As a result of a feasibility study completed by the University of Miami in February 1993, the Archdiocese of Miami authorized the construction of a new Roman Catholic High School in South Broward. Together with Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School in Dade County, these schools became the first new Catholic High Schools in the Archdiocese in nearly thirty years. Archbishop Edward McCarthy began planning for this new Catholic school in 1994. Archbishop John C. Favalora, Archbishop McCarthy and the first supervising principal, Reverend Edmond Whyte, broke ground for the new school on April 27, 1997. The first phase of construction began soon after. This initial phase included a 21-room classroom building (including offices for campus ministry and student activities, computer lab and three science labs), a 300-seat chapel, an air-conditioned gymnasium and locker rooms and three athletic fields to accommodate 800 students. The second phase of construction completed in 2002 included 2 new buildings including 19 additional classrooms, a state of the art media center, fine arts theatre, computer labs and offices for administration, student services, admissions, guidance and athletics.

Archbishop John C. Favalora selected the name of this new school to be Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School in honor of the contributions made to the Roman Catholic community, including education, by Archbishop McCarthy. Archbishop McCarthy was born on April 10, 1918 in Cincinnati, Ohio and was given eternal rest on June 6, 2005. He was one of five siblings, four of whom chose the religious life. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1943 and became Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati in 1965 and was appointed the First Bishop of Phoenix, Arizona in 1969. The Archbishop became the co-adjudicator Archbishop of Miami in 1976 and assumed leadership of the Archdiocese of Miami in 1977 upon the death of Archbishop Coleman Carroll. Archbishop McCarthy graduated from the St. Gregory Seminary and Mt. St. Mary Seminary in Norwood, Ohio. He earned a Doctorate of Canon Law, summa cum laude, from the Appolinare, the School of Canon Law at the Lateran University, (Rome 1947). The Archbishop also earned a Doctorate of Sacred Theology degree, magna cum laude, from the Angelicum University (Rome, 1948) and a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from the Athenaeum of Ohio. Highlights of Archbishop McCarthy’s ministry in the Archdiocese of Miami includes the establishment of a family enrichment center, Office of Lay Ministry and a Permanent Diaconate program. He also issued “Pastoral Guidelines for Marriage Preparation”, established an Office of Evangelization, dedicated Pierre Toussaint Haitian Catholic Center, traveled to Cuba, ordained the first black priest in the Archdiocese, dedicated the new Pastoral Center in Miami Shores, presided over the creation of the two new Florida dioceses, called for the first-ever Archdiocesan Synod, vigorously opposed abortion, the death penalty and restrictive immigration policies, created a new agency now known as the Catholic Health Services, welcomed Pope John Paul II to South Florida, established Genesis I for homeless AIDS patients and began Radio Peace. Archbishop McCarthy has also written over twenty Pastoral Letters.

The crest of Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School reflects the heritage and traditions of its namesake. In the bottom right corner of the triangle is a stag trippant, which represents the McCarthy family and was used in Ireland as a symbol for centuries and is symbolic of Archbishop McCarthy’s patron saints, St. Edward the Confessor and St. Anthony. The “M” and the three crosslets are from the Coat of Arms of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, where Archbishop McCarthy was born, baptized, ordained to the priesthood and later received Episcopal ordination and is symbolic of the Blessed Mother. The palm and three waves are the symbols of the Archdiocese of Miami. The crown on the top of the triangle is the symbol for the special intentions granted to the school by the Blessed Mother. Archbishop McCarthy, and the school’s motto is “Manere in Dilectione Christi”, translated as “To abide in the love of Christ”. It is derived from the words of Our Lord at the Last Supper (John 15:9) and expresses the Lord’s teaching, “He who abides in me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5); “If you keep my commandments you will abide in my love” (John 15:10); and “By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). This motto is an ideal and program of life for the bearers of this shield. The school colors are Teal Blue, Silver and Black.