2020-2021 PRESIDENT’S LETTER Thank you for your interest in Dowling Catholic High School. We know that choosing a high school is an important PRINCIPAL Matt Meendering decision as those four years are key building blocks in development that provide a foundation for your student’s ASST. PRINCIPAL future. Here you will find information on Dr. Erica Arnold much of what we do in our mission to help students become Christ-centered leaders. DEAN OF STUDENTS Grant Bousum Dowling Catholic is the largest Catholic secondary school in Iowa. The school’s beautiful 65-acre campus is centrally ATHLETIC DIRECTOR Tom Wilson located in suburban West Des Moines, Iowa. As part of the We Believe Capital Campaign, more than 27 million dollars ADVANCEMENT has been donated by parents, alumni and the community to provide students DIRECTOR with a modern campus and updated facilities. Julie Bell Dowling Catholic’s reputation is strong in academics, athletics, service and BUSINESS MANAGER the arts. Our dedicated boards provide leadership and support for constant Brenda Wheeler improvement. Outstanding support of the Annual Appeal makes it possible for us to provide a quality education at a tuition rate significantly lower than MAINTENANCE the per-student cost, helping to remove barriers for those seeking a Dowling MANAGER Catholic education. Josh Kirkpatrick We are focused on creating a personalized education experience for every student, with measurable outcomes for faith, academic and life preparation in place. As part of this initiative, we have raised our expectations when it comes ADMISSIONS to how we measure success, looking beyond high school to college preparation Tatia Eischeid and college graduation rates. New this year, we will provide one ACT exam Kelly Lentsch for every junior to be taken on campus during the school day in the spring. Sophomore and freshman students will take a pre-ACT test the same day. The programming changes are part of an ongoing initiative to provide every ART DIRECTOR student with the opportunity to be successful beyond high school. Colin Gargano We invite you to contact our admissions team with questions or to learn more about Dowling Catholic High School. We look forward to working with you. CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Earl Hulst Colin Gargano Dr. Dan Ryan President The 2020-2021 DCHS Experience was printed October 2020 with statistics from the 2019-2020 school year. FAST FACTS RAISED & DONATED BY STUDENT $48,500+ ACTIVITIES 92% CATHOLIC 8% NON-CATHOLIC TEACHERS ACADEMICS At Dowling Catholic High School we provide your student with an educational setting where faith and values are incorporated into the daily routine. With a curriculum designed to engage and challenge students to reach their fullest potential, our goal is to personalize the educational experience of every student. Recognized as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education, we are committed to academic excellence and strive to prepare students for college and beyond. ACADEMIC AWARDS AND RECOGNITION Dowling Catholic students who excel in the classroom have the opportunity to earn numerous awards, including academic letters, SCORE OF 23.3 medals and an Aquinas Key, our highest academic award. Students may also apply for membership into the Dowling Catholic chapter of the National Honor Society by maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.7, and demonstrating leadership, service and the seven qualities of character (respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, faith, caring and citizenship). 38% GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS The curriculum at Dowling Catholic revolves around the core subject areas of Theology, English, Technology, Fine Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and Guidance. Eight required credits of general electives provide students with the opportunity to pursue areas of special interest or to go into greater depth in core subjects. Additionally, graduation requirements include two credits (80 hours) of Christian Service. Total credits = 29.50 for the Class of 2021, 30 for the Class of 2022, 31 for the Class of 2023, 32 for the Class of 2024. Physical Education** is required each semester, unless a student is excused following the PE Excusal process. *Beginning with the class of 2024, 3.5 units of credit in Social Studies will be required for graduation. ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) COURSES Students who successfully complete AP courses may receive post-secondary credit. The AP program at DCHS includes Biology, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Environmental Science, European History, Government, Language & Composition, Literature & Composition, Microeconomics, Physics I & II, Psychology, Spanish, Statistics and U.S. History. Online courses are also available. DUAL ENROLLMENT Students have the option to dual enroll and take advanced college classes through St. Louis University, a prestigious Jesuit institution, and Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). PROJECT LEAD THE WAY Dowling Catholic has been certified as a Project Lead the Way school, allowing students to earn college credit through Iowa State University. When combined with college preparatory math and science courses, the program introduces students to the discipline of engineering and engineering technology prior to entering college. Dowling Catholic currently offers a series of five engineering courses. COLLEGE PLANNING Dowling Catholic High School has a College & Career Coordinator dedicated to helping students along the path toward graduation and beyond. The goal of the college and career planning program is to help students make informed choices regarding their post-high school plans. Students are provided with personalized guidance, given access to college search tools, and provided with assistance through the college application process. Dowling Catholic also provides students with exposure to nearly 100 post secondary options during an annual college fair hosted on campus. Total credits = 29.50 for the Class of 2021, 30 for the Class of 2022, 31 for the Class of 2023, 32 for the Class of 2024. Physical Education** is required each semester, unless a student is excused following the PE Excusal process. *Beginning with the class of 2024, 3.5 units of credit in Social Studies will be required for graduation. COLLEGE CHOICE COLLEGE CHOICES OF 2017-2020 GRADUATES Agnes Scott College Iowa Wesleyan University Texas Christian University Arizona State University Iowa Western Community College The Florida Institute of Technology Augsburg University John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD The George Washington University Augustana College Kansas City Art Institute The School of Visual Arts in New York Augustana University Kansas State University Truman State University Ave Maria University Kirkwood Community College United States Merchant Marine Academy Aveda Institute of Des Moines La’James Beauty Academy United States Naval Academy Belmont University Lebanon Valley College University College--Ireland Benedictine College Lewis University University of Alabama Berklee College of Music Liberty University University of Arizona Black Hawk College Loras College University of Arkansas Bocconi University--Italy Louisiana State University--Baton Rouge University of Californa Boston College Loyola Marymount University University of Central Florida Boston University Loyola University Chicago University of Chicago Bradley University Luther College University of Cincinnati Briar Cliff University Marquette University University of Colorado Brown University Mercy College of Health Sciences University of Dallas Buena Vista University Miami University (OH) University of Denver Butler University Michigan State University University of Dubuque Catholic University Middlebury College University of Illinois Central College Minnesota State University--Mankato University of Indiana Central Piedmont Community College Missouri Valley College University of Iowa Century College Missouri Western State University University of Kansas Chapman University Morningside College University of Kentucky Coe College Mount Mercy University University of Maryland Colgate University Mount Saint Mary’s University of Massachusetts College of Saint Benedict Nebraska Wesleyan University University of Minnesota Colorado Mountain College New York University University of Missouri Colorado School of Mines New York University--Shanghai University of Nebraska Colorado State University North Central College University of Northern Iowa Cornell College Northern State University University of Notre Dame Cornell University (NY) Northwest Missouri State University University of Oregon Creighton University Northwestern College University of Portland DePaul University Northwestern University University of South Dakota Des Moines Area Community College Purdue University University of Southern California Drake University Regis University University of Southern Mississippi Ellsworth Community College Rochester Institute of Technology University of St. Thomas Elmhurst College Rockhurst University University of Tampa Elon University Rutgers University - New Brunswick University of Tennessee Emory University Saddleback College University of Utah Florida Gulf Coast University Saint Ambrose University University of Virginia Florida Institute of Technology Saint Louis University University of Washington Florida State University Saint Michael’s College University of Wisconsin Folsom Lake College & Sierra College Scottsdale Community College University of Wyoming Fordham University Simpson College Upper Iowa University