St. Pius X High School (Festus, Missouri)

St. Pius X Catholic High School, founded in 1959, is the only Catholic high school in Jefferson County, Missouri.

Description

The course catalog includes classes in digital citizenship, forensic science, and a comprehensive wellness program. Students also have the opportunity to earn 35 hours of dual-enrollment college credit through Saint Louis University and the University of Missouri–St. Louis. In addition, 102 hours of community service are required for graduation, along with a capstone project implemented for the Class of 2021 and beyond.

St. Pius X also offers The Lancer Academy, a unique two-week term providing students with real-world learning experiences beyond the traditional classroom.

St. Pius X principal Karen DeCosty, an alumna of the school, graduated in 1993.

Sports and Activities

St. Pius X offers the following MSHSAA sports and activities:

• Baseball
• Men's and Women's Basketball
• Cheerleading
• Men's and Women's Cross Country (girls took 3rd in the state championship as a team and one girl was state champion in 2020)
• Football
• Men's and Women's Golf
• Men's and Women's Soccer (girls have won 1 state championship)
• Softball
• Men's and Women's Tennis
• Men's and Women's Track & Field
• Women's Volleyball (team has won three state championships, most recently 2024)
• Weightlifting
• Men's and Women's Wrestling
• Theatre, Speech and Debate, Scholar Bowl

Notable alumni

• Mike Henneman, Class of 1980 - former MLB player
• Steve Stoll, Class of 1965 - former Democratic Missouri State Senator and Congressional candidate
• Paul Wieland, Class of 1981 - Missouri state senator representing the 22nd District
• Jennifer Johnson Cano, Class of 2002 - American operatic mezzo-soprano

References