ALTON — Aware that "pride is one of the seven deadly sins," Marquette Catholic High School Principal Michael Slaughter said he is very proud of what has transpired" at the diocesan school over the past eight years.

Since the 2007-2008 school year in which Marquette had an enrollment of 235, Marquette has grown its enrollment by 83 percent to its current enrollment of 431.

"One wonders how many other Catholic high schools (which have been around since 1927) in the state or even in the nation can proclaim the same increases," said Slaughter.

Slaughter attributes the success to his marketing/development office along with the faculty, staff, parents and teachers.

"We all work together to make the Marquette 'family' — as we like to call ourselves."

The new school year finds other numbers trending up at Marquette. For the fifth straight year, ACT scores are up, Also up are AP scores, the average GPA, the number of college credits graduates received for college and college financial aid awarded to Marquette graduates (over $4 million to last year's class of 93 students). The number of AP and dual credit courses offered and the number of students taking them are also up, according to Slaughter.

"When a school is actually increasing in students, it is a source of pride for Catholics everywhere," he continued. "We intend to continue working ever harder to keep those numbers where they are and not let pride get the better of us."