1878 Creighton School was founded in 1878, later separating into Creighton Preparatory School and
Creighton University. The school was named after
Edward Creighton, an
Omaha businessman, developer of the transcontinental telegraph line, and founder of Omaha and Northwestern Railroad who originally proposed the school but died prior to completing its proposal. After his death in 1874, his wife,
Mary Lucretia, then began finishing the proposal but died in 1876, leaving the unfinished plans to her brother-in-law,
John A. Creighton. In the will of
Mary Lucretia, it was stated that there would be a $100,000 memorial for her late husband “to purchase the site for a school in the city of Omaha and erect buildings thereon for a school of the class and grade of a college.”
John Creighton purchased 6.2 acres of land at the address of 24th and California streets in
Omaha, NE. Construction of the initial building was completed during the summer of 1878 and the completed site was transferred to the ownership Right Reverend
James O'Connor, Bishop of Omaha in July of that year.
O'Connor then contacted the
Society of Jesus (Jesuits) to operate the college and the university was transferred to their ownership in August 1879. Classes began on September 2, 1878 with five Jesuit priests serving as the Board of Trustees, two lay teachers, and an initial enrollment of 120 students.
1953–1967 From 1878 to 1958 Creighton Prep functioned as a department of
Creighton University. In 1953, both organizations determined their functionality would be best served if they were to separate into two independent institutions. The initial plot of land for Creighton Preparatory School was purchased in 1953, fundraising for the school began in 1956, and construction was completed prior to the start of the 1958 fall term. In 1967, led by Fr. Daniel Kenney, Creighton Prep founded a student led service organization called "Operation Others" (simply referred to as "OO"), as a food box give-away program.
1970–1985 Led by Mike Wilmot, S.J., volunteers and students constructed the "Tin Gym" in 1970. This provisional building was to serve as a secondary gym along the north side of the school. This gym served the purpose of hosting dances, informal sports games, and other student activities. This building was later demolished in 2009 to make way for the construction of the Heider Center gymnasium, and the wood floor was placed into long-term storage until being sold to St. Joan of Arc School in 2015. Creighton Prep was significantly damaged by an
F4 tornado during the
1975 Omaha Tornado Outbreak, resulting in approximately $500,000 in damage and early termination of the school year. Clean-up efforts involved over 1500 individuals and surveys of the damage showed significant damage to the building's second floor. Final exams for the school were held in the "Tim Gym", with many believing that the school may need to be permanently closed due to its extensive damage. The school was repaired prior to the beginning of the fall term. In 1985, Mike Wilmot, S.J. oversaw students, parents, and volunteers in the construction of the Creighton Prep weight room. In 1999, the 25,000 sq/ft Dr. James B. and Joan C. Peter Science Center completed construction. Approximately 100,000 sq/ft of the east side of the school was renovated in addition to the construction. Large portions of the Jesuit residence were renovated and re-purposed to be used as classrooms and administration offices. Further renovations included the construction of the current main entrance, a 2000-person football stadium, and the addition of a wrestling room.
2000–2009 In 2001, Robert Hotz, S.J., president of Creighton Prep at the time, invited alumnus William Glenn (1962), a gay man, to address the faculty on his experiences of homosexuality in high school and how to better assist gay students. In 2003, President of Creighton Prep, Reverend Robert Hotz, S.J. resigned after inviting another openly gay alumnus, Don Fraynd (1990), to speak at school Mass on his experiences pertaining to religion, service, and homosexuality.
The Advocate was critical of the resignation while Creighton Prep never listed an official reason for Hotz's resignation.
2014–present In 2014, Creighton Prep partnered with the City of Omaha Storm-Water Program to construct a
bio retention garden near the front of the school. By partnering with student clubs: Creighton Prep Architecture Club, the Creighton Prep Junior Green Jays, and the Creighton Prep Science Club, the garden was constructed in 2014 with monitoring systems to determine the project's efficacy. This same year, construction of the Circo Memorial Plaza took place. During the 2015–2016 school year, Creighton Prep implemented a one-on-one
IPad program in which students would be required to provide an
IPad to their classes. In 2016, Creighton Prep renovated the Henry L. Sullivan, S.J. Campus Center, reorganizing the space in order to accommodate a new catering service. Creighton Prep had previously relied on restaurant vendors and volunteer work in order to feed the student body but starting in fall of 2016, Creighton Prep contracted FLIK Independent School Dining to serve as the primary food provider. This also included an expansion of the before and after school food service, now providing breakfast and after school meals. The transition to professional dining services came from concerns over lack of nutritional value and inadequate accommodation of food allergies and dietary restrictions. FLIK Independent School Dining services were specifically selected due to their association with the Catholic Schools Network and their successful implementation at both
Rockhurst High School and
Marquette University High School. The change in meal provider also resulted in a $450 increase in tuition cost with each lunch now costing $2.62. This project further encompassed renovations to the school's Skinner Chapel. and includes the addition of an on staff student psychologist. The Learning Commons also included the addition of a "learning differences" specialist, academic coach, director for student outreach and advocacy, and construction of a student services department. Funding for the project came from Scott Heider, managing principal of Charwell Capital, and his wife Cindy Heider who provided $8 million donation and led the capital campaign for the addition costs. == Athletics ==