About O'Dea
Mission Statement
O'Dea High School brings the highest standards of quality Catholic education to a diverse economic, racial and ethnic student body. Our education is based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and builds a true community of living faith and service. We are committed to the education of young men: academically, spiritually, socially and physically. O'Dea provides an environment rich in diversity, strong in traditional values and sound in its academic foundation.
Philosophy
The policies and procedures at O'Dea are grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Catholic tradition, and are based on the following beliefs:
Faith formation and spiritual and emotional growth must be fully integrated with the highest quality academics, social and physical education to properly prepare young people for their adult lives as members of the Church and citizens of the United States.
The Catholic school must provide the experience of Christian community to its students and staff as well as being a model of a living Christian community to those outside by its service to the surrounding community.
Parents are the primary educators of their children. Their efforts are complemented by the school and state.
The school community that includes all ethnic and socio-economic groups, with students possessing the full range of artistic, athletic, intellectual and interpersonal gifts, will best prepare its students for the world in which they live.
The single gender school is a uniquely effective setting for the desired growth and formation to occur.
Consistent discipline based in love is essential to the learning environment.
Goals
To build a Catholic Christian community, experiencing and giving witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ.
To educate the whole person: spiritual, intellectual, social and physical.
To develop responsible and well-informed Catholic Christian young men who are prepared to assume roles of leadership and service.
To remain true to the 88 year tradition of O'Dea as a Catholic, Christian Brothers' school while remaining open to the changing needs of its students and to opportunities for growth and improvement.
School Community
O’Dea High School currently enrolls 425 young men in grades 9 – 12. Centrally located on Seattle’s First Hill overlooking downtown, O’Dea is in the midst of the city's major medical facilities, centers for law and judicial process, and primary businesses. Seattle University with which O'Dea shares some common curricula, is three blocks away, and St. James Cathedral, where we celebrate Mass, is across the street. Our central location makes possible a student body drawn from the Puget Sound metropolitan area including young men from 85 zip codes in four counties. Approximately 60% of students live within the city limits, 75% are Catholic, and 44% are students of color. Our student body reflects the full range of cultural, ethnic, intellectual, and socio-economic diversity that exists in the greater Seattle community.
Notice of Non-Discrimination
O’Dea High School admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. O’Dea does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, financial aid, athletic programs or other school-administered programs.