Bethlehem High School is a coeducational,

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

high school A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., ...

in Bardstown,

Kentucky Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...

, United States. It is part of the Archdiocese of Louisville, and is one of only two coeducational high schools among the nine overseen by the archdiocese (the other being Holy Cross High School in Louisville). Its sports teams have had successes in the 21st century. In 2006, the boys' soccer team won the Class A state title, the football team beat Bardstown for the 9th district title, and boys' basketball won the 19th District Championship. In 2008, the boys' soccer team again won the Class A State title, and the cheerleading squad placed first at the Jamfest National Championship Competition. The boys' soccer team won the Class A State Championship for the third time in 2011.

History

Bethlehem High School began in 1819 when Bishop Flaget requested the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth to open an elementary day school for the children in the Bardstown area. Brother David, the founder of this religious order, provided the school, which was staffed by Sisters Harriet Gardiner, Polly Beavin and Nancy Lynd. The name "Bethlehem" was given to this new school to signify the birth of the first branch house stemming from Nazareth, the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. Bethlehem continued as an elementary school until 1911, when St. Joseph Preparatory High School for boys was founded. The boys attended "St. Joe Prep", as the school was affectionately called, while girls continued their schooling at Bethlehem. Bethlehem's first high school graduating class was in 1913. From 1911 until 1953, Bethlehem continued as a co-educational elementary school, and a girls' high school. In the fall of 1953, St. Joseph Parochial Elementary School (now St. Joseph School), built by St. Joseph Parish, opened. Bethlehem was operated exclusively as a parish high school for girls, no longer owned by the Sisters, but staffed by them. In 1968, St. Joe Prep closed. In 1970, Bethlehem became a co-educational high school, as it continues today. Bethlehem is the only Roman Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Louisville outside of Jefferson County. It serves eight counties and 35 parishes, with a current enrollment of around 300 students. The school mascots are the Eagles for the boys' teams and the Banshees for the girls' teams.

Extracurricular activities

Bethlehem High School has a variety of extracurricular activities in sports and non-athletic areas, including drama, speech, National Honor Society, Spirit Club, choir, student council, golf, and cross country.

Notable alumni

* Thabiso Khumalo, former

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

n footballer * J. Mark Spalding, 12th bishop of the Diocese of Nashville

References

External links

School website
{{authority control Catholic secondary schools in Kentucky Buildings and structures in Bardstown, Kentucky Educational institutions established in 1819 Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville Schools in Nelson County, Kentucky 1819 establishments in Kentucky