Creighton Preparatory School
Creighton Preparatory School is a private, Jesuit high school for boys in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. It was established in 1878 under the name Creighton College and is located in the Archdiocese of Omaha. Creighton College was founded by John A. Creighton and named after Edward Creighton, developer of the transcontinental telegraph line. It was founded from a $100,000 grant and donated to the Catholic Church, leading to its inception as a Jesuit institution. Creighton College separated into Creighton University and Creighton Preparatory School in 1958. Over the 142 years since its founding, Creighton Prep has grown from an initial class of 120 students to a student body of 1021 individuals.
Creighton Prep holds a rivalry with Westside High School and is the recipient of nearly 200 individual State Championship and All State Championship titles. Creighton Prep has received the U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award for Academic Excellence and has its education programs are grounded in Jesuit Philosophies. Admittance is dependent on an annually held entrance exam. Creighton Prep was used as a site for the filming of Downsizing, a 2017 American science fiction comedy-drama film directed by Alexander Payne.
History
1878
Creighton School was founded in 1878, later separating into Creighton Preparatory School and Creighton University. The school was named after Edward Creighton, an Omaha businessman, developer of the transcontinental telegraph line, and founder of Omaha and Northwestern Railroad who originally proposed the school but died prior to completing its proposal. After his death in 1874, his wife, Mary Lucretia, then began finishing the proposal but died in 1876, leaving the unfinished plans to her brother-in-law, John A. Creighton. In the will of Mary Lucretia, it was stated that there would be a $100,000 memorial for her late husband “to purchase the site for a school in the city of Omaha and erect buildings thereon for a school of the class and grade of a college.” John Creighton purchased 6.2 acres of land at the address of 24th and California streets in Omaha, NE. Construction of the initial building was completed during the summer of 1878 and the completed site was transferred to the ownership Right Reverend James O'Connor, Bishop of Omaha in July of that year. O'Connor then contacted the Society of Jesus to operate the college and the university was transferred to their ownership in August 1879. Classes began on September 2, 1878 with five Jesuit priests serving as the Board of Trustees, two lay teachers, and an initial enrollment of 120 students.1953–1967
From 1878 to 1958 Creighton Prep functioned as a department of Creighton University. In 1953, both organizations determined their functionality would be best served if they were to separate into two independent institutions. The initial plot of land for Creighton Preparatory School was purchased in 1953, fundraising for the school began in 1956, and construction was completed prior to the start of the 1958 fall term. Both Fr. Henry Sullivan, S.J and Fr. Carl Reinert, S.J. spearheaded the effort, raising $1.7 million for the construction of a 105,000 sq/ft school at its current 7400 Western Avenue location. Once completed, the school was officially given to the Society of Jesus, known more commonly as the Jesuits.In 1958, upon completion of the main building, construction on the Jesuit residence began. The Jesuit residence was completed in 1961, after 3 years of construction. This 50,000 sq/ft building was designed to house 30 Jesuit priests, Scholastics, and Brothers who had been living prior in then-empty classrooms and two houses southwest of the main school building. The same year, a chapel for the Jesuit priests was constructed, later renovated into a school wide chapel, named Skinner Chapel.
In 1967, led by Fr. Daniel Kenney, Creighton Prep founded a student led service organization called "Operation Others", as a food box give-away program. This program encompassed 8 Omaha-area Catholic High schools and grew to annually serve approximately 1500 families.
1970–1985
Led by Mike Wilmot, S.J., volunteers and students constructed the "Tin Gym" in 1970. This provisional building was to serve as a secondary gym along the north side of the school. This gym served the purpose of hosting dances, informal sports games, and other student activities. This building was later demolished in 2009 to make way for the construction of the Heider Center gymnasium, and the wood floor was placed into long-term storage until being sold to St. Joan of Arc School in 2015. Creighton Prep was significantly damaged by an F4 tornado during the 1975 Omaha Tornado Outbreak, resulting in approximately $500,000 in damage and early termination of the school year. Clean-up efforts involved over 1500 individuals and surveys of the damage showed significant damage to the building's second floor. Final exams for the school were held in the "Tim Gym", with many believing that the school may need to be permanently closed due to its extensive damage. The school was repaired prior to the beginning of the fall term.In 1985, Mike Wilmot, S.J. oversaw students, parents, and volunteers in the construction of the Creighton Prep weight room.
