Pensacola Catholic High School history

The first class graduated in 1942.

William Houck who came to CHS soon after his ordination in 1951 and who would later become auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Jackson in Mississippi.

In the Fall of 1952 a building was constructed to house home economics instruction.

J. Edwin Stuardi, a faculty member when the school opened, who would serve as principal until 1953 and later become Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese.

Wayne Merritt, a 1956 CHS graduate, became the first layman to serve as principal.

However, by the 1957-58 school year, enrollment had grown to over 500, and it was necessary to once again utilize space on the fourth floor at St Michael's School across the street to accommodate the increased numbers of students.

In 1958, Catholic High moved to its current location on West Scott Street off of W Street.

Even though the existing instructional wings had been able to expand for record enrollments late in the 1960's, the building was in need of renovation, particularly for science instruction and guidance operations.

In May, 1968, the 10 westernmost counties of Florida were transferred from the Diocese of Mobile to the Diocese of St Augustine.

In summer of 1971, Bishop Paul Tanner restructured school management at CHS. Fr.

In 1975 the Church again re-structured the diocesan structure in Florida by creating the Diocese of Pensacola- Tallahassee under its first Bishop Rene Gracida.

Kierstin Martin.School enrollment began to decline in the early 1980's bringing with it the fiscal difficulties which often accompany such a decline.

Masicotte and her patience with me,'' said Jennifer Johnson Ponson, class of 1982, and one of 27 Catholic graduates in the CHS Alumni Hall of Fame. "She still writes me notes of encouragement today.

Since the mid-1990's CHS has operated near its present capacity of 650 students.

Today, it is a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, a distinction CHS has earned from the Department of Education every year since 1993.

The Crusader Baseball/Softball Fieldhouse, dedicated in the Spring of 1994, was funded largely through parent donations and was conceived, designed, and constructed through volunteer parent time and efforts.

In 1995, in response to its first-ever project in the national Make a Difference Day service effort, CHS received one of 50 Honorable Mention Awards given to the over 7,000 projects applying from throughout the nation.

The Brent Library and Media Center was dedicated in August of 2001 and the Ruth Johnson Chadbourne Chapel in December of the same year.The caliber and excellence of Catholic High's students and programs have brought several significant accolades to the CHS community.

In 2004, the renovation of the administration wing was completed.