Ready to explore a place of growth and wisdom? That’s St. Paul VI Catholic High School. This school is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s a place where students grow in grace and wisdom.
St. Paul VI Catholic High School started in 1983. It only accepted freshmen and sophomores then. Each year after, it added another class. The first senior class graduated in 1986. The Diocese of Arlington bought the building from George Mason University. Fairfax High School was originally housed there. It opened in 1935 but moved in 1972.
In its early years, Oblates of St. Francis de Sales ran the school. They taught classes and one served as principal. Philip Robey was the first principal not from the Oblate order. Virginia Colwell replaced him later.
In 2018, after Pope Paul VI became a saint, the school was renamed St. Paul VI Catholic High School. This honored their patron. In 2020, St. Paul VI Catholic High School moved to South Riding. The move was planned before the pandemic.
The school colors are black and gold. Their slogan is “Do Ordinary Things Extraordinarily Well”. The sports teams are called the Panthers. Bishop O’Connell High School is their rival.
St. Paul VI Catholic High School has many sports. These include basketball, baseball, and lacrosse. The basketball team won the WCAC championship in 2012. They were undefeated in conference play. The baseball team had a great record between 2004 and 2008. They won seven championships.
In 2001, Bishop Paul Loverde broke ground for a new student activity center. It cost 6.5 million dollars. It included classrooms, a gym, and a weight room. A two-story addition was finished in 2003.
St. Paul VI Catholic High School offers many AP and dual enrollment courses. These include Biology, Calculus, and English. They also have courses in foreign languages and computer science.
St. Paul VI Catholic High School faced a scandal in 1999. A student pretended to be Steven Spielberg’s nephew. It turned out he was a 27-year-old man from Iran. He was arrested for forgery.
St. Paul VI Catholic High School has produced many notable alumni. They include athletes, politicians, and nonprofit leaders. Danica Roem was the first openly transgender person elected to a state legislature.
So, St. Paul VI Catholic High School is a place of learning and growth. It prepares students for college and beyond. It is a school with a rich history and a bright future.