Catholic Identity Is The Mount’s Strongest Selling Point

OKLAHOMA CITY — Enrollment at Mount St. Mary High School has grown by more than 20 percent over the past two years.  The primary reason for this growth, according to Principal Talita DeNegri, “is our Catholic identity - daily prayers, monthly Mass, service learning, and a commitment to teach and exemplify Catholic values in all we do.  We find Catholic parents hungry for such a place.  It is why we’ve had waiting lists for the past two years and why 80 percent of our student body is Catholic.”

In addition to its pervasive Catholic identity, the school has other assets.  “We feel strongly that a small school environment is an advantage to our students,” said Jim Durbin, the Mount’s Director of Institutional Advancement.  “Our small size leads to better teacher-to-student interaction which enhances academic success, provides more opportunity for student participation in extra-curricular activities, and allows our students to get to know each other and creates one of our hallmarks - the sense of family.”

Socio-economic diversity is another trait of The Mount where 40 percent  of students are minority, one-third come from families making less than $40,000 per year, and only 10 percent of families make more than $75,000 per year.  “I personally like the socio-economic diversity of our student body,” said Sister Betty Elmer, RSM, a Chemistry teacher at The Mount.  “Here at The Mount, we have children of affluence, children of day laborers, and everything in between, but they become friends with each other.  I see it in the classroom and in the hallways everyday.  It is a testament of who we are and what we aim to instill in our students.”

Says DeNegri, “What we do so well at The Mount is to take these things that make us unique and combine them with an Advanced Placement curriculum to create an exceptional high school experience - spiritually, socially, and academically - and it’s paying off for our young people.  A recent survey revealed that 82 percent of our Class of 2003 and 2004 graduates are still in college which is pretty impressive once you realize that nationally, on average, 50 percent of all those entering college will drop out after their first semester.  It shows our students are prepared.

“The best way to learn about us is to come for a tour,” said DeNegri.  “We especially love for a prospective student to shadow one of our students for a day.  We feel this gives them the best view of what it’s like at The Mount, but if someone is interested, they better move quickly.  We begin enrolling in late February and fully anticipate another 10 percent jump in enrollment as well as waiting lists for our lower grades.”

To request an application or schedule a visit, please call Diane Wilson at (405) 631-8865 ext 265.