Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School St. Louis, MO

Cardinal Ritter College Prep (CRCP) opened its doors on September 6, 1979. Named for Cardinal Joseph Ritter, Archbishop of St. Louis in the mid-1900s, CRCP honors its namesake as one of the most prominent and influential church and civic leaders of the century.

In 1977- 1978, a community representative task force was established by the Board of Catholic Education of the St. Louis Archdiocese to study the future existence of a Catholic school in the old Labouré location at in North St. Louis. Arrangements to establish Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School as a co-educational college preparatory high school began in August 1979.

On May 18, 2003, Cardinal Justin Rigali dedicated the new school building at 701 N. Spring Avenue, St. Louis. Situated right on the Delmar Divide, the school opened its doors for students in August 2003.

Since our beginning, we have graduated approximately 3000 students who have successfully moved on to take advantage of numerous opportunities in higher education and various career fields. Our goal has always been to have 100% graduation and college acceptance rates. These goals are accomplished by providing our students the necessary faith foundation, nurturing, support and other tools for success.

We have high expectations of our students. We understand that our students are “young people” on a journey to developing skills needed to become responsible adults. Nonetheless, we insist on a constant commitment to the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of their lives. Our nurturing environment supplies them with the resources to correct imperfections, as they remain committed to CRCP’s mission.

Being a CRCP student and ultimately a graduate has a significant meaning. It is something the school and even more importantly its alumni do not take lightly. Each year at the commencement ceremony, graduates of CRCP are confirmed as attaining all the requirements, goals, and exhibit the characteristics contained in the school’s mission, vision, and core values. The school and its alumni highly value this confirmation. The CRCP diploma is evidence and is a proclamation that graduates understand that they are poised, positioned and called to being “Alive in Christ” as they move forward in their lives; and that they have been empowered by "faith development, academic excellence, and leadership"

Mr. Orlondo Williams

Principal

owilliams@cardinalritterprep.org

Mission

The mission of Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School is to provide an exceptional Catholic educational experience to youth that instills attitudes of success and self-worth through faith development, academic excellence and leadership.

At graduation, through the triple thrust of Academic Excellence, Faith Development, and Leadership Development, young men and women will be able to successfully serve their African-American and global communities.

Purpose

The Cardinal Ritter College Prep experience helps students develop fully as people: intellectually, spiritually and morally. Our graduates have a strong sense of their worth and dignity and set high goals and expectations for themselves. They will have pride, passion and faith that will build a foundation for successful futures. Students who successfully complete their course of study by attending Cardinal Ritter College Prep are developed through the school’s following core values of being:

Enlightened in Faith

Nurtured with Compassion

Enriched by Excellence

Called to Leadership

Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School graduates are “Aspiring, Inspiring – Empowered by Life!”

Quality

The Cardinal Ritter College Prep experience helps students develop fully as people: intellectually, spiritually and morally. With 100% graduation rates, 100% college acceptance rates and a college persistence rate higher than the national average, CRCP is the only Catholic school of its kind in the nation.

Dynamic Community

Cardinal Ritter College Prep provides an educational program that prepares students for leadership roles in a global society. Although we are a Catholic high school, our student body represents a wide variety of faiths.