Founded in 1886 by a German Jesuit on the invitation of Bishop Richard Gilmour, the school was originally a six-year secondary school based on the German Gymnasium that was to be attended after the completion of six years of grammar school. Separate four-year high school and college programs were formed in 1902, with the college changing its name to John Carroll University in 1923 and moving out of the Cleveland location to neighboring University Heights, Ohio in 1935. The words and music of St. Ignatius' alma mater were composed by the school's band director, Jack T. Hearns, Sr., in August 1937. His band debuted the alma mater at halftime during a football game on October 1, 1937, replacing their customary "Victory March". In 1958, St. Ignatius gave St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati permission to adapt the song.
Campus
Saint Ignatius High School remains at its original location at 1911 West 30th Street. The campus includes the original structure, now known as the Main Building, which was completed in 1891 and is now a designated Cleveland Historic Landmark. On January 21, 1974, Saint Ignatius was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Other buildings are Loyola Hall, Clavius Science Center, Saint Mary of the Assumption Chapel, Gibbons Hall, The Carfagna Family Magis Athletic Center, Father Sullivan, S.J. Gymnasium, Carroll Gymnasium, Murphy Field House, Kyle Field, and the O'Donnell Athletic Complex, which houses Wasmer Field and Dale Gabor Track. In addition, the $11.5 million Breen Center for the Performing Arts replaced the Xavier Center in August 2009. It houses all student performing arts programs and hosts many events for other local arts groups. A new $3.3 million cafeteria has replaced the former Student Center, stage, senior lounge, and cooking areas. It was renamed the Rade Dining Hall. Both the St. Mary of the Assumption Chapel and the Murphy Field House projects were funded and overseen by Murlan J. Murphy.
In 1990, a fine arts program was added to the school's curriculum. Its most recent addition has been the Breen Center for the Performing Arts. Musical opportunities include the Wildcat Marching Band, Pep Band, Stage Band, Steel Drum Band, Jazz Band, Liturgical Musicians, and others.
Clubs and activities
Extra-curricular activities at St. Ignatius range from the student-led yearbook to Billiards Club. Some activities meet daily while others meet less than monthly. The school's Latin Club functions as a local chapter of both the Ohio Junior Classical League and National Junior Classical League.
Athletic program
Saint Ignatius' athletic teams are known as the Wildcats and compete as an independent in the Ohio High School Athletic Association, at the Division I level. Through the 2016–17 school year, the Wildcats have won 26 state championships across nine sports teams, highlighted by their 11 state titles in football, including five consecutive titles during the 1990s. Both the overall total of 11 and the five-year streak are the most in OHSAA history for football and the school's 26 state championships ranks 7th overall and 2nd in boys' athletic titles.
