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St. Laurence High School

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St. Laurence High School
Location
5556 West 77th Street
Burbank
,
Cook County
,
Illinois
60459
United States
41°45′14″N 87°45′36″W / 41.75389°N 87.76000°W
Information
Type Private
Motto "Where Leadership Begins"
Religious affiliation Roman Catholic
Established 1961[1]
Sister school Queen of Peace High School
Oversight Archdiocese of Chicago[2]
President Joseph A. Martinez[3]
Principal Kristy Kane[4]
Faculty 111[5]
Teaching staff 65.3 (on an FTE basis)[6]
Grades 9–12
Gender Co-ed
Enrollment 1,180[7] (February 16, 2026)
Average class size 22[7]
Student to teacher ratio 15.8[6]
Campus size 23 acres (93,000 m2)[8]
Campus type Suburban
Colors Black and gold
Fight song "Viking Fight Song"
Athletics conference Chicago Catholic League
Mascot Igor the Viking and Astrid the Viking[9]
Team name Vikings
Accreditation North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Publication Gladsheim (literary magazine)
Newspaper The Helm
Yearbook The Valhallan
Tuition $13,800 (2025–2026)[10]
Affiliation Congregation of Christian Brothers[8]
Website www.stlaurence.com

St. Laurence High School is a co-educational, STEM-based high school founded in 1961. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, the school is conducted by the Congregation of Christian Brothers and is named for the Irish Saint Laurence O'Toole.

The school is located in the southwest Chicago suburb of Burbank, Illinois, adjacent to the property of the former Queen of Peace High School, a private, all-female Catholic high school that closed in 2017. St. Laurence became co-ed beginning with the 2017–2018 school year after Queen of Peace closed.

History

St. Laurence High School was founded by the Congregation of Christian Brothers as a boys' school. With the closure of its neighboring sister school Queen of Peace High School, a girls' school run by the Dominican Sisters, the St. Laurence board of directors announced that the school would become co-educational from the 2017–2018 academic year onwards and accommodate transferring female students.[11]

Currently, AERO Special Education Cooperative occupies the former Queen of Peace campus, with new accessible construction completed in 2023.[12]

Classes

At the start of the 2013 school year, St. Laurence became a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) school. The school incorporates spirituality and leadership in its STEM program.[3] Since 2016, St. Laurence has also hosted a Career Pathways program offering 11 different pathways, including aquatic science, aviation, computer science, digital advertising, education, law enforcement, and medical exploration.[9]

In 2021, St. Laurence began an IB Diploma Programme, making it one of only three Catholic high schools in Illinois to offer the program,[13] along with DePaul College Prep and Trinity High School.[14]

Athletics

St. Laurence is a member of the Chicago Catholic League for boys' sports and the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference for girls' sports. It is also a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). St. Laurence sponsors interscholastic teams in baseball, basketball, bowling, cheer, cross country, dance, eSports, flag football, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling, which compete in IHSA sponsored state championship tournaments. The school also sponsors an ice hockey team.[15]

The following teams have won IHSA state tournaments in their respective classes:[16]

  • Baseball: 3A 2025[17][18]
  • Football: 1976–1977, 4A 2023–2024[19]
  • Wrestling: 1989–1990

Notable alumni

  • Brent Bowers, former Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder with the Baltimore Orioles[20]
  • Kevin Bracken, United States team member in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2000 Summer Olympics[21]
  • Jimmy Dore, stand-up comedian, political commentator, podcaster, and Internet personality[22]
  • Jim Dwyer, MLB outfielder with the 1983 World Series champion Baltimore Orioles[23]
  • Tim Grunhard, high school and college football coach, National Football League (NFL) center and one-time Pro Bowl selection with the Kansas City Chiefs[24]
  • James Hickey, retired United States Army colonel involved in the capture of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in December 2003[25][26]
  • Daniel R. Jenky, retired bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria; rector of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame; chaplain of Notre Dame's last football team to win a national championship[27]
  • Kevin J. O'Connor, film and television actor (Steel Magnolias, Color of Night, The Mummy, Van Helsing, There Will Be Blood)
  • Steve Puidokas, professional basketball player in Europe and Pac-12 Conference Hall of Honor member
  • Stan Smagala, college football cornerback with Notre Dame and member of its 1988 national championship team, safety with the NFL Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers[28]
  • Jim Stack, college basketball forward with Northwestern, executive with the NBA Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls, broadcaster with the Big Ten Network
  • John Tumpane, MLB umpire[29]
  • Jeff Vintar, motion picture screenwriter (I, Robot)

