The Archdiocese of New Orleans placed the school under the patronage of St. Augustine of Hippo, a preeminent Christian and scholar of Africa, and a Father of the Church. This was appropriate since from its inception the school was designated for the education of young men from Black Catholic families of New Orleans. Although St. Augustine now welcomes students of any national or ethnic background, it has remained the leading secondary school for black males in Louisiana, and is nationally recognized in educational circles for outstanding success in preparing its students for higher education.Throughout its history St. Augustine has maintained a tradition of strong discipline, and a program of studies which challenges each student to achieve his fullest individual potential. St. Augustine has always served a very diverse student population, seeking to enable each and every student to maximize his potential. Various methodologies have been used throughout the history of the school to achieve this, from homogeneous groupings to diversified instruction methods. St. Augustine aims to prepare students of all academic aptitudes to function successfully in his professional endeavors.