Bishop Connolly High School


Bishop Connolly High School was a co-educational Catholic high school in Fall River, Massachusetts.
WWW bishopconnolly.com

History

Connolly began operations as an all-boys Catholic high school in September 1966, operating from a different building, before moving into its Elsbree Street facility the next year; Connolly would stay there for the rest of the school's existence. The school would later become co-ed starting in the 1980-81 school year.
In 2020 Connolly took the high school students from Coyle And Cassidy School, which closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Citing a decline in enrollment and financial strain due to the pandemic, the school closed following the end of the 2022-23 school year. The last day of class was on June 9, 2023; Connolly officially closed on June 30.

Campus and building

Connolly's campus was approximately. The campus was adjacent to Bristol Community College and B.M.C Durfee High School; Fall River's public high school is located directly across Elsbree Street. The campus contained a football field with bleachers and a concession stand, a soccer field, an outdoor non-rubber track, six tennis courts, a baseball field, a softball field and several practice fields.
The main school building was composed of three sections. The activities section contained a 1000-seat gymnasium, an 800-seat auditorium, and 200 seat cafeteria at the far west end. The middle academic wing contained the classrooms and most offices. At the far east end is the former faculty house, which became the Cardinal Medeiros residence, a retirement home for diocesan priests. The library was located in a circular building in back of the main building and was renamed the "Academic Achievement Center" in 2012.

Academics

From the 2013–2014 school year up until its closing in 2023, Bishop Connolly divided its curriculum into three departments: Humanities, Math & Science, and Fine Arts/Athletics, each headed by one of three academic deans. Aside from college preparatory classes, Connolly also had extensive honors and advanced placement offerings, including Calculus AB/BC, Biology, Chemistry, English Literature, and US History. The average class size is 22–25 students. Honors sections averages 15–18 students, while AP courses tended to number 8–11 students or fewer.
Bishop Connolly High School was accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Athletics

Connolly offered 23 different interscholastic sports for boys and girls and 38 separate teams throughout the year. Connolly was a member of The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Associations's Mayflower League. The athletic squads were called the Cougars.
In 1993, the hockey program became the first Southeastern Massachusetts school to win a state championship. The Cougars have also won state championships in baseball and boys' tennis
On March 13, 2013, the boys' varsity basketball team won the Division IV State Championship at the TD Garden in Boston, MA. Bishop Connolly was recognized by Fall River Mayor William Flanagan and numerous state representatives.
Athletic Accomplishments
  • Boys' Basketball - State Champions
  • Boys' Hockey - State Champions

Notable alumni