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THE HISTORY OF ST. MARY'S SCHOOL
The rich
academic and historic heritage of St. Mary Interparochial School
dates to the early days of Philadelphia, as Catholics and Protestants
engaged in a spirited debate over educational practices. Founded
in 1782 by the Jesuit fathers of Old St. Joseph’s Church,
St. Mary is known as “The Mother School” of catholic
parochial education and is credited with influencing Catholic
educational patterns in this country. Situated near Independence
Hall and other pivotal sites in old Philadelphia, it served children
for more than a century before closing in 1902 after a devastating
fire. St. Mary’s reopened in 1968, again with a distinction:
With students drawn from six different parishes, it was the first
interparochial school in the nation. St. Mary Interparochial School
is situated in Independence National Park and serves 250 children
from all over the City of Philadelphia and its suburbs.
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