Former Archdiocese of Chicago High Schools – The Early Years

In the history of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, there have been many high schools that have come and gone, while others remain open to this very day. To those that have since closed their doors more than 50 years ago, this page will list those institutions whose graduates may no longer be with us.

The following list of schools was obtained from the Archdiocese of Chicago’s
Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Archives and Records Center
 in the spring of 2006 from research assistant Julie Satzik, and lists information on schools (most of which were closed by 1950) that never reopened as the result of a consolidation or name change. More about the center can be found at archives.archchicago.org.

Some of the schools listed are called “commercial” schools, which were “trade” schools and prepared its students to join the workforce in less than four years, as compared to those who went to the academic schools that sent students off to colleges and universities. Most of these schools were located within the city limits of Chicago unless otherwise stated by their name.

If you or anyone has more information about any of the schools listed below, we certainly invite them to contact us at dr.veeman@gmail.com or by sending information to the address listed below. Should the need arise from the amount of information received warrant creating a new page for a certain school, we would be glad to consider doing so in the future.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel
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Academy of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Open from 1888-1904, later became a grade school

Academy of St. Joseph

Open from 1848-1854 as a boys’ school

Was also known as St. Joseph’s Free School for Boys

Located at Old St. Mary’s Church, which was divided into two buildings, one for St Joseph’s and the other for St. Mary’s Free School (run by the Sisters of Mercy..more about that school under Chicago St. Xavier Academy)

Academy of the Holy Cross

Open from 1856-1861 as a girls’ school

Also known as St. Mary’s Select School for Girls

Operated by the Sisters of the Holy Cross as a day school from 1856-1861, but left over a dispute with Chicago Bishop James Duggan and his refusal to recognize arrangements or contracts that the order had already entered into with the previous Bishop (Anthony O’Regan). The order was recalled by the U.S. Provincal of the Society of the Holy Cross, Father Edward Sorin, and left the city.

Academy of the Immaculate Conception

Open from 1868-1871 as a girls’ school, operated by the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, WI as a parish school to Immaculate Conception Church at the corner of Franklin and Wieland Streeets

Also known as Select School of the Immaculate Conception

School burned down during the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, in which the nuns returned to Sinsinawa, but the school reopened 1872-1885 with day and boarding students at the behest of then-Bishop William Foley

Was also open from 1904-1907 as a commercial school

Academy of the Visitation (Evanston)

  Open 1897-1915 when 25 Visitadine Sisters from Hastings, SD came to start the school on 7/1/1897 at the corner of Davis Street and Wesley Avenue in Evanston

Moved into a new building in 1899 at Ridge Avenue and Simpson Street, with a south wing added in 1901

Was also known as the “Academy of the Visitation on Marian Place”

School closed when the order was suppressed in 1915 by Archbishop James Quigley on account of internal dissension and irregularities within the order, which forced the Archbishop to forbid any students and postulants (those who were just joining the order to become nuns) to be accepted at the school

The property was bought by Providence Sisters of St. Mary-of-the-Woods, who opened Marywood High School (another girls’ high school)

Blessed Agnes Commercial High School

Opened 1920 as a co-ed commercial parish school with two-year course

Taught by School Sisters of St. Francis

Also had a junior high school (7th-8th-9th graders) started in 1927

Only those completing 9th grade could be admitted to commercial high school

Commercial courses were expanded to three years in 1933 for 9th, 10th, and 11th grades

Due to overcrowding in grade and high schools, the high school closed in 1942

Holy Ghost Academy (Techny)

Open 9/18/1910 as a grade and high school for girls, operated by the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Ghost

Offered college prep & commercial courses, accepting day and boarding students

Expanded its campus in 1914 with new building that served as a school and motherhouse for the Missionary Sisters

Both the grade and high schools were closed to outside students in 1935 and was a school for those who were novitiates in the Missionary Sisters order

Holy Name High School

Was a four-year girls’ parish high school operated by the Sisters of Charity of BVM at the southeast corner of Chicago Avenue and State Street on the site of the former Academy of Sacred Heart.

