Hales Franciscan is a Catholic high school opened in 1962 for African-American males by the Franciscan Province of the Sacred Heart and is affiliated with the Archdiocese of Chicago. It is one of only three Catholic schools nationally opened for African-American males. The school's mission is to provide students with a spiritually-based, college prep education and character building program in a safe, loving and inspiring environment that develops them into young men who are prepared for tomorrow’s opportunities, embrace academic excellence and life-long learning, embody wisdom and moral values, and become assets to their family, community and the world. School Motto: In Virum Perfectum (Unto Perfect Manhood) School Mascot: Spartan School Color: Scarlet Red and Black ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Co-pioneered the model of educating black males in a values rich, high expectation, single-sex environment now used nationally by hundreds of high schools Trained hundreds of administrators/instructors now entrusted with educating thousands of U.S. students on how to inspire/teach Black males using the Hales Franciscan model First Chicago Catholic high school approved as an International Baccalaureate (IB) school Called a “School That Works” twice in President Reagan speeches and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Exemplary Private School Since 2000, secured college acceptances for 100% of grads with most persisting through college Boast an alumni base of 4,000 grads Employing an academics, character, team first philosophy, built the most successful Chicago Catholic basketball program in Illinois High School Association history First Catholic school nationally to show the management capacity required for an Archdiocese to turnover operations to a lay board Since 1963, students/staff have contributed over 160,000 volunteer hours Acting as a community center during non-school hours, provide thousands of hours of youth and adult programming annually