The History of Catholic Central High School

 

             Catholic Central High School was founded in September, 1923 by His Excellency, our most Reverend Bishop Edmund F. Gibbons, D.D., at the request of the Pastors from the parishes in Troy, Watervliet and Green Island.  The school was located on Eighth Street in Troy before moving to its present location at 116^th Street and Seventh Avenue in North Troy.  The original Catholic Central High School has now become part of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

The first principal was the Reverend Father Burns, A.M.   The student body numbered 525 students.  The first class graduated in June, 1924 and numbered thirty-two.  When the doors reopened in September, 1924, there were 1,046 students registered in the high school. 

  In 1953, Catholic Central purchased the Cluett & Peabody building.  It was used for experimental purposes in the field of textile research.  What once existed as a miniature textile mill, would soon house the new Catholic Central High School. The house of science was becoming the house of learning. 

Beginning September, 1954, Catholic Central High School was relocated to its present day campus in North Troy.  In 1957, where once lay a vacant lot, soon became the Monsignor Burns Gymnasium.  The basketball team no longer had to play its “home” games “away”.  Today, the gymnasium houses not only the gym but cafeteria, stage for dramatic productions, a 3,500 square foot weight room and band room.      

 Catholic Central High School educates students in grades 7-12  and offers a college preparatory/Regents curriculum along with the University at the High School program under the direction of The State University of New York at Albany.  Advanced Placement courses are also offered in several disciplines.