Saint Agnes Academy (Texas)
St. Agnes Academy is a Dominican college-preparatory school for young women grades 9 through 12[3] in the Chinatown area and in the Greater Sharpstown district of Houston, Texas.[4][5] The school operates within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.[3]
| St. Agnes Academy | |
|---|---|
 St. Agnes Science Building | |
| Address | |
| |
9000 Bellaire Boulevard , , 77036 United States | |
| Coordinates | 29°42′23″N 95°32′32″W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, All-Female |
| Motto | Latin: "Veritas" ("Truth") |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic, Dominican Order |
| Patron saint(s) | St. Agnes of Rome |
| Established | 1906 |
| Authority | The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston |
| Superintendent | Debra Haney |
| Chairperson | Gina DeBottis |
| Dean | Courtney Orsak (Dean of Students) |
| Principal | Deborah Whalen |
| Head of school | Sister Jane Meyer, O.P. |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Gender | Female |
| Enrollment | 927 [1] |
| Average class size | 19 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 12:1 |
| Hours in school day | 8:00 a.m. - 2:50 p.m. |
| Color(s) | Black, Gold and White |
| Athletics conference | TAPPS 6A |
| Sports | Cross Country, Volleyball, Water Polo, Basketball, Swimming, Soccer, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Softball, Golf, Track & Field, Tennis |
| Mascot | Tigers |
| Team name | Tigers |
| Accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools [2] |
| Publication | Reflections (literary magazine) |
| Newspaper | The Columns, Veritas Magazine |
| Yearbook | Veritas |
| Tuition | $20,800 |
| Website | www |
| |
History
Pauline Gannon, a Dominican Sister, founded St. Agnes Academy in 1905.[3] St. Agnes opened on February 11, 1906, at 3901 Fannin Street[3] in what is now considered to be Midtown. The school was named after Saint Agnes of Rome. The school was founded as a grade one through 12 school with boarding facilities.[3] The University of Texas and the Texas State Board of Education accredited St. Agnes in 1917.[3] In 1939, boarding was discontinued.[3] In 1952, St. Agnes began to serve grades nine through 12 only.[3] In 1963, the school moved from its Fannin Street location to its current location at 9000 Bellaire Boulevard in the Sharpstown area of Houston, Texas.[3] The school motto is Veritas, meaning truth.[3]
Location
In September 1963, the school moved across town to its current location at 9000 Bellaire Boulevard (near the intersection of Gessner Drive and Bellaire Boulevard).[3] St. Agnes Academy is located adjacent to Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, a Jesuit school for high school boys. The two schools hold some joint classes together, including choir and band.
Culture
In 1974 Texas Monthly stated that St. Agnes had an image of being for "older Catholic families" since many alumnae of the school sent their daughters to attend St. Agnes.[6] The magazine stated that students from both St. Agnes and Duchense, another Houston-area Catholic girls' school, originated from "mostly business and professional people with money."[6]
St. Agnes Academy strives to instill the four pillars of Dominican tradition (Prayer, Study, Community, and Preaching) into the intellects and hearts of each student. At St. Agnes Academy, students are encouraged to develop intellectual curiosity, to work for social justice and to act with integrity and compassion. The Academy's head of school likes to tell her students, "Take on the world with a Bible in one hand and the news in the other," meaning that students should be aware of the social world around them while also carrying on Catholic traditions that encompass moral choices and spiritual beliefs. Students are given facts and logic to think for themselves, rather than being told what to think. St. Agnes Academy is a great institution for any young women seeking to work and study hard to become a well rounded, empowered individual ready to change the world around her.
Alumnae Association
St. Agnes Academy alumnae are a part of a network of more than 10,000 graduates as of 2018.[3]
Notable alumnae
- Hanan Alattar (Class of 2000), operatic soprano
- Patricia Gras (Class of 1979), journalist
- Alexis Bledel (Class of 2000), actress
- Britt Maren, model
References
- SACS-CASI. "SACS-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement". Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
- "Our Mission & History" St. Agnes Academy. (c)2011. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
- "c_sh_majorroads8x11.png." (Archive) Greater Sharpstown Management District. Retrieved on December 4, 2012.
- "Chinatown." (Archive) Greater Sharpstown Management District. Retrieved on December 4, 2012. Map image, Archive
- "Texas Monthly's Guide to Private Schools, Part Two". Texas Monthly. October 1974. p. 87. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
External links
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