Elizabeth Seton's History
Elizabeth Seton High School was incorporated March 15, 1957 and opened with an enrollment of 138 freshmen and a faculty of six Daughters of Charity in September 1959. As early as 1965, the Maryland State Department of Education issued a Certificate of Approval to the school, and in 1968 the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools accredited Elizabeth Seton High School. Enrollment increased annually, peaking to a total of 800 students in the late 1970’s.
From its inception, Elizabeth Seton offered college preparatory, business, and home economics courses. The curriculum included core courses in Religion, English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. Seton’s college preparatory program has always been sound. As students in the college preparatory track pursued more advanced academic courses, students desiring to enter business fields chose courses like Typing, Stenography and Office Practice. Graduates of the business program were so well prepared that government agencies would come to Seton to recruit them. Students from both programs were encouraged to take classes in sewing and cooking.
As the role of women in society evolved in the latter part of the 20th century, so did Elizabeth Seton’s curriculum. The decision was made to focus on college preparatory courses only. Following this decision, business courses were replaced with technology courses. Home economics courses were no longer offered. The business floor became the computer technology floor, with computers replacing typewriters. The home economics rooms were transformed into art and social studies classrooms. This decision also impacted the academic courses offered to a college bound student body. Since 1993, the number of Advanced Placement and honors level courses has grown steadily. Currently Seton offers twelve AP and twenty Honors level courses.
A Scholars Program was also established in 1993. These students receive a monetary stipend that is credited toward tuition. Students who maintain the required grade point average receive tuition stipends during each subsequent year. In the 2000-2001 school year, Seton established the Bayley Success Program to offer additional educational support for students with mild learning differences.
In Elizabeth Seton’s early years, the music program was limited to clubs that met after school. These clubs included Glee Club, Gospel and Liturgical Choirs, Band, and even a Pep Band. Since music has been incorporated into the curriculum, the program has expanded to include seven award winning vocal and instrumental groups: Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Beginning Brass, Orchestra, Concert Choir, Seton Chorale and Chorus. In addition we have a Gospel Choir with 140 members.
The curriculum is not the only area or avenue that has evolved over the years. The schedule has also undergone significant changes. Schedules began as traditional six period days with classes always occupying the same time slots. In the 1970’s a modular schedule with 20 “mods” was adopted. Each discipline had a resource center staffed with a paraprofessional and a teacher. In the late 1980’s Seton adopted a more traditional nine period schedule that took on several variations over the years. Starting with the 2000-2001 school year a new schedule was launched. This schedule has each student meeting five of her seven classes daily over a rotating seven-day cycle.
Elizabeth Seton High School confidently and professionally faces the challenge of continuing to provide an excellent Catholic education in the 21st Century, guided by our motto “Light to Know. Grace to Do.”
