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| Jordan Hall wing during summer make-over of MCA! |
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A Short History of the Founding of
Mount Carmel Academy
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| View of Bldg. 1 and the Main Office Bldg. |
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Economic pressures on Catholic schools in the United States claimed another casualty in April 2008 when the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston announced the closing of Mt. Carmel High School in southeast Houston effective at the end of May 2008. Over 4000 students have graduated from Mt. Carmel High School (MCHS) since it opened in 1956. The MCHS community mourned the loss of the school and yet, all pulled together to find a way to keep the community together and to continue to provide a quality education for southeast Houston students, regardless of economic status, ethnic origin or religious background.
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| Maureen Giacchino in the park. |
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Parents, alumni and local leaders began meeting to plan for the future. Mount Carmel Academy was incorporated in early May and a steering committee began discussions on whether to open as a private school or as a charter school. Every Wednesday, concerned parents and students gathered in open forum in the park on Reed Road to bring everyone up to date as events progressed. The Houston Independent School District (HISD) made a presentation on how MCA could become a contract-charter school under the HISD umbrella. After much research, planning and prayer, the steering committee decided to accept the HISD offer and key MCA leaders began the intense process of completeing the applications for the HISD School Board to consider. Others began looking for an acceptable location for the school.
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Many facilities were looked at but the present location in Garden Villas turned up just at the right time. The former Garden Villas United Methodist Church not only is close to MCHS, the GVUMC campus has 21 classrooms, a cafeteria and assembly space. A lease was arranged and just awaited the approval of the contract with HISD. In late May, the HISD School Board approved the contract with MCA and the school began taking "Intent To Enroll" applications, all with the plan to open in August.
Throughout the summer, many dedicated volunteers spent countless hours and days working at MCA preparing the school for its August opening: cleaning, painting, paving, repairing, finding furniture, getting classroom supplies, etc. In July, a "Meet and Greet" open house was held at the MCA. Over 80 residents of the Garden Villas neighborhood joined approximately 140 MCA students and parents to get to know each other better. Potential faculty and staff were interviewed and hired.
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| Paul Sobieski and Joe Quintal in the park. |
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There were hiccups and adjustments needed to be made to the plan. But the resilience of the community came through time and again as donations came in, volunteers continued to show up, and the MCA campus began to take shape. Finally, on Monday, August 25, 2008, Mount Carmel Academy opened its doors to 201 high school students.
It is interesting to note that while approximately 48% of the student body came from the closed MCHS, another 30% came from area private and parochial 8th grade classes, with the remaining 22% coming from some nine (9) area public school districts, including HISD. (As a contract-charter high school, MCA can admit any resident of the state of Texas, not just HISD residents, as long as the potential student meets the admission criteria of the school.) Based on information provided by our student's parents, our ethnic makeup was 55% Hispanic, 25% Black and 20% Anglo. Our class enrollments were 86 Freshmen, 42 Sophomores, 44 Juniors and 29 Seniors.
As a contract-charter school, Mount Carmel Academy is a "School of Choice" meaning MCA enjoys local autonomy, including curriculum flexibility, hiring of its own faculty and staff, setting its own standards of conduct and student activities, and setting admissions requirements for attending the school. HISD provides the guidance and support to operate the school, including funding (as explained below and under the "Development /Giving" tab), textbooks, lunch service and tons of moral support every time we ask a question or need advise. However, MCA is ultimately accountable to HISD's standards in the area of academic performance, state mandated testing (TAKS), federal "No Child Left Behind" program, and HISD/TEA for accreditation of the school.
MCA does not charge tuition - once admitted, attendance is free. However, public funding only covers about 66% of what it actually costs to run the school. Additional fund-raising is crucial to sustain and grow the school. Much work is being done in obtaining pledge-support donations, grants, and event fund-raising, such as our Carmel Carnival in November and the Zelo Auction & Gala in March. MCA was incorporated as a non-profit Texas corporation and has applied for 501C3 status with the federal government.
The school is governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of MCA parents, area business/community leaders, and MCHS alumni. The founding members of the board of trustees coalesced during the critical period when the broad-based steering committee worked on the early stages of the school. Each member of the Board of Trustees will serve for an initial period of one year, and each brings needed gifts and talents to ensure a firm foundation and future for MCA.
It is the goal of the Mount Carmel Academy Board of Trustees to ensure academic excellence and moral guidance for all our students. We support parental rights to direct the upbringing of their children by choosing their educational community. Mount Carmel Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, programs, activities, admissions policies and other school-administered programs.
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