St. Pius X High School (Houston)

St. Pius X High School (SPX) is a Dominican, Catholic coeducational secondary school located in Houston, Texas, United States. St. Pius X High School serves grades 9 through 12 and is administered by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

The school serves as one of two co-educational Catholic high schools in the city limits of Houston, and one of nine high schools in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston St. Agnes Academy, Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, Incarnate Word Academy, St. Pius X High School, St. Thomas High School, Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory, O'Connell College Preparatory, and Pope John XXIII High School.

History

St Pius X High School was founded by the Dominican Sisters of Houston, Texas, in 1956, the Marian Year. The school was designed by architect Dean Austin Eichelberger. St. Pius X High School was originally connected to the Dominican Sisters Convent. Their Convent was renovated and became additional classrooms. St. Pius X High School is named after Pope Saint Pius X of the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Pius X was born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto. His family name is the name of the school's yearbook, the Del Sarto. Pope Pius X's nickname "Beppo" was chosen as the name of the school's panther mascot. The first Principal was Sister Mary Margaret, O.P. The first Chaplain was Father Stephen Smithers, O.P. The first class graduated in 1959; however, the Class of 1960 was the first class to attend all four years and graduate at St. Pius X High School. St. Pius X High School is the first school in the Diocese to offer a foreign student exchange program.

Academics

St. Pius X currently offers eight Advanced Placement courses including Calculus, American History, Government, English Literature, English Language, Latin IV Virgil, Spanish and Biology. Upon entering the school, students are required to take placement tests which assigns them according to their scores in the proper level of academia; crossing over between these levels is difficult but nonetheless encouraged. St. Pius X also offers several Honors Courses including Algebra I, English, Spanish II, World History, Biology, Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC) and French.

St. Pius X has a program for students with learning disabilities called the Learning for Success Program, which offers Academic Strategies Classes and Accommodations for students who are tested and diagnosed with ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, etc. Dr. Charlis Powell, PhD. is in charge of this program and currently runs the program in the Learning Center.

Athletics

St. Pius X offers opportunities to its students to compete in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, rugby, lacrosse (new), soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track, triathlon (new), volleyball and wrestling.

The Panthers currently participate in TAPPS District 3-5A, whose membership includes St. Thomas, Beaumont Kelly, Concordia Lutheran,^[2] St. Agnes, Incarnate Word Academy and Duchesne.

Rivalry

The school rival is St. Thomas High School. Each year, in football and basketball, there is a strong competition between both schools.

Athletic Achievements

The St. Pius X Panthers have won 49 State Championships competing in the Texas Association of Private Schools (TAPS), Texas Christian Interscholastic League (TCIL) and currently, the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS).

In Baseball, the Panthers have won 17 State titles (1972, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2012)

In Basketball, the boys have won 4 State titles (1977, 1978, 1995, 2007) and the girls have won 2 State Titles (1974, 1975)

In Football, the Panthers have won 14 State titles (1970, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1993, 1999,2003, 2006, 2007)

In Rugby, the Panthers won the 2010 State title for their division.

In Swimming, the Panthers won the 1999 TAPPS State and Regional Titles. Swimming had about 8 TAPPS State champions and 1 TAPPS State record holder.

In Softball, the Panthers have won 8 State titles (1976, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991)

In Volleyball, the Panthers have won 3 State titles (1982, 1984, 1989)

Tuition and Fees

For the 2015-2016 school year, the tuition is set at $13,900. Compared to rival private schools, St. Pius X is less expensive. (Strake Jesuit: $18,400; St. Thomas: $15,700; St. Agnes: $17,000 Registration and athletic fees, as well as book costs combine to cost an estimated $700–$900 extra per year.

^[3]

Notable alumni

• Gary Kubiak - NFL quarterback and head coach^[4]
• Gary Majewski - Former MLB relief pitcher^[5]
• Chris Harrington - NFL linebacker^[6]
• Jackson Hurst - actor^[7]
• Kohl Stewart - MLBl player^[8]
• Norman F. Carnahan - American chemical engineer and scientist

Feeder schools

Students of some private schools, such as St. Ambrose Catholic School^[9] Presbyterian School,^[10] The Village School,^[11] Annunciation Orthodox School,^[12] and John Paul II School,^[13] matriculate to St. Pius X.

See also

• Christianity in Houston

References

External links

• St. Pius X High School

Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston
Ordinaries	Prefecture Apostolic of Texas John Timon Vicariate Apostolic of Texas Jean-Marie Odin Bishops of Galveston Jean-Marie Odin Claude Marie Dubuis Nicolaus Aloysius Gallagher Christopher Edward Byrne Wendelin Joseph Nold Coadjutor Bishop (did not succeed to the See) Pierre Dufal Bishops of Galveston–Houston Wendelin Joseph Nold John Louis Morkovsky Archbishops of Galveston–Houston Joseph Fiorenza Daniel DiNardo
Churches	Cathedrals St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, Galveston Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Houston Parishes Annunciation Church, Houston Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Houston Our Mother of Mercy Church, Houston
Education	Universities Our Lady of the Lake University, Houston University of St. Thomas, Houston High Schools, K-12 Duchesne Academy, Houston High Schools, 9-12 Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory of Houston Frassati Catholic High School, Harris County (Spring area) Incarnate Word Academy, Houston O'Connell College Preparatory School, Galveston Pope John XXIII High School, Harris County (Katy area) Saint Agnes Academy, Houston St. Pius X High School, Houston St. Thomas High School, (Houston Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, Houston List of schools List of schools in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston
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