Holy Spirit Preparatory School

Holy Spirit Preparatory School (abbreviated HSP) is an independent, Roman Catholic preparatory school located in Atlanta and Sandy Springs, Georgia. It was originally established in 1996 as Donnellan School.

Not to be confused with Holy Ghost Preparatory School.

Holy Spirit Preparatory School
Address
4449 Northside Drive

Atlanta
,
Georgia
30327

United States
Coordinates33°52′38″N 84°24′42″W
Information
TypePrivate
MottoMinistrare non Ministari
(To Serve not to be Served)
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
Established1996
CEEB code110-151
RectorMsgr. Edward Dillon
PrincipalMichelle Bertany, Upper School; Pete Radosta, Lower School; Georgia Tate, Preschool Director
Head of schoolMr. Plummer
ChaplainFr. Juan Pablo Duran
Staff100
Grades6 months-12th
GenderCo-educational
Hours in school day7
Color(s)Green and Gold   
Athletics conference1 AAA
MascotCougar
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools[1]
USNWR rankingTop 50 Catholic High Schools in the USA
AffiliationNational Catholic Educational Association[2]
AlumniAnthony Edwards
Websitewww.holyspiritprep.org

Location and administration

Pre-K4 through 7th grade are located on a multi-acre site at 4820 Long Island Drive. The preschool program is located at 4465 Northside Drive on the lower level of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, adjacent to the 57,000 sq ft (5,300 m2) Upper School campus, which opened in the fall of 2005.

The elementary campus is in Sandy Springs while the preschool and upper school are in Atlanta.[3][4]

Although an independent Catholic school, it is closely tied to Holy Spirit Catholic Church. The pastor of the parish, Monsignor Edward Dillon, serves on the school board.[5]

Curriculum

Holy Spirit Preparatory School offers a classically inspired curriculum in Latin, and instructs students in Catholic theology as well as typical college preparatory subjects and numerous electives.

The school's Classics department describes its program as being "designed around an awareness of the historical significance of the Greek and Latin languages as foundations for the Western intellectual tradition and the history of the Catholic Church."[6]

Upper School students are also required to complete community service and "school service" hours in order to graduate.[7]

Athletics

The school offers a number of student athletics programs, including cross country running, soccer, baseball, basketball, cheer leading, clay targets, golf, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.[8]

Holy Spirit Preparatory School also fields a football program. The team originally participated in the Glory for Christ (GFC) league, winning the GFC State Championship in 2011.[9] At the close of their 2013-14 season, Holy Spirit Prep announced they would return to the Georgia Independent School Association's football league.

House system

Holy Spirit Preparatory School has a house system. There are four houses, each named after Ecumenical Councils, and each house has its own mascot, color, and patron saint:

Holy Spirit's house system divides students and teachers randomly into four groups. There is competition between these houses in order to win a grand prize at the end of the year. The house point system works by enforcing positive behavior, such as volunteering for service opportunities, holding a door, helping teachers carry things, or cleaning the boards. House points cannot be deducted. Teachers may not earn house points. There are also house challenges in which members of each house compete in sporting and academic events[10] Administrators, the Head Boy, and Head Girl are placed in a neutral house, called the "Vatican." The Head Boy and Head Girl cannot earn house points. Each house has a house government led by the house master, the house president, and the house vice president.

Ranking and accreditation

Holy Spirit Prep has been repeatedly named as one of the top fifty Catholic high schools in the country by the National Catholic High School Honor Roll.[11][12] In 2009 the Lower School was named as a National School of Excellence by the US Department of Education.[13][14]

The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools[15] and the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and is a member of the Southern Association of Independent Schools and the Georgia Association of Independent Schools (GISA).

Holy Spirit College,[16] an outgrowth of the preparatory school, is a Georgia Non-Public Secondary Education Commission authorized degree-granting institution.[17] Dr. Matthew McWhorter serves as Academic Coordinator of the college and is advised by a Board of Visitors.[18]

History

The school was established as an independent Catholic school in 1996. It was named after former archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan.[19] In 2002, the school broke ground on a new Upper School campus adjacent to Holy Spirit Catholic Church. In 2006, the school celebrated its first graduating senior class. Holy Spirit Prep is recognized by the Archdiocese of Atlanta and listed in the Official Catholic Directory as a lay sponsored Catholic school independent of any religious order or congregation.[20]

Notable alumni

See also

References
  1. AdvancED. "AdvancED-Find Accredited Institutions". Archived from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  2. NCEA. "NCEA School Locator". Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  3. "Contact Us." Holy Spirit Preparatory School. Retrieved on January 7, 2019. "Upper School Campus 4449 Northside Drive Atlanta, GA 30327" and "Lower School Campus 4820 Long Island Drive Atlanta, GA 30342" and "Preschool Campus 4465 Northside Drive Atlanta, GA 30327"
  4. "Zoning." City of Sandy Springs. Retrieved on January 7, 2019.
  5. Board of Directors
  6. "Classics Department Philosophy." Holy Spirit Preparatory School
  7. "The Upper School." Holy Spirit Preparatory Academy
  8. "Athletics at Holy Spirit Prep." Holy Spirit Preparatory School
  9. "2011 GFC Football Season". Glory for Christ Website. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  10. School Handbook, page 56
  11. "2008 Catholic High School Honor Roll." Catholic High School Honor Roll.
  12. "2010 Catholic High School Honor Roll Top 50." Catholic High School Honor Roll.
  13. O'Kane, Stephen (September 17, 2009). "Four Catholic Schools Awarded Blue Ribbon Title". Georgia Bulletin. Archived from the original on April 19, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  14. Torres, Kristina (September 15, 2009). "A dozen Georgia schools earn national Blue Ribbon honor". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  15. "Institution Summary: Holy Spirit Preparatory School."
  16. Holy Spirit College
  17. "Directory Of Authorized Schools." Georgia Non-Public Secondary Education Commission. "GNPEC - Directory of Authorized Schools". Archived from the original on April 15, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
  18. "Welcome from the Academic Coordinator." Holy Spirit College
  19. "The Archbishop Donnellan School". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta. October 29, 1996. Archived from the original on October 29, 1996. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  20. Renner, Gerald. "Turmoil in Atlanta." National Catholic Reporter. 3 November 2000.
  21. "Anthony Edwards, 2019 Shooting guard - Rivals". n.rivals.com.
  22. "Chosen 25 SG Anthony Edwards reclassifies from 2020 to 2019". November 20, 2018.
  23. Staff, MassLive com. "Anthony Edwards' reclassification decision came down to family". masslive.com.
  24. Tucker, Kyle. "Everyone, including Kentucky, is after new No. 1 recruit..." The Athletic.
  25. "No. 1 prospect Wiseman leads McDonald's rosters". ESPN.com. January 24, 2019.
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