Case Statement – Greensburg Central Catholic

Continue the Legacy of Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School

Our Mission

The mission of Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School is to promote the formation of students within a community of faith.

We are a diocesan co-educational school providing a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum centered on the teachings of the Catholic Church, incorporating the Gospel values of Jesus Christ, and designed to meet a variety of academic, spiritual, and social needs.

As a college preparatory Catholic school, inclusive of grades 7-12, we educate students of diverse faiths and backgrounds. Our students will learn to integrate critical reasoning, scholastic achievement, and the search for truth within the convictions of Catholic teaching rooted in faith, moral responsibility, and service to the global community.

Our Vision

Our students will be educated and impassioned to lead extraordinary lives in the Catholic tradition.

A Piece of History

In 1959, under the leadership of Bishop Hugh Lamb, first bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg, the school opened its doors to a ninth grade class of students. With the help of six religious orders, Sisters of St. Benedict, Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Felician Sisters, Sisters of Mercy, Sisters of St. Joseph, and the Vincentian Sisters of Charity, functioning as educators and leaders, GCC began its legacy of excellence.

The school has produced leaders of all kinds, and approximately 10,000 alumni to make the world better. The graduating class of 2021 had 67 students and received nearly $10 million in scholarships and aid from colleges and universities. They also earned 297 college credits while in high school.

Staffing and Governance

Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School is led by a Principal and an Assistant Principal. The Campus Minister, Chaplain, two full time counselors, one junior high counselor and one senior high counselor, and an Athletic Director support the administrative team. Other support staff include a Director of Institutional Advancement and an Enrollment Coordinator. Greensburg Central Catholic employs 31 full-time faculty members and one part time faculty member. There is one learning support specialist and one contracted math lab tutor. The school is also serviced by, two administrative assistants, a business manager, a bookkeeper, as well as one maintenance personnel. The internal cleaning, as well as food service is performed by an outside contractor.

Statement and Explanation of Community Need or Problem

Why should students choose to attend our school?

1,179,951 awarded scholarship and aid, making a Catholic education accessible for all students.
Faith formation is infused throughout every aspect of the Greensburg Central Catholic experience.
Rigorous Honors, Advanced Placement, and College in High School course offerings challenge our learners to take their learning outside the classroom.
Academic partnerships with the University of Pittsburgh, Saint Vincent College, Seton Hill University, and Mount Aloysius College afford our learners the opportunity to engage with college level course work and acquire college credits as a high school student.
Numerous clubs and activities tailored to student interests including academic and service opportunities, performing arts, and multiple honor societies.
Outstanding men’s and women’s sports teams teaching students the importance of teamwork, respect for the games, and developing their athletic abilities on and off the playing field.

List of Programs and Services

Students must earn a minimum of 28.5 credits, and complete 24 hours of service each year to graduate. In general, Greensburg Central Catholic graduation requirements exceed those required by the state, which requires a minimum of 25 credit to graduate. The curriculum within our secondary setting is based on the formation of the Catholic Faith within an environment of academic excellence.

Greensburg Central Catholic educates our youth, spiritually and intellectually, within a diverse, advanced, and rigorous selection of course offerings and programming.

Our curriculum is designed to meet and exceed the standards established under state law. In addition to meeting all of the Pennsylvania Department of Education requirements, our curriculum also integrates Gospel values.

This advanced curriculum has resulted in our students surpassing the national norms on standardized tests; performing at the top level in our region, relative to the SAT examination; and having 98 percent of graduates at Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School attending post secondary institutions.

Greensburg Central Catholic offers ten Advanced Placement classes. Academic partnerships with the University of Pittsburgh, Saint Vincent College, Seton Hill University, and Mount Aloysius College offer students completing any of the eighteen classes offered at GCC the opportunity to receive college credits through the College in High School program. Both the Advanced Placement Program and the College in High School program afford our learners the opportunity to engage with college level course work and acquire college credits as a high school student.

While fulfilling the Greensburg Central Catholic graduation requirements, students have the opportunity to broaden their knowledge and deepen their understanding of a specific area through elective courses. A few examples of elective courses offered at Greensburg Central Catholic are:

Introduction to Engineering
Forensic Science
Computer Programming
Medical Perspectives
Global Studies (World Affairs Council)
Personal Finance (JA)
Conceptual Physics
Strings
AP Studio Art
Revision of the existing Visual Arts courses
Theater Arts (revised)

The current schedule allows for students to participate in clubs approximately twice a month before mass. GCC offers 19 different clubs and 7 junior high clubs monitored by GCC faculty. In addition to other clubs and activities, Greensburg Central Catholic is a chapter of six honor societies including the National Honor Society, French Honor Society, German Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, National Arts Honor Society, and Tri-M Music Honor Society. All students at GCC, have a service requirement. The Campus Ministry and faculty committees offer several faith based service ministries including Columbian Squires and the Squire Roses.

Financial Needs and Ways to Support GCC

Most Catholic schools talk about the gap. What is the “gap”? Why is it important? The gap is the difference between the cost to educate a student and the tuition paid by students. The cost to operate the school for the 2021-2022 school year is budgeted at $4.277 million The Diocese of Greensburg and the parishes that make up the Diocese of Greensburg subsidize a portion of the budget of the school but there still is a gap. In order to keep tuition costs in line, we need the support of alumni, alumni parents, current parents, businesses and friends of GCC who see the value in the education and faith opportunities offered by Greensburg Central Catholic.

There are many ways to support the school and help to cover the gap: Here are some ways to help support the school.

Annual Campaign-The annual giving campaign that begins in the fall
Contribute a major gift, or you can sponsor a specific program
Reunion giving
Annual Auction and Distinguished Centurion Awards
Walt the Extra Mile-Students participate in raising money and walking the extra mile
EITC-Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program

Scholarships

Many Students who attend or want to attend Greensburg Central Catholic qualify for t tuition assistance. In 2021-2022 the school was able to provide over $1.17 million in tuition support. This support comes mainly from two sources. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program and the Saint John Paul II Tuition Opportunity Program (TOPS).