Perhaps, you’ve heard tales of a school where tradition meets the future. That school is Camden Catholic High School. Founded in 1887 Camden Catholic High School stands as a beacon of Catholic education. It is located in Cherry Hill New Jersey. This is in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Camden Catholic High School operates under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.
Initially, the school emerged from humble beginnings. It started with a class of 20 children in 1859. A Catholic laywoman taught them in her home. In 1862 the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was built. A room was set aside there. This became the first parochial school in Camden. The Sisters of Mercy replaced the former faculty in 1887. They taught the girls. Holy Cross Brothers taught the boys.
In 1920, the program expanded. It became a four-year high school program. The state approved it. In June 1921 it graduated 15 girls and 6 boys. By 1924 Camden Catholic High School officially opened. There were 400 students. It had a four-track curriculum.
Tragedy struck on April 17 1960. The worst school fire in the history of the Camden Diocese occurred. It destroyed two buildings of the Camden Catholic complex. But the annual play and Music Festival still happened. People borrowed instruments and facilities. It was then decided to build a new school. It would be on a 33-acre site in Cherry Hill.
Camden Catholic High School has a proud tradition of excellence. The school sent more students to college than any other school in South Jersey. The class of 2024 earned over $35 million in college scholarships and grants.
Camden Catholic High School’s athletic prowess is noteworthy. The Camden Catholic High School Irish participate in the Olympic Conference. This includes public and private schools. They are located in Burlington and Camden Counties. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association supervises it. The school’s football team has a rivalry with Camden High School since 1931. Camden Catholic leads the series 35-29-2.
The boys basketball team has won multiple state titles. They won in 1941 1942 2001 2003 and 2010. The wrestling team has also achieved significant success. It won multiple Non-Public A titles.
Camden Catholic High School boasts a diverse student body. As of 2019–20 the school had 695 students. There were 54.3 classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 12.8:1.
Many notable alumni have walked these halls. They include politicians athletes and artists. William T. Cahill was a Governor of New Jersey. Don Casey was an NBA coach. Andy Gaskill was an animator for Disney.
Camden Catholic High School continues to uphold its traditions. It embraces the future. The school educates diverse learners. The faculty meets students where they are. They take them to new heights. Camden Catholic High School instills honor faith and loyalty in its students. It prepares them to serve the world.