Cardinal Mooney High School has been a fixture of Catholic education in Youngstown since it opened in 1956. The school was built to meet the growing demand for quality Catholic education on the city’s South Side, and it quickly became known for both academics and community spirit.
The school is named after Cardinal Edward Mooney, a Youngstown native who became Archbishop of Detroit. When it first opened, over 600 freshmen and sophomores filled the halls, starting what would become decades of tradition. As enrollment grew, the school added new classrooms, a science lab, and an auditorium to keep up with demand.
Cardinal Mooney has always been about more than just classes. Students get involved in sports, arts, and service projects, creating a tight-knit community that lasts long after graduation. Parents like Dom Italiano, whose daughter Alexis is a senior, say that sense of community is what makes Mooney stand out. “It’s more than a school—it’s a family,” he said. “The teachers really care, and the kids learn how to be responsible and respectful. Alexis has grown so much here, not just in her grades but as a person.”
In 2013, there was talk about moving the school to a new location, but the decision was made to stay on Erie Street and invest in renovations instead. Today, the school continues to educate students from all over northeast Ohio while keeping the same mission that started more than sixty years ago: combining faith, learning, and community.
