Saint Frances Academy (Baltimore) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids ST FRANCES ACADEMY ATHLETICS |
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| Address | |
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501 East Chase Street
, 21202
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| Coordinates | 39°18′8″N 76°36′30″W / 39.30222°N 76.60833°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Motto | Providentia Providebit (Providence will provide) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic (Oblate Sisters of Providence) |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Established | 1828 |
| Founder | Mother Mary Lange, OSP |
| Oversight | Oblate Sisters of Providence |
| CEEB code | 210185 |
| Head of school | Deacon Curtis Turner, Ed.D. |
| Teaching staff | 14 |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Enrollment | 260 |
| Average class size | 18 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 15:1 |
| Campus size | 2.96 acres (1.20 ha) |
| Campus type | Urban |
| Color(s) | Blue & White Athletics: Black & Gold |
| Slogan | "We can. We will. We must." |
| Athletics | MIAA, IAAM |
| Mascot | Panthers |
| Nickname | SFA |
| Team name | Panthers |
| Rival | Everybody |
| Accreditation | Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools |
| Yearbook | The Counsellor |
| School fees | $0 |
| Tuition | $12,400 (2024–25) |
| Affiliation | Catholic school |
| NCEA School ID | 1026047 |
Saint Frances Academy is a private Catholic high school located in Baltimore, Maryland. It was started in 1828 to teach African-American children. This makes it the first and oldest Black Catholic school in the United States that has been open continuously.
Contents
History of Saint Frances Academy
Early Years and Founding
On June 13, 1828, a school called the Oblate School for Colored Girls first opened. It was located in Baltimore, near the first Catholic seminary in the U.S. The main goal of the school was to teach "children of color to read the Bible." At that time, it was against the law to teach enslaved children.
In the years that followed, the school moved to different locations in Baltimore. In 1832, the school celebrated its first graduating class.
By 1853, the school changed its name to the Saint Frances School for Colored Girls. It was named after Saint Frances of Rome, a historical figure. Later, the name was shortened to Saint Frances Academy.
In 1871, the school moved to its current home at 501 East Chase Street in Baltimore.
Modern Era and Education Today
In the 1900s, Saint Frances Academy began to focus on higher grades. In the 1970s, the school started allowing boys to attend. Today, it is a school for both boys and girls, offering a program that prepares students for college. It serves students from ninth to twelfth grade.
The school has a special honors program for students who excel. All students also complete community service as part of their studies. Saint Frances Academy is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education. It is also recognized by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, which ensures schools meet high standards.
Most of the students at Saint Frances Academy are African-American.
Athletics at Saint Frances Academy
Football Program
In the late 2010s, the football team at Saint Frances Academy became very strong. A new coach, Biff Poggi, joined the team and began to recruit talented players. These players came from Maryland and other states. Because of this, Saint Frances Academy's team became very difficult to beat by other local schools.
Before the 2018 season, many opposing teams in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) decided they would no longer play against Saint Frances. They said they were worried about player safety because Saint Frances' players were often much larger than typical high school players. Some people who supported Saint Frances believed that the real reason was unfair, possibly related to race. They pointed out that similar strong teams, like Gilman, had not faced such complaints in the past.
Because other teams refused to play, Saint Frances won the MIAA championship before the season even started. To make sure their players still had games, the school arranged practices against each other. They also scheduled games against teams from far away, including Canada, and traveled to play teams in the South.
Coach Poggi left the team in 2021. However, the Saint Frances team continued to be successful. The following season, they were ranked among the top 5 high school teams nationally by MaxPreps.
Basketball Achievements
Saint Frances Academy has also had great success in basketball.
- Men's Basketball (MIAA A Conference Championships): 2008–09, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2015–16, 2018–19.
- Women's Basketball (IAAM A Conference Championships): 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019-20.
Notable Alumni from Saint Frances Academy
Many successful people have graduated from Saint Frances Academy. Here are a few:
- Jahmal Banks (Class of 2020), a college football wide receiver.
- Jaishawn Barham (Class of 2022), a college football linebacker.
- Chris Braswell (Class of 2020), an NFL linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- Gary Brightwell (Class of 2017), an NFL running back for the New York Giants.
- Carlton Carrington (Class of 2023), a guard for the Pittsburgh Panthers college basketball team.
- Blake Corum (Class of 2020), an NFL running back for the Los Angeles Rams.
- Darrian Dalcourt (Class of 2019), an NFL offensive guard for the Baltimore Ravens.
- Jamon Dumas-Johnson (Class of 2021), a college football linebacker.
- Jaelyn Duncan (Class of 2017), an NFL offensive tackle for the Tennessee Titans.
- Devin Gray (Class of 1991), a basketball player.
- Darnell Harris (Class of 2004), a basketball player.
- Billie Holiday (Class of 1920), a famous jazz singer and songwriter.
- Kingsley Jonathan (Class of 2017), an NFL defensive end for the Buffalo Bills.
- Mark Karcher (Class of 1997), a basketball player.
- Shane Lee (Class of 2019), an NFL linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers.
- Angel McCoughtry (Class of 2004), an Olympic basketball player.
- Derrick Moore (Class of 2022), a college football defensive end.
- Sean Mosley (Class of 2008), a basketball player.
- Eyabi Okie (Class of 2018), a college football player.
- Sandra Williams Ortega, (Class of 1953), a PhD and officer in the U.S. Air Force.
- Angel Reese, (Class of 2020), a professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky. She was a college basketball player for the LSU Tigers and helped them win a national championship.
Images for kids
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Dr. Sandra Williams Ortega
See also
- Mother Mary Lange, the founder of Saint Frances Academy
- National Catholic Educational Association
- Oblate Sisters of Providence
