School History
St. Patrick Academy is the most recent part of a long and unique history of educating local children and young adults at St. Patrick Parish.
School First Established: 1 Nov 1843
The original school building was constructed behind the church, near the Rhode Island State House. Fully furnished, it cost about $500.
Davis Street Move: 1 Jan 1845
The school was moved to Davis Street and enlarged. The building was able to hold 300 children in each of the two rooms "with yards and outhouses, separate for boys and girls" (Fr. Wiley's Diary) and was used as a Sunday school only.
School for Boys Opens: 26 Dec 1848
A day school for boys, ages 8 and older, opened with 35 students, with Mr. John Coyle as the first teacher. Tuition was $1.00 per quarter.
School for Girls Opens: 1 Mar 1851
Fr. Synnot of St. Patrick Church applied for the Sisters of Mercy to take charge of a school for girls. The first girls' school opened, using the first floor of the existing school, while the boys' school continued on the second floor.
New Building Constructed: 1 May 1870
A larger school was constructed on the site of the original one. The new brick structure contained eight classrooms and a large gathering hall.
Smith Street Building Constructed: 1 Jan 1927
The cornerstone of the present school building was laid on the site on Smith Street.
Last Graduation at Old School: 1 Jun 1928
The last graduation was held at the old school; Sr. Scholastica R.S.M. was principal at the time.
Davis Street Senior High School Established: 1 Sep 1933
Fr. Martin Reddy turned the Davis Street School into a Senior High School where another religious community, the Faithful Companions of Jesus, served. Mother M. Emily, F.C.J. was the first principal of the high school.
Girls’ High School Moves: 1 Sep 1969
The girls’ high school became a diocesan school and was moved to Centredale (Johnston), Rhode Island.
School Closed: 1 Aug 1970
As a result of the construction of Route 95, the number of parish families was reduced by half, causing a drop in parish income, and forcing the first parochial school in Rhode Island to close.
St. Patrick Word of God School Opens: 1 Sept 1972
St. Patrick Word of God School opened, staffed, and largely financed by the St. Patrick Parish ‘Word of God’ charismatic community, with mostly lay faculty members.
New Principal: 1 Sept 1985
Mr. Stephen Raymond, a math teacher at the school since 1976, was named principal.
School Closing Reversed: May 2003
Falling enrollment and financial problems led the parish and diocese to agree to close the school at the end of the 2002-03 school year. However, a last-minute appeal by the pastor, Fr. Raymond Kelly, rallied the parish community and raised more than $500,000 in cash and pledges. Bishop Robert Mulvee agreed to allow the school to stay open.
Patrick Academy Established: 24 Aug 2009
When the elementary school closed at the end of the 2008-09 school year, again for reasons of enrollment and finances, Fr. James Ruggieri’s vision of a new affordable urban Catholic high school was approved by Bishop Thomas Tobin. In the first transition year, grades 6-8 were maintained from the elementary school. From these classes, the Academy would "grow up" into a full high school operation of grades 9-12.
New Principal: 1 July 2011
Mr. Bruce Daigle succeeded Mr. Stephen Raymond as Principal of St. Patrick Academy as the school’s grade structure evolved into grades 8-10. A new high school academic program was developed, policies and procedures were revised, and new faculty and staff were added.
First Graduation: 7 Jun 2014
St. Patrick Academy's first graduation was held on Saturday, June 7, 2014, with eleven graduates, all college-bound!
Eighth Graduation: 12 June 2021
St. Patrick Academy graduated its eighth class of seniors, a class of 17, all of whom graduated and were accepted at 30 colleges and universities. The Academy has a 100% college acceptance rate!
New Principal: 1 July 2021
Mr. E. Christopher Myron succeeded Mr. Bruce Daigle as Principal of St. Patrick Academy with a complete high school with grades 9 - 12. Programs, policies, and procedures are being prepared for the future growth of the Academy.