Archbishop Spalding High School

By Kristen Koehler

Archbishop Spalding High School is proud of its legacy in offering a Catholic college-preparatory education. The school was founded in 1963 as a Catholic secondary school for girls, and was originally staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Known at the time as Holy Trinity High School , the school relocated to our present facility off of New Cut Road in 1966. In 1986, the school changed its formal name to Archbishop Spalding High School . Today the school welcomes students from more than 45 middle schools that offer Catholic, private, or public education. The majority of the students attending the school live within a 35 mile radius of the Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Annapolis corridors.

The campus boasts a brand new Academic and Athletic Center , 55 academic classrooms, two gymnasiums, seven playing fields, and a state-of-the-art athletic training center. The school's Library Media Center houses approximately 14,000 volumes and offers students access to 22 desktop computers for research. Integrating technology within the academic program, the school is networked as a wireless environment, allowing faculty and students to have immediate access to the worldwide web of information. The Archbishop Spalding auditorium, with a seating capacity for 1200, is home to the school's well-known theater and music productions.

Rooted in the principals of the Catholic faith, Archbishop Spalding is committed to the development of the whole person both intellectually and spiritually. With a day-to-day focus on offering every single student a faith-based education, courses in religious studies and participation in community service are our top priorities. Each graduating senior at Spalding is required to complete 45 hours of volunteer community service.

The hallmark of an Archbishop Spalding education has always been a quality, value-based education. The school's faculty members pursue this goal by staying on the leading edge of 21 st century education. Archbishop Spalding faculty are known for their commitment to providing their students with the best they can offer inside and outside the classroom.

To fulfill the goal of academic excellence, Archbishop Spalding offers a strong college preparatory academic curriculum that embraces and develops the gifts and talents of every student. Spalding provides a diverse academic program including Advanced Placement and honors courses, and the Aquinas Program which addresses the needs of students with varied learning styles. Every student must complete a minimum of 28 academic credits to graduate.

The school offers students, through academic and extra-curricular activities, thriving musical, dramatic, and visual arts programs. In addition to both band and vocal ensemble courses offered during the school day, the Music program also consists of six bands and five choral groups which perform and compete nationally. Visual arts courses range from basic drawing, painting, and ceramics to photography and independent study.

Throughout the past four decades, Archbishop Spalding High School has fostered the development of well-rounded young men and women by offering a comprehensive and competitive athletic program. The Spalding Athletic Program offers every student the opportunity to participate in over 20 different sports on 25 teams at both the varsity and junior varsity levels. Approximately 50 percent of the student body participates in at least one sport during the school year and an even higher percentage of students play more than two sports per year. The school's Athletic Program is an integral part of life at Spalding for the players, parents, alumni, and fans.

Spalding students become actively engaged in building the school community through clubs, fine arts productions, class projects, dances, and campus ministry. Highlights of the year include Spirit Week, Homecoming, pep rallies, and specific class celebrations such as Junior Ring ceremony and Senior Prom.

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