Bishop Shanahan High School: An Overview of Tuition, Academics, and Extracurriculars

Bishop Shanahan High School (BSHS) is a Catholic co-educational secondary school of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, located in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Named after Right Rev. John W. Shanahan, the third bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg, it stands as the sole archdiocesan secondary school in Chester County. Bishop Shanahan High School is committed to sustaining excellence, provides a strong spiritual life, along with challenging academic and rich extracurricular programs. More than just a high school, it offers young men and women an educational journey of academic excellence, rich extracurricular opportunities, and a community that radiates the Christ-centered values of love, respect and responsibility.

History and Location

The school's origins trace back to 1909 with the founding of Saint Agnes Parish High School by Monsignor Henry C. Schuyler. Originally situated on the grounds of St. Agnes Parochial School, the institution underwent a significant transformation in the 1950s to accommodate its growing student body. In 1956, ground was broken on a new building, thanks to a land donation from the local Knights of Columbus council. On September 9, 1957, Cardinal John Francis O'Hara dedicated the new school as "Bishop Shanahan High School", honoring the late Bishop John W. Shanahan.

The late 20th century brought further changes. Between 1980 and 1997, Chester County experienced a 40% increase in its Catholic population, leading to a surge in enrollment at Bishop Shanahan. This overcrowding prompted the development of plans for a new, larger school in Downingtown. The new Bishop Shanahan High School opened to students in September 1998. Upon its opening, the new building was 220,000 square feet, over three times larger than the previous building and could accommodate up to 1,200 students. Downingtown was selected due to its central location within the county and proximity to the US 30 bypass. The new facility boasted a 60-seat chapel, a 14,000 square-foot gymnasium, a 5,000 square-foot library, and a 1,200-seat auditorium. In 2005, a 2,000-seat football stadium was added to the campus.

The current president of Bishop Shanahan is Teresa Dellicompagni, who has served in the role since July 1, 2024. The current principal is Dr. Robert W. Moran, Ed.D.

Location: 220 Woodbine Road, Downingtown, (Chester County), Pennsylvania 19335, United States. Coordinates: 40°00′33″N 75°41′15″W

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Academics

Bishop Shanahan High School prides itself on a personalized and rigorous curriculum designed to help students maximize their academic talents. The school offers three levels of course difficulty: college prep (CP), honors, and Advanced Placement (AP) for select courses. Students also have the opportunity to take dual enrollment courses at nearby colleges, including Immaculata University and Neumann University.

Key Academic Features:

Total Classroom Teachers: 64
Number of AP Courses: 21

Advanced Placement Courses:

The school offers a wide array of AP courses, including:

AP 2D Design
AP 3D Design
AP Biology
AP Calculus
AP Chemistry
AP Comparative Government and Politics
AP Drawing
AP English Language and Composition
AP English Literature and Composition
AP Environmental Science
AP European History
AP Macroeconomics
AP Microeconomics
AP Physics
AP Spanish
AP Statistics
AP United States History

In 2023, the school was awarded the National Certificate for STEM Excellence (NCSE) from the National Institute for STEM Education (NISE), becoming the first high school in Pennsylvania and the first Catholic high school nationwide to receive the certification.

Tuition and Admissions

Bishop Shanahan High School provides its students with a strong spiritual formation, challenging academic offerings, and rich extracurricular programs. As of a verified school update, the yearly tuition is $10,200. The acceptance rate is 100%. There is No Application Deadline / Rolling.

Compared to the average private school tuition in Chester County, PA, which is $22,711 for elementary schools and $31,762 for high schools, Bishop Shanahan offers a more affordable option. The average acceptance rate in Chester County, PA is 80%.

Extracurricular Activities

Bishop Shanahan has over 30 clubs and extracurricular activities. The school hosts the Monsignor Schuyler Chapter of the National Honor Society, named after Monsignor Henry C. Schuyler, who founded the original St. Agnes Parish High School.

Athletics:

Participation in athletics is another excellent means for our students to grow as "People of God; People for Others." Through interscholastic competition, students develop a sense of teamwork, self-discipline, and school pride. Bishop Shanahan High School offers 19 interscholastic sports:

Baseball
Basketball
Bowling
Cheering
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Football
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Riflery
Rugby
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
Winter Track

The current athletic director of Bishop Shanahan is Paul Meyers, who also serves as the school's head football coach. Bishop Shanahan High School is a member of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Division One, where they compete in the National Division of the Ches-Mont League.

Fine Arts:

The Bishop Shanahan High School Art Program creates an atmosphere that encourages students to become more creative! The fine arts department at Bishop Shanahan offers multiple bands, choruses, and art courses.

Community and Values

Bishop Shanahan High School, a Catholic co-educational secondary school of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, is committed to providing students with academic excellence, robust student life, and an active community of faith. A vibrant witness to Christian values and a commitment to academic rigor and integrity prepare all students to be critical thinkers and moral stewards in a rapidly evolving global environment.

Read also: Education at Bishop Heber College

As the only Archdiocesan secondary school in Chester County, Bishop Shanahan draws from a large geographic area, with many Catholic elementary schools in the county serving as feeder schools.

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