Roanoke Catholic School
Encyclopedia
Roanoke Catholic School is a private
, Roman Catholic high school
in Roanoke, Virginia
. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond
. It also includes a highly specialized preschool. It is divided into three main branches of schooling: Preschool, Lower School (Grades kindergarten through seventh), and Upper School (Grades eight through twelve).
Classes were first held in the parish hall. Later, when St. Vincent's Home for Boys was established, classes were held there. In 1898, Ryan Hall was built, the gift of Mrs. Thomas Fortune Ryan. St. Andrew's was the only Catholic school in Roanoke until 1916 when Our Lady of Nazareth School opened on Campbell Avenue.
In 1931, a new high school building was dedicated. It now houses grades PK-2. In 1950, St. Andrew's High School merged with Our Lady of Nazareth High becoming Roanoke Catholic High School. New high school and gymnasium buildings were constructed in 1961-62.
In 1970-1971, St. Andrew's and Our Lady of Nazareth's Elementary Schools consolidated with grades 1-3 located on Campbell Avenue and grades 4-7 located in the former St. Andrew’s School. Later in 1973-1974, these two schools combined and were known as Roanoke Catholic Elementary School located near St. Andrew’s Church. In 1980-1981, a kindergarten was added to the elementary school. In 1985, Roanoke Catholic High and Roanoke Catholic Elementary became Roanoke Catholic School with two divisions, a Lower (K-7) and an Upper (8-12). In 1993, Roanoke Catholic Preschool opened in the facilities of Our Lady of Nazareth Church.
In August 1999, a multipurpose building was built. This building houses the chapel, media center, cafeteria, art and band rooms, computer and science labs, centralized offices, and classrooms. Eight additional classrooms were completed during the Spring of 2000. After operating for seven years off-campus, the preschool moved to the Hill in 2001.
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
, Roman Catholic high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond
Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond is an ecclesiastical and episcopal see or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. Its current territory was created by Pope Paul VI and encompasses all of central and southern Virginia, Hampton Roads, and the eastern shore...
. It also includes a highly specialized preschool. It is divided into three main branches of schooling: Preschool, Lower School (Grades kindergarten through seventh), and Upper School (Grades eight through twelve).
Background
Roanoke Catholic School was founded in the fall of 1889 by two lay women of St. Andrew's parish. Four years later, in 1893, the sisters of Charity from Nazareth, Kentucky, came to teach at the school.Classes were first held in the parish hall. Later, when St. Vincent's Home for Boys was established, classes were held there. In 1898, Ryan Hall was built, the gift of Mrs. Thomas Fortune Ryan. St. Andrew's was the only Catholic school in Roanoke until 1916 when Our Lady of Nazareth School opened on Campbell Avenue.
In 1931, a new high school building was dedicated. It now houses grades PK-2. In 1950, St. Andrew's High School merged with Our Lady of Nazareth High becoming Roanoke Catholic High School. New high school and gymnasium buildings were constructed in 1961-62.
In 1970-1971, St. Andrew's and Our Lady of Nazareth's Elementary Schools consolidated with grades 1-3 located on Campbell Avenue and grades 4-7 located in the former St. Andrew’s School. Later in 1973-1974, these two schools combined and were known as Roanoke Catholic Elementary School located near St. Andrew’s Church. In 1980-1981, a kindergarten was added to the elementary school. In 1985, Roanoke Catholic High and Roanoke Catholic Elementary became Roanoke Catholic School with two divisions, a Lower (K-7) and an Upper (8-12). In 1993, Roanoke Catholic Preschool opened in the facilities of Our Lady of Nazareth Church.
In August 1999, a multipurpose building was built. This building houses the chapel, media center, cafeteria, art and band rooms, computer and science labs, centralized offices, and classrooms. Eight additional classrooms were completed during the Spring of 2000. After operating for seven years off-campus, the preschool moved to the Hill in 2001.