Assumption Preparatory School (for a while previously known as Assumption High School) was an American
secondary boarding school
A boarding school is a school where pupils live within premises while being given formal instruction. The word "boarding" is used in the sense of "room and board", i.e. lodging and meals. They have existed for many centuries, and now extend acr ...
located in
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Massachusetts, second-most populous city in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the list of United States cities by population, 113th most populous city in the United States. Named after Worcester ...
, and operated by the
Catholic
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
order
Augustinians of the Assumption.
It was closely associated with
Assumption College: both trace their beginnings to 1904, when they were founded by
French clergymen with the assistance of
French-speaking Americans.
History
Founded in 1904 by French clerics of the
Augustinians of the Assumption, the school came into being alongside Assumption College. The school shared its campus with the College, and grew in size, reaching 400 students at one point, and reputation, benefiting intellectually from its co-location with the college.
Instruction was French-oriented and often given in the
French language
French ( or ) is a Romance languages, Romance language of the Indo-European languages, Indo-European family. Like all other Romance languages, it descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire. French evolved from Northern Old Gallo-R ...
, with class groupings referred to as "Eléments" and great importance given to the learning of French,
Franco-American culture, and
French Canadian culture, in addition to Catholic teachings.
Following French custom, classes were held on Saturday mornings, but not on Wednesday or Saturday afternoons.
Philosophically, the priests at the school emphasized using rational analysis in the pursuit of truth.
School authorities behaved in a firm but fairly reasonable manner.
Basketball was the most popular sport at the school.
In 1953, a tornado destroyed the campus. The College was moved to a different site within Worcester, but the Preparatory School was rebuilt on the same spot.
The 1960s saw financial troubles, dwindling enrollment, and an aging staff. Assumption Preparatory School was as a result closed in June 1970.
The physical campus of the school subsequently became part of
Quinsigamond Community College. Assumption Preparatory School graduates are included in the alumni activities of Assumption College, which is still in operation.
Graduates
Among the graduates of Assumption Preparatory School was the future U.S. Senator from
Alaska
Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...
and
2008 presidential candidate Mike Gravel in 1949.
References
{{reflist
External links
Assumption Preparatory School alumni site
Educational institutions established in 1904
Educational institutions disestablished in 1970
Defunct schools in Massachusetts
Assumption University (Worcester)
1904 establishments in Massachusetts
1970 disestablishments in Massachusetts