Leo Catholic High School is located in Chicago’s South Side Auburn-Gresham neighborhood.  Although known for it’s rich history of sports, academics and success stories.  Leo has struggled to keep its doors open.

“Facilities are a struggle.  No question.  We are 88-years-old and somewhat landlocked.  We have to make the most with what we have,” said Leo graduate and school president Dan McGrath. 

Since the school first opened in 1926, it has gone from an all white school for boys to ninety-nine percent black. 

“With the dynamics changing and enrollment being small, just sending the guys to college is our number one goal, ” said Leo graduate and Varsity Football Coach Michael Holmes.

Despite lack of facilities, Leo continues to dominate in sports and academics.  Leo has won the football division title two years in a row.

 “We compete in one of the toughest football conferences in the country and coming from a small school like Leo we have as many Division I college football players as some of the biggest schools in the state,” Holmes stated.

Along with a successful football team, the track team has won five IHSA first place state track trophies.

“Most schools outside this area think we have a track and when I tell ‘em we don’t, they don’t believe me because it’s very difficult for people to believe you can be successful without a track,” said English Teacher, Track Coach and Athletic Director, Edward Adams.

The team has won the IHSA Academic Achievement Award, which is awarded when everyone on the team holds a 3.0 grade point average.

“And some start out not being able to walk yet run but just like you saw hurdlers upstairs, no one came here hurdling, they worked at it constantly to become the best,” continued Adams on how dedicated his athletes are.

Leo has a strong basketball program but they cannot host a regional tournament let alone a home game because the gym has no seating capacity.

Bob Schablaske has been teaching at Leo for 23 years and explains the importance of quality over quantity,  “We don’t have a lot of facilities and things, that’s been a thing people have been saying about us for years but that doesn’t make a school. You got to concentrate on the people, helping them and making them successful and happy in their lives.”

Leo graduates have gone on to become NFL and NBA players as well as a host of successful business professionals.

“It’s got quite a legacy and sometimes people forget about it.  This may not be considered the greatest neighborhood in the world and yet outstanding people have gone through these doors,” Schablaske said.

Coaches and teachers at Leo get paid far less than public school personnel but work just as hard.

“I would put our staff against anybody in catholic schools or public schools for that matter.  We’re absolutely dedicated and work our butt off here to give the students a good education,” said Jonathan Crotty, Leo’s English Department Chair.

This year, 100 percent of their seniors are going to college on academic and athletic scholarships.

School Principal Philip Mesina explained, “We’ve had a lot of success in the past and we want to continue that legacy of excellence in all areas.”

The students are surrounded with motivation as new programs, classes, equipment and facilities are slowly being added.