Description & History

In the early 1960s the decision was made by Cardinal Lawrence Shehan to build an Archdiocesan Catholic high school on an 87-acre site in Bel Air, Harford County. The John Carroll School opened to 202 freshmen on September 9, 1964 under the leadership of Principal Rev. Raymond Wanner.

This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

— John 13:35

From its earliest days, the school reflected a unique partnership of clergy, religious, and laity. Today, that partnership remains part of the school’s educational mission. Two priests, including Rev. Charles K. Riepe, chaplain when the school opened in 1964, enhance sacramental life. The Sisters of St. Joseph, Chestnut Hill, continue to serve as they have done since the school opened. Their efforts, combined with those of more than 110 lay teachers and staff, form the special character of The John Carroll School. The school is named for America’s first Catholic bishop. A member of one of the most prominent families of colonial times, John Carroll founded Georgetown University in 1789, America’s oldest Catholic institution of higher learning. In 1791, Bishop Carroll established St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, America’s first Catholic seminary. Archbishop John Carroll — priest, patriot and scholar — laid the foundation for the Catholic Church in America.

Almost 200 years after his death, John Carroll’s beliefs and values continue to influence the Catholic identity of The John Carroll School — “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Today, students are encouraged to see that the true spirit of Christianity is a spirit of justice, charity and compassion, and that it is an illusion to consider oneself a Christian without showing care and concern for one’s neighbor.

Infused by this spirit, The John Carroll School has flourished for more than 40 years. The physical plant has expanded: twelve classrooms were added in the early 1980s, and in more recent years, a Fine Arts Wing and an Athletic addition have enhanced the facility. The more than 7,000 graduates are a diverse group, some returning to work in Harford County, and others serving across the globe. Their ranks include diplomats, business leaders, teachers, filmmakers, poets, leaders of religious congregations, entrepreneurs, military men and women, and professional athletes. Their extraordinary accomplishments and those of our 850 current students tell the story of The John Carroll School.