Providence High School (Burbank, California)

Providence High School
Address
Map
511 South Buena Vista Street

Burbank
,
(Los Angeles County)
,
California
91505

United States
Coordinates34°9′16″N 118°19′37″W / 34.15444°N 118.32694°W / 34.15444; -118.32694
Information
TypePrivate, Coeducational, College Prep
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic;
Sisters of Providence (Montreal, Quebec)
Established1955
FounderSister Mary Gleason, SP
OversightProvidence Health System
CEEB code050402
Head of schoolScott McLarty
Staff20
Faculty60
Grades9-12
Enrollment508 (2022-2023)
Average class size19
Color(s)Forest Green and Teal    
Athletics conferenceCIF Southern Section
Prep League[1]
MascotPioneers
AccreditationWestern Association of Schools and Colleges[2] Western Catholic Educational Association, California Association of Independent Schools, National Association of Independent Schools
YearbookEsprit
AffiliationProvidence Health System, Sisters of Providence
Websitewww.providencehigh.org

Providence High School in Burbank, California, is a co-ed, independent, Catholic, college preparatory high school, founded by the Sisters of Providence in 1955.[3] Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

History

On 19 September 1955, the school was founded by the Sisters of Providence, who already had a presence in the San Fernando Valley and ran a hospital. It admitted 81 girls to its new educational facility. Due to construction delays, the building was not finished upon their arrival, and they start instruction in circus tents in the school parking lot. By November 1955, the school's building completed construction. In 1959, 68 students would attend its first commencement ceremony.[4][5]

In 1960, the school was accredited by the Board of Admissions and Relations of the University of California. During the 1970's, enrollment dipped dangerously low, as was the trend throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles at that time due to the aging population of the San Fernando Valley and stiff competition from other private schools.[6] According to the Burbank Leader, in 1974 the school opened its enrollment to boys and became co-educational institution.[4][5] The order considered closing the school by the mid-1980s due to financial issues but newly-appointed principal Sister Lucille Dean, with the support of staff and parents, reiterated her commitment to keep the school open.[6][7] Under her leadership, the school campus underwent a renovation program and the curriculum was expanded. Special programs focused on healthcare and media communications were added to the school curriculum, leveraging on the order's affiliation with the nearby Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center and the school's location in a major hub for the entertainment industry.[7] In 1998, the school was recognized as a Blue Ribbon School.[8]

Providence High School transitioned to an independent school organizational model in 2011 and no longer directly run by the Sisters of Providence. The school continues to maintain an affiliation with Providence Health System, the organization which runs Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, and has sisters serving in its Board of Regents.[9] Under the new model, Joe Sciuto served as the school's first Head of School from 2011 to 2019.[10] Scott McLarty was selected to become Providence High School's second Head of School in 2019 [11][12]

Signature Programs

Cinema Arts Program

The Cinema Arts Program intends to help students explore media through an in-depth hands-on curriculum. The program conducts various activities through the Cinema Arts Center, an art studio accessible to students. Cinema Arts students are given the opportunity to compete in various film competitions and to hear from guest speakers currently working in the industry.[13]

Medical Program

The four-year program covers topics from health, medicine, and biotechnology to health care within political, social, economic, religious and ethical frameworks.

The program is the result of a partnership between Providence High School and Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center. Expansion of the program now includes participation and support of the following organizations/institutions: Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, Shriner's Hospital, University of Southern California University Hospital, LAC+USC Medical Center, Glendale Memorial Hospital, Kaiser Permanente, Midway Medical Center, Huntington Memorial Hospital, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.[14][15]

Technology Program

The Technology Program is designed as a broad-based introduction to various kinds of technology, providing a launching pad for further college study and industry application.[16]

In 2018, the Technology Program Center held its ribbon-cutting ceremony, unveiling a 32-station computer lab, four 3-D printers, a CNC machine, a mill machine, and a laser cutter. This facility is open for Technology Focus Program students enrolled in the four-year program.[17]


Notable Alumni

References

  1. ^ "Athletics". providencehigh.org.
  2. ^ WASC-ACS. "WASC-Accrediting Commission for Schools". Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  3. ^ "Providence High School History". www.providencehigh.org. Retrieved 2019-08-22.
  4. ^ a b "On the Town: Providence High hits hole in one with fundraiser at golf course". Burbank Leader. 2019-04-15. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
  5. ^ a b Laurell, David (2014-04-08). "On the Town: Providence High starts fundraising event". Burbank Leader. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
  6. ^ a b "A Catholic Education". Los Angeles Times. December 28, 1986.
  7. ^ a b "Sister Lucille Marie Dean — Obituary". Burbank Leader. March 5, 2022.
  8. ^ "Sr. Lucille Dean and Sr. Mary Hawkins, Vice-Principal, accepting the Blue Ribbon School award for Providence High School (Burbank) in Washington, D.C., 1998". Providence Archives. February 24, 2010.
  9. ^ "Leadership & Board". providencehigh.org.
  10. ^ "Providence's head of school reflects on his local legacy as he prepares for new job". Burbank Leader. 2019-03-12. Retrieved 2019-08-22.
  11. ^ "Providence picks Loyola High alum for next head of school". Burbank Leader. 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-08-22.
  12. ^ "Question & Answer: Providence High School's new head of school happy to be home". Burbank Leader. 2019-07-12. Retrieved 2019-08-22.
  13. ^ Campa, Andrew J. (2018-07-06). "Providence High's summer acting camp continues to be a big draw". Burbank Leader. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
  14. ^ "Outstanding high schoolers get a taste of medicine at Providence". www.chausa.org. Retrieved 2019-08-22.
  15. ^ "Focus Programs". www.providencehigh.org. Retrieved 2019-08-22.
  16. ^ "Providence High School, Focus Programs". Providence High School. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  17. ^ "Providence High School provides 21st-century learning with new facility". Burbank Leader. 2018-01-27. Retrieved 2019-08-22.