References

  1. Back to citation Nolan, Mike (April 10, 2020). "St. Laurence High School names first female principal in history of former all-boys Catholic school". Daily Southtown. Archived from the original on February 16, 2026. Retrieved February 16, 2026. “Founded in 1961, St. Laurence, 5556 W. 77th St., had been an all-boys high school until the start of the 2017–18 school year.”
  2. Back to citation "St. Laurence High School Named Best of Southland for Sixth Consecutive Year". Burbank, Illinois: St. Laurence High School. Archived from the original on November 13, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2026. “Located in south suburban Burbank, Illinois, it [St. Laurence] is the fastest growing Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Chicago.”
  3. Back to citation occurrence 3.0 Back to citation occurrence 3.1 Lafferty, Susan Demar (May 22, 2019). "St. Laurence High School challenges the status quo". Daily Southtown. Archived from the original on December 1, 2024. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  4. Back to citation Swanson, Lorraine (April 9, 2020). "St. Laurence High School Appoints First Female Principal". Burbank, Illinois: Patch Media. Archived from the original on July 22, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  5. Back to citation "Faculty". St. Laurence High School. Archived from the original on June 16, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  6. Back to citation occurrence 6.0 Back to citation occurrence 6.1 "St Laurence H.S." National Center for Education Statistics. Archived from the original on March 24, 2025. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  7. Back to citation occurrence 7.0 Back to citation occurrence 7.1 "St. Laurence: A Place of Transformation". St. Laurence High School. Archived from the original on January 31, 2026. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  8. Back to citation occurrence 8.0 Back to citation occurrence 8.1 "About St. Laurence". St. Laurence High School. Archived from the original on January 5, 2026. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  9. Back to citation occurrence 9.0 Back to citation occurrence 9.1 Connolly, Dermot (March 10, 2025). "St. Laurence students gain real-world experience through Career Pathways program". Southwest Regional Publishing. Archived from the original on April 6, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  10. Back to citation "Tuition and Financial Aid". St. Laurence High School. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  11. Back to citation Swanson, Lorraine (February 14, 2017). "All-Boys' St. Laurence High School Announces Plans to Go Co-Ed". Burbank, Illinois: Patch Media. Archived from the original on January 25, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2017; McCall, Matt (February 17, 2017). "St. Laurence plans to go coed, accept current Queen of Peace students". Daily Southtown. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2026; "St. Laurence plans to go coed, welcome Queen of Peace students". Burbank, Illinois: WGN-TV. February 15, 2017. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  12. Back to citation Bong, Bob (September 22, 2023). "AERO opens new facility in Burbank". Southwest Regional Publishing. Archived from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  13. Back to citation Swanson, Lorraine (February 7, 2021). "St. Laurence Receives Official Authorization As An IB High School". Patch Media. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  14. Back to citation Martin, Michelle (March 3, 2021). "St. Laurence High School to launch IB program next year". Chicago Catholic. Archived from the original on March 28, 2025. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  15. Back to citation "Athletics Main". St. Laurence High School. Archived from the original on April 20, 2012. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  16. Back to citation "Burbank (St. Laurence)". Illinois High School Association. February 8, 2026. Archived from the original on March 24, 2025. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  17. Back to citation O'Brien, Michael (June 14, 2025). "St. Laurence beats Benet to win the Class 3A state championship". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on August 30, 2025. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  18. Back to citation Millar, Steve (June 14, 2025). "Daniel Coyle delivers on mound, at plate as St. Laurence wins Class 3A state title. 'Live for that type of stuff.'". Daily Southtown. Archived from the original on June 15, 2025. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  19. Back to citation O'Brien, Michael (November 24, 2023). "St. Laurence loses to Rochester but brings 'legitimacy and respect' back to the program in Class 4A title game appearance". Chicago Sun-Times. Normal, Illinois. Archived from the original on June 16, 2025. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  20. Back to citation "About Triple Crown All Stars Baseball & Softball Academy". triplecrownallstars.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2025. Retrieved February 14, 2026; "Brent Bowers". Baseball Reference. Archived from the original on February 13, 2025. Retrieved February 15, 2026; "Brent Bowers #30". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on April 28, 2025. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  21. Back to citation Millar, Steve (December 13, 2018) [July 20, 2018]. "Inspirational journey: Olympic wrestler Kevin Bracken brings personal message to camp at St. Laurence". Daily Southtown. Archived from the original on June 20, 2025. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  22. Back to citation "Jimmy Dore". Facebook. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  23. Back to citation "Jim Dwyer". Baseball Reference. Archived from the original on December 25, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  24. Back to citation Payton, Levi (February 6, 2025). "Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl legend returns to help Illinois high school football program". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on March 23, 2025. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  25. Back to citation "Colonel from Illinois part of team that made capture". Chicago Tribune. August 20, 2021 [December 15, 2003]. Archived from the original on June 26, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  26. Back to citation "Colonel James Hickey Irish Roots". The National Irish American Museum of Washington, D.C. Archived from the original on April 26, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  27. Back to citation "Most Reverend Daniel R. Jenky, C.S.C." Diocese of Peoria. Archived from the original on February 16, 2026. Retrieved February 16, 2026; "Bishop Jenky named to head Peoria Diocese" (PDF). Vol. XXXXI, no. 19. Archdiocese of Indianapolis. February 22, 2002. pp. 1–2. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2026; Garvey, Michael O. (October 20, 2003). "Bishop Jenky of Peoria elected Fellow of the University". University of Notre Dame. Archived from the original on December 8, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  28. Back to citation Prister, Tim (November 23, 2022). "Stan Smagala: Notre Dame's Longshot Hero". 247Sports. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  29. Back to citation Disabato, Pat (June 3, 2018) [July 1, 2017]. "Disabato: St. Laurence graduate John Tumpane makes life-saving call". Daily Southtown. Archived from the original on February 16, 2026. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
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