community enrolled as freshmen.

With the first graduating class of 460 in June 1959, the school was well on its way to becoming the fine institution it is today.

1960’s New Holy Cross High School is built.

Under the leadership of Sister M. Thomas Aquinas (O’Connor) a $200,000 “East Wing” addition was completed in 1966, adding art and music rooms and a gymnasium.

325 boys were the first students when Holy Cross High School officially opened its doors on October 7, 1968.

The reason given by the league president was, “Holy Cross is not a member of the CIAC.” Holy Cross was in the process of applying for the accreditation needed before the school could join the CIAC. In May 1970, Holy Cross once again applied for membership in the NVL and once again was rejected.

In 1972 the boarding school was discontinued and the middle school opened.

However, due to a series of unforeseen events, the merger was effective September 1975.

A planned merger with Waterbury Catholic High School was scheduled to occur in 1976.

In 1989, the administration was restructured, Br.

1990’s Holy Cross Church remodeled; Parish celebrates centennial.

The establishment of the Academic Enhancement Program in 1997 is one such example.

Recognizing the need for a Catholic high school inclusion program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the Academy introduced a modified program in 2000.

With a new financial stability established, the Arts & Sciences wing and Theatre was opened in 2003, nearly doubling the school’s learning space.

In the spring of 2004, Holy Cross unveiled the $2 million Alix Family Art and Technology Center which revolutionized the way the school community, past, present and future, gathers together for celebrations, meetings and other school-related activities.

After the program was later suspended for evaluation and restructuring, the Moreau Options Program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities was reintroduced in 2014 with great success.

In 2015 the Center for Technology and Creativity opened to support the growing technology curriculum.

New initiatives in 2017, such as Project Lead the Way and dual credit/dual enrollment with Marymount University, continue to demonstrate the Academy’s progressive mindset.

The school became co-ed starting in fall 2018.

Since 2020, the school community has maneuvered its way through the beginnings of the COVID-19 pandemic.