Our
Heritage

1863

Boston College is Founded

In 1863, the Massachusetts House and Senate passed an Act to incorporate a new school rooted in the sixteenth century teachings of St. Ignatius and fashioned on the European model—a seven-year program combining college and secondary school. Twenty two pioneering students ranging in age from 11 to 16 years of age enrolled that first year in a curriculum of rudiments (Latin and Greek) and humanities (philosophy and theology) in what was called “Boston College.”

September 5, 1864

The School Opens its Doors

Made possible by the determination and vision of Rev. John McElroy, SJ, the school was founded to educate a burgeoning population of Irish immigrants during a period of bitter racial and religious hatred in the City of Boston. Rev. John Bapst, SJ was selected as the first president of the school and its first home was on Harrison Avenue and James Street in Boston’s South End.

September 6, 1864 — 1910

The College and the
Preparatory School

For the first fifty years, the college and the preparatory school occupied the same quarters, twice enlarged, and their histories became inseparable.

1913

The College Relocates

By 1913 there were more than one thousand students enrolled in what was called, by this time, the “High School” and some three hundred enrolled in the “College.” That year the college relocated to its present site in Chestnut Hill. Boston College High School remained in the South End at the original site.

1927

The Schools Legally Separate

For fourteen years the two schools continued to share the same administration, but by 1927 they were divided into two legally separated institutions.

1948

Rev. Robert A. Hewitt, SJ Purchases 70 Acres on Columbia Point

Rev. Robert A. Hewitt, SJ purchased 70 acres on Columbia Point for $240,000. This site would be the new home of BC High and would realize Father Hewitt’s vision of “a modern high school with a full range of scholastic facilities.” This included, “science laboratories, and a library; the necessary ecclesiastical facilities, including a Jesuit faculty residence and a chapel; a wide range of athletic facilities, including a gymnasium, field house, and outdoor areas for a variety of sports, both interscholastic and intramural, and areas for general recreation, faculty walks, parking and campus landscaping.”

November 13, 1950

New Campus Opens Its Doors

McElroy Hall opened its doors to 600 juniors and seniors. The entire student body moved to the new campus by 1954 but members of the Jesuit Community remained at the James Street Residence.

1953

Cushing Hall is Dedicated

On September 11, Cardinal Richard Cushing, Class of 1913, was present at the dedication of BC High’s newest building. On hand, was Boston Mayor, John B. Hynes, who wrote a letter congratulating BC High as it began to build on Columbia Point and thanking it “for believing in the future of the City of Boston.”

1957

Jesuit Residence

Loyola Hall, the Jesuit residence, was completed.

1965

Walsh Hall

The Walsh Hall Science Center was dedicated.

1975

S.T.A.R. Complex

The Student Training, Athletic and Recreation Complex (S.T.A.R.) was dedicated.

1988

McNeice Pavilion

Following the completion of a successful $3,000,000 capital campaign, the school dedicated the 37,000 square foot multi-use McNeice Pavilion, in honor of the schools largest donor, John A. McNeice, Jr. ’50.

1997

Cocoran Library Opens

With an unprecedented gift from Rose & Joseph Corcoran ’53, the Corcoran Library was opened, a fully automated and networked reading, study, and research center occupying the first floor of Cushing Hall.

2005

Meet McQuillan Hall

President William J. Kemeza – the school’s first lay president – opened the school’s newest building, the largest in the school’s history, a 63,000 sq/ft addition, including a student commons, science center and cafeteria, calling it “a physical demonstration of our renaissance, a new birth, a new affirmation of our commitment to academic excellence.” It was named McQuillan Hall, to recognize the generosity of John McQuillan’s ’83, at the end of the school’s highly successful $51 million Renaissance campaign in 2008.

September 7, 2007

The Arrupe Division Is Established

BC High’s Arrupe Division for seventh and eighth graders opened its doors in the fully renovated Walsh Hall. Named after Rev. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, the former superior general of the Society of Jesus, the Arrupe Division extends the rigorous Jesuit educational experience offered at BC High to a younger generation of students.

2012

Hyde Center For Global Education

The Lawrence H. Hyde ’42 Center for Global Education at Boston College High School was established through a generous gift from Mr. Hyde in 2012. The gift signified his commitment to Jesuit education at BC High and the continuous pursuit of promoting “internationalism among young people.”

November 2013

Cadigan Hall Dedication

With the largest single gift in school history, $12 million from Patrick Cadigan ’52, Cadigan Hall was built. It encompasses 28,000 square feet of space dedicated to music, fine and performing arts and athletics.

May 2015

Monan Baseball Park

The collaboration between BC High and UMass Boston is the result of a public-private partnership anchored by a $2 million commitment from the Yawkey Foundation named in honor of Reverend J. Donald Monan, SJ.With the exact dimensions of Fenway Park, Monan Park is home to students from BC High, UMass Boston, and beyond.

August 2017

Grace Cotter Regan P’12 Named First Female President

On August 24, 2017, the Board of Trustees unanimously voted to appoint Grace Cotter Regan P’12 as the 28th president of Boston College High School. Regan’s roots run deep on Morrissey Boulevard as her late father, Jim Cotter ’55, was a beloved and trusted mentor, coach, and friend to generations of Eagles. Her son, Bartley, graduated in the Class of 2012. Grace brings a wealth of experience in the Jesuit network and her connections to the City of Boston are deeply valued.

Centers of Human Excellence Established - 2017-2022

House System Launched

BC High Receives Largest Gift in School History

On April 7, 2022, President Grace Regan P’12 announced that the school had received the largest gift on record from the Patrick F. Cadigan ’52 Family Foundation to build the Cadigan Wellness Complex, a 42,000 sq.ft. building complete with a pool, state of the art locker rooms, wellness kitchen, and much more! This building will allow BC High to align the physical spaces on campus with the philosophical approach to education. The school will break ground in Fall 2023

Murphy Family Stadium - 2023

With a generous gift from John V. Murphy ’67, P’98, BC High build a new stadium to house Cornelius Keohane ’51 Track and James Cotter ’55 Field. The state-of-the-art stadium boasts 1800 seats, a full concourse for concessions and viewing, as well as a beautiful sound system and scoreboard.