Archbishop O’Hara High School

History

Archbishop O’Hara High School, named after the former Bishop of the diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, was founded in 1965. 

The school had a rigorous academic program. It offered AP courses and university credit through Rockhurst University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. 100% of its students attended post-secondary education, with approximately 75% enrolling in four-year colleges and universities. The school featured a Scholar Wall, bearing the names of every valedictorian and salutatorian since 1969, including that of Hailey Cherokee Jordan, at sixteen years old, O’Hara’s youngest ever valedictorian.

The athletics programs were also strong, winning state championships in a variety of sports. One example is the volleyball team, which was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame for its dominance from 2002 through 2010. Coached by Lori Hanaway, the Celtics won seven state titles in nine years.

Just as important as its academic or sports programs, O’Hara was one of the cornerstones of its neighborhood. Jim Rowland, an alum and former City Council member said, "O’Hara was an anchor for that part of Kansas City and a part of the city that needs anchors ... when a neighborhood or community needs an institution that solidifies it, that’s kind of like a rock."

Every high school has what’s known as a Big Man on Campus—the one student everyone looks up to and with whom everyone wants to be friends. At most schools, it’s an athlete, such as the captain of the football team. In 2013 at O’Hara, it was Brett Hughes. But Brett wasn’t an athlete. Brett had Down Syndrome. But at O’Hara, that didn’t matter—sometimes, he couldn’t make it to class on time because so many students wanted to talk to him, to say hello. And when Brett needed brain surgery for Moyamoya disease, a severe blockage of cranial arteries, O’Hara sprung into action, bombarding heaven with prayers and working to raise money and support for the Hughes family.

That wasn’t a big surprise to either Michele or Jeff Hughes, Brett’s parents. They are both O’Hara graduates and knew what kind of school they were sending children to. “It’s surreal,” Michele said. “You feel God’s presence in everyone at O’Hara.”