From 1857 to 2019, a St. John Central High School operated as part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Steubenville.

[2] However, a private committee established St. John Central Academy in the same building, opening the fall after the former school closed.

The new academy inherited the history of St. John Central, including its athletic teams, but is considered a new entity with no affiliation to the diocese.

The St. John men's Cross Country team had won seven consecutive OVAC class A/AA titles (2003 to 2009) under the guidance of head coach Jeremy Midei.

During that period they have won the over-all OVAC title six times (2007: 2nd to eventual WV Large School State Champions Wheeling Park).