Roanoke Catholic School

Roanoke Catholic School
File:Roanoke Catholic School.jpg
Address
621 North Jefferson Street Roanoke, Virginia 24016 USA
Coordinates
Information
Type	Private, Coeducational
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Established	1889
Oversight	Diocese of Richmond
President	Patrick W. Patterson
Principal	Kathleen Futrell (Upper) Julie Frost (Lower)
Grades	PK–12
Enrollment	545 (2008)
Color(s)	Green and White
Athletics conference	=
Team name	Celtics
Accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Newspaper	The Friar Rambler
Athletic Director	Matt Peck
Website	http://www.roanokecatholic.com

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 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.