Beginnings

On January 11, 1954, under the name Orlando Central Catholic, Bishop Moore Catholic High School opened its doors and welcomed 100 students at the present campus location on the shores of Little Lake Fairview in College Park. The Most Reverend Joseph R. Hurley renamed the school in honor of Bishop John Moore, the second Bishop of St. Augustine and a crusader for Catholic education in the state. The school consisted of chemistry labs and home economics classrooms.

Within two years of opening, Bishop Moore Catholic High School began to expand its facilities to accommodate a growing student population. On August 30, 1957, a new wing opened, housing a library and six additional classrooms. The school President, Father John P. Lawler, and Principal Sister Teresa Maria, SSJ, saw enrollment double to
200 students. 

In the early sixties, Loretta Hall was built to accommodate classes for young women, while the young men’s classes were held in what is now Bishop Grady Hall. The Chemistry lab was considered ‘integrated’ since there was only one lab, and it was shared. In 1963, Sister Mary Marth Hall was built as a new convent and chapel for the Sisters of St. Joseph at St. Charles Borromeo. The Heidrich Center was built in 1965, named after the Herman J. Heidrich family who donated funds for the building’s construction. Of course, we know this beloved space as our iconic "Dome."

In the late seventies, a capital fund was initiated. As a result of funds raised, Sister Mary Martha Hall was converted into classrooms, and a new library was relocated. The biology labs were renovated and Memorial Stadium was completed.
 

A major building plan was initiated in the late nineties to relocate and expand on campus parking, construct a new state-of-the-art gymnasium with a weight room, build four locker rooms and a trainer’s room, add a new media center, office suites, and construct 21 new classrooms with specialized spaces for music and art classes. These extensive facilities were dedicated in the fall of 2002.

In 2018, we engaged in another capitol campaign to add the Moore Center for Excellence, a multi-use facility that included locker rooms, a weight room, a film room, classroom space for STEM related curriculum, an event space, a Spirit Store, and office suites. In addition, our Black & Gold Brigade found a new home in a band building adjacent to Memorial Stadium.

Present

In the fall of 2024, we will welcome over 1500 students to Bishop Moore, including 420 freshmen, our largest-ever freshman class. The reputation and quality of the school’s academic, service, and athletic programs are stellar. In the 2024 graduating class, we saw seven military appointments to five academies, and 100 % of our graduating class went on to seek higher learning.

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Athletic Excellence

Hornets are very proud of their athletic achievements. Most notable are three back-to-back state championships for our girls soccer team and three back-to-back national championships for our dance team.

Our Achievements
 

Sacramental Life

Our Catholic identity is strong at Bishop Moore Catholic. From our Marian grotto, St. Joseph’s Chapel, and outdoor altar and crucifix in the Pines, to our statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Virgin Mary by the original school buildings. These reminders of our faith foster religious growth and deepen our connection with our Savior. The charism of our foundresses, The Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine, the dear neighbor, remains a vibrant part of Bishop Moore’s spirituality. The Maxims of Perfection, 100 in total, serve as a way to bring us in closer union with God through our relationship with our creator, ourselves, and others. A different Maxim has been placed in each building in each classroom to be used for meditation and contemplation.

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