1992–1999
The 35,000 sq/ft Henry L. Sullivan, S.J. Campus Center was the largest structural change made to Creighton Prep since its construction. Completed in 1992, the multipurpose space was designed to host Catholic Masses, eating and study areas, and serve as a location for social events. This addition also included the construction of two additional centers, expanding the campus ministry and counseling offices. Lastly, updated class spaces for the Fine Arts Department were constructed adjacent to the Sullivan Center, expanding the art, architecture, and band programs at Creighton Prep.In 1999, the 25,000 sq/ft Dr. James B. and Joan C. Peter Science Center completed construction. This addition included the construction of 5 classrooms/ laboratory rooms and renovation of 4 additional classrooms. Approximately 100,000 sq/ft of the east side of the school was renovated in addition to the construction. Large portions of the Jesuit residence were renovated and re-purposed to be used as classrooms and administration offices. Further renovations included the construction of the current main entrance, a 2000-person football stadium, and the addition of a wrestling room.
2000–2009
In 2001, Robert Hotz, S.J., president of Creighton Prep at the time, invited alumnus William Glenn, a gay man, to address the faculty on his experiences of homosexuality in high school and how to better assist gay students. In 2003, President of Creighton Prep, Reverend Robert Hotz, S.J. resigned after inviting another openly gay alumnus, Don Fraynd, to speak at school Mass on his experiences pertaining to religion, service, and homosexuality. The Advocate was critical of the resignation while Creighton Prep never listed an official reason for Hotz's resignation.In celebrating the 50 year anniversary of the original completion of the campus, Creighton Prep began a $20 million construction project in 2008. This project was part of a $37 million capital campaign lasting from 2007 to 2013. This renovation project included the construction of a new gym, baseball field, multipurpose artificial turf playing field, renovated classrooms, new auditorium, and new technology center. This construction project resulted in the demolition of the "Tin Gym", having been replaced by updated facilitates. Construction completed in 2009 and the gym was dedicated as the Heider Center on December 12, 2009. Additionally, 2009 marked the implementation of the house system named after influential Creighton Prep priests and each having their own mascot. The houses are as follows: Kanne, Neiman, Hindelang, Auer, and Laughlin, named after: Fr. Charles Kanne SJ, Fr. Mark Neiman SJ, Fr. Michael Hindelang SJ, Fr. John Auer SJ, and Fr. Dan Laughlin SJ, respectively. Each house competes for the "House Cup" named after Fr. William O’Leary, SJ. These houses also served as a means to assign specific councilors to groups of students. This change was coupled with the addition of block scheduling and implementation of a "community period" in place of traditional study hall.
2014–present
In 2014, Creighton Prep partnered with the City of Omaha Storm-Water Program to construct a bio retention garden near the front of the school. By partnering with student clubs: Creighton Prep Architecture Club, the Creighton Prep Junior Green Jays, and the Creighton Prep Science Club, the garden was constructed in 2014 with monitoring systems to determine the project's efficacy. This same year, construction of the Circo Memorial Plaza took place. This plaza dedicated Creighton Prep graduates that had died in World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, 9/11, and Afghanistan War. Additionally, previous presidents, principals, Jesuit priests, and long time faculty were dedicated. During the 2015–2016 school year, Creighton Prep implemented a one-on-one IPad program in which students would be required to provide an IPad to their classes.In 2016, Creighton Prep renovated the Henry L. Sullivan, S.J. Campus Center, reorganizing the space in order to accommodate a new catering service. Creighton Prep had previously relied on restaurant vendors and volunteer work in order to feed the student body but starting in fall of 2016, Creighton Prep contracted FLIK Independent School Dining to serve as the primary food provider. This also included an expansion of the before and after school food service, now providing breakfast and after school meals. The transition to professional dining services came from concerns over lack of nutritional value and inadequate accommodation of food allergies and dietary restrictions. FLIK Independent School Dining services were specifically selected due to their association with the Catholic Schools Network and their successful implementation at both Rockhurst High School and Marquette University High School. The change in meal provider also resulted in a $450 increase in tuition cost with each lunch now costing $2.62. This project further encompassed renovations to the school's Skinner Chapel.
In 2018, Creighton Prep announced plans to begin construction on a $16 million "learning commons" to provide academic and emotional resources to the student body. The center is named after Rev. Timothy R. Lannon, president of Creighton Prep and president of Creighton University. The center was proposed in part to “help assist our young men as they navigate their emotional and academic needs.” and includes the addition of an on staff student psychologist. The Learning Commons also included the addition of a "learning differences" specialist, academic coach, director for student outreach and advocacy, and construction of a student services department. Prep also began construction of a 120 ft clock tower alongside the 52,000 sq/ft expansion. Funding for the project came from Scott Heider, managing principal of Charwell Capital, and his wife Cindy Heider who provided $8 million donation and led the capital campaign for the addition costs.
Due to a theft of 27 relics from St. John's Parish, Creighton Prep's relic associated with St. Francis Xavier was relocated, as of 2019.