Fairfield College Preparatory School
| Fairfield College Preparatory | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824 , | |
| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Motto | Per Fidem Ad Plenam Veritatem |
| Established | 1942 |
| President | Rev. John J. Hanwell, S.J. |
| Chairman | John E. Callies |
| Enrollment | approx. 900 |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Color(s) | Cardinal Red, White |
| Mascot | Jesuit |
| Newspaper | Soundings |
| Affiliations | Jesuit (Roman Catholic) |
| Website | http://prep.fairfield.edu |
Fairfield College Preparatory School (Fairfield Prep) is a Jesuit, Catholic high school, located on the campus of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. It is an all male school of about 900 students. It was first founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942. Operating with the approbation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport, Fairfield Prep is self-sufficient with no diocesan or government financial assistance.
History
In 1942, the Provincial of the New England Province of the Society of Jesus was invited by Bishop McAuliffe of Hartford to establish a Jesuit high school and college in Fairfield County. The Provincial, Father John McEleney, (later Archbishop) purchased 200 acres of land overlooking Long Island Sound in the town of Fairfield. The original Jennings mansion became McAuliffe Hall, the first classroom building, and the Lashar mansion became Bellarmine Hall, the first Jesuit residence. The first graduating class of 1943 consisted of eleven young men.
By 1946, the school's enrollment was approaching 800 and two new buildings, Xavier and Berchmans, were on the drawing boards. 1947 also marked the establishment of Fairfield University.
Through the fifties, enrollment remained by design between 800 and 900 students. In the meantime, the University expanded rapidly and the original campus of two buildings and fifty students grew into the campus of today, with twenty-four buildings and over 3,000 students.
Today, Fairfield Prep has an enrollment of 896 students. It conducts classes in Xavier Hall, Berchmans Hall and Pedro Arrupe Hall. The growth of the University has opened up to Prep a host of new facilities: The Nyselius Library, the Recreation Complex with its indoor swimming pool, basketball, racquetball, and tennis courts, the Quick Center for the Arts, and the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Academics
Fairfield Prep is known for its rigorous academic schedule. All students must take four years of Mathematics, Theology, and English. History and Science must be taken for three years, with the option of taking a fourth course senior year as an elective. A course known as Guidance Seminar must be taken all four years as well, but is worth no credits. (More legitimate information to follow).
Athletics
Fairfield College Preparatory School is well known for their number of teams as well as the successes of the athletic program.
Fairfield Prep has been known for its very successful hockey program in the past five years. In 2007, Prep won its third state title in four years by beating cross-town rival Notre Dame of Fairfield.
In 2007, Prep enjoyed its most successful swim season finishing the year 15-0. The Prep swim season culminated in decisive victories at the SCC Championship and the Class L State Championship.
Prep's rivals include Notre Dame of West Haven, Notre Dame of Fairfield, Shelton and Xavier. In the 2007 season, Prep went 6-0 in football, basketball, and hockey versus ND West Haven and 4-0 against ND Fairfield. In 2006, the Fairfield Prep lacrosse team won the class L state championship against long-time rival Norwalk. In 2007 prep won the SCC boys lacrosse championship 18-11.
The final records of Prep's athletic teams for the 2006-2007 school year are as follows:
Baseball 13 – 10, Basketball 17 – 5, Cross Country 6 – 4, Football 8 – 3, Golf 15-3-1, Hockey 19-3-1, Lacrosse 19 – 3, Rugby 9 – 4, Sailing 5 – 2, Soccer 10 – 7, Skiing 15 – 4, Swimming 15 – 0, Tennis 16 – 5, Track 7 – 4, Wrestling 9-17-1
Notable Alumni/Former Students
- Bob Skoronski '52 - Greenbay Packer; Offensive Captain Super Bowls I & II
- Jack Laurence - Vietnam journalist and author of The Cat From Hue
- Sean McManus '73 - President CBS News and CBS Sports
- Kevin Heffernan '86 - Actor/Comedian/Film Writer (Broken Lizard)
- Peter Sarsgaard '89 - Actor
- Mike McGlone '91 - Actor
- Chris Drury '94 - Professional Hockey Player
- Justin Long '96 - Actor
- Theodore Hesburgh - Actor
Notable Former Faculty
- John McLaughlin - Television talk show host and advisor to President Richard Nixon
- Francis A. Sullivan - Jesuit theologian and ecclesiologist
