St. Louis University High School
Saint Louis University High School (SLUH), a Jesuit Catholic high school for boys, was founded in 1818. It is the oldest secondary educational institution in the U.S. west of the Mississippi River, and is one of the largest private high schools in Missouri.
SLUH was founded in 1818 as St. Louis Academy. It quickly grew to include a college division, and the college was granted university status in 1832. The high school retained the identity of St. Louis Academy on the university campus until 1924 when it moved to its own facilities and incorporated separately under the name of St. Louis University High School. The school's new home, on Oakland Avenue, was a gift of Mrs. Anna Backer in memory of her late husband and alumnus George Backer. That facility, also known as Backer Memorial, has grown considerably over the years and remains the school's home. SLUH has been able to thrive in its city location while many other private high schools have followed the population to the western suburbs.
SLUH is known for academic excellence. Virtually all graduates immediately enter colleges and universities. Students participate in many extracurriculars ranging from theater to sports to Missouri's only weekly high school newspaper, the Prep News.
In 2005 SLUH hired the first lay president, David Laughlin, in its history.
Notable alumni
- Ed Macauley, professional basketball player and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame
- James Gunn II, screenwriter
- E. Michael Harrington, Harvard professor and author of The Other America
- Dr. Thomas Anthony Dooley, humanitarian, Congressional Medal of Honor awardee
- George Hickenlooper, filmmaker and winner of the Palm D'or award at the Cannes Film Festival.
- George "Buzz" Westfall, St. Louis County executive