About
Mission and Philosophy
School History
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Archbishop Spalding High School enjoys a proud legacy of offering a Catholic college-preparatory education since 1963. Whether first or third generation, every student passing through our halls will grow in knowledge, faith, service and leadership. Each student will become a part of our legacy of excellence in Catholic education.
Archbishop Spalding High School was founded in an era of great social and economic change within our country and world. Under the direction of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the school was founded in 1963 as a parish high school for girls, and was originally staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Known at the time as Holy Trinity High School, the school relocated to the present campus in 1966.
Upon moving to New Cut Road, His Eminence Lawrence Cardinal Shehan renamed the school Martin Spalding High School in honor of the seventh Archbishop of Baltimore. With foresight that the local residential area would continue to grow and see more families recognizing the value of a Catholic education, in 1973 the school became co-educational, welcoming the first boys as freshmen and sophomores. Growth continued throughout the 1980’s as the school began to offer new academic courses and an expanded athletic program. In 1986, the school changed its formal name to Archbishop Spalding High School and by the end of the decade the school’s enrollment topped 1,000 students. Today the school welcomes students from more than 60 middle schools in 7 counties.
Spalding offers students a challenging college preparatory curriculum balanced with a wide variety of co-curricular activities and athletic opportunities to help students prepare for the challenges of the 21st century. Over 98% of Spalding graduates pursue higher education attending all five service academies (USNA, USMA, USAFA, USCGA, and USMMA), Notre Dame, Princeton, Yale, Loyola, Johns Hopkins, the University of North Carolina and many other prestigious colleges and universities.
Archbishop Spalding High School was founded in an era of great social and economic change within our country and world. Under the direction of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the school was founded in 1963 as a parish high school for girls, and was originally staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Known at the time as Holy Trinity High School, the school relocated to the present campus in 1966.
Upon moving to New Cut Road, His Eminence Lawrence Cardinal Shehan renamed the school Martin Spalding High School in honor of the seventh Archbishop of Baltimore. With foresight that the local residential area would continue to grow and see more families recognizing the value of a Catholic education, in 1973 the school became co-educational, welcoming the first boys as freshmen and sophomores. Growth continued throughout the 1980’s as the school began to offer new academic courses and an expanded athletic program. In 1986, the school changed its formal name to Archbishop Spalding High School and by the end of the decade the school’s enrollment topped 1,000 students. Today the school welcomes students from more than 60 middle schools in 7 counties.
Spalding offers students a challenging college preparatory curriculum balanced with a wide variety of co-curricular activities and athletic opportunities to help students prepare for the challenges of the 21st century. Over 98% of Spalding graduates pursue higher education attending all five service academies (USNA, USMA, USAFA, USCGA, and USMMA), Notre Dame, Princeton, Yale, Loyola, Johns Hopkins, the University of North Carolina and many other prestigious colleges and universities.
Archbishop Martin Spalding
Martin John Spalding was born in Washington County, Kentucky, May 23, 1810, the son of Richard and Henrietta (Hamilton) Spalding, Maryland-born Catholics. He was educated at St. Mary’s College and St. Joseph’s Seminary in Kentucky before he was sent to the Urban College of the Propaganda Fide in Rome to finish his theological studies. There he was ordained on August 13, 1834.
During his time in Kentucky he was a pastor, and later served as President of St. Joseph’s College in Bardstown before he was appointed as vicar general of the Diocese in Louisville in 1844. Just six years later, in 1850, he became their bishop. Throughout his four years as bishop in Louisville he was responsible for building their impressive cathedral, still standing today, and assisting in the formation of The American College of Louvain (a Roman Catholic seminary in Leuven, Belgium). He also began, and championed for, their parochial school system.
Recognized by his peers for his talents, he was recommended to be successor to Archbishop Francis Patrick Kenrick of Baltimore. Martin Spalding was appointed as the seventh Archbishop of Baltimore on May 3, 1864. With his role as head of the nation’s oldest diocese, he held a right of precedence over all other archbishops and bishops in the country.
As Archbishop of Baltimore, Spalding founded the House of the Good Shepherd, St. Mary’s Industrial School, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and the Association of St. Joseph. He worked to launch more parishes and institutions per year and introduced more religious orders than any of his predecessors. Other notable work was done following the end of the Civil War, when he fought to support the newly freed African Americans. In 1869 he attended the First Vatican Council.
Archbishop Martin Spalding died on February 7, 1872, at the age of 61. At Archbishop Spalding High School we are proud to commemorate him and honor his contributions to the Catholic faith.