Opened September 6, 1904 with 20 students enrolled

First class graduated 1908 with 14 students

Closed 1921 when Immaculata High School was opened as a centralized high school for students on Chicago’s Near North Side

Holy Rosary Commercial High School (North Chicago)

All-girls’ school with two-year course from 1925-1932

Taught by the Felician Sisters, had 21 students initially enrolled

Equipment was modern, thanks to pastor Rev. Julian A. Grzezinski

Closed at request of George Cardinal Mundelein, with students transferring to Holy Child High School in Waukegan

Immaculate Conception High School (Chicago)

Two-year course for co-eds from 1905-1922

Opened as a parish high school by Rev. Peter Faber in Bridgeport neighborhood as an extension of grade school already established

School Sisters of St. Francis taught at the school

Had an average enrollment of 20-25 annually

Reasons for closing were never documented

Immaculate Conception High School (Highland Park)

Open from 1913-1929, run by Sisters of Loretto of Nerinx, KY

Started out as four-year academic school by Rev. James O’Neill

Fire destroyed church & school in 1916, but was rebuilt and dedicated in November 1918

Became a two-year commercial high school in 1927

Decreasing enrollment closed the school in 1929

Lady of the Lake High School

Open as a three-year girls’ school from 1856-1861 by the Holy Cross Sisters at the corner of Chicago Avenue and Cass Street. Closed when the order was recalled to its convent in South Bend, IN.

Loretto Academy (West Side)

Operated by the Society of Loretto from 1864-71 after the Sisters of Mercy closed down St. Angela’s Academy and the school was renamed to reflect the new order (four nuns) that were in charge

Even though little was known about them, then-Bishop William Duggan received them and allowed them to operate the academy along with opening a convent on West Adams Street near Des Plaines

School had success with attracting students, but the Lorettines were faced with a number of items that forced them to close the school in 1871

Mother of God High School (Waukegan)

Co-ed two-year school open from 1937-43, added by Rev. Matthias Hiti

Taught by Benedictine Sisters of Chicago

Enrollment never grew, despite efforts to increase it

Closed with regrets of pastors and nuns involved

Mt. Carmel Academy

Founded by Mother Catherine Feehan of the Sisters of Mercy on West Belmont Avenue in the Lake View neighborhood at the request of parish pastor, Rev. Patrick O’Brien

Open from 1888-1896 as a girls’ school for grades one thru 12

Branch of St. Patrick Academy for Girls

Once had 250 students and 12 faculty members

Grade school stayed open until 1904 when it was purchased by Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish for their own grade school

Nativity Of Our Lord Church
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Nativity of Our Lord High School

Four-year academic school open from 1902-1904 for co-eds by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, MO at the southwest corner of 37th & Lowe Avenue

Established by Rev. Joseph M. Cartan, pastor of Nativity of Our Lord Parish

Nativity of Our Lord Commercial High School

Two-year course for co-eds from 1916-1940 in the same location as Nativity of Our Lord High School

Opened by Rev. James J. Flaherty of Nativity of Our Lord Parish, who came from St. James Parish in Rockford

Operated by Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, MO

Closed to make more room for increased enrollment in parish grade school

Notre Dame Academy

Girls’ school open from 1893-1915 as a part of Notre Dame Parish

Students were taught in French and English due to the number of students who came from French-speaking families that lived in the neighborhood.

First grads were presented in 1894

School enrollment peaked in 1898; however, the neighborhood became more and more industrial as families moved away and factories built on the land that was vacated. Closed in 1915 due to small enrollment.

Our Lady of Lourdes High School (Ashland Avenue location)

Girls’ school open from 1906-1921 in the Ravenswood neighborhood

Started with 9th graders only in 1906 and added another class each year until there were 9th thru 12th graders by 1909

Taught by Sisters of Charity of BVM

Twenty-six students initially enrolled in 1906

School closed in 1921 by Rev. James Scanlon, who transferred all freshmen to Immaculata High School, and encouraged all remaining sophomores and juniors to do likewise.

Our Lady of Lourdes Commercial High School (Keeler Avenue location)

Opened 1921 with two-year course for co-eds at South side parish

Operated by Benedictine Sisters of the Sacred Heart from Lisle, IL

Initially enrolled 10 students, but grew to 150 by 1945

Enrollment was always limited to lack of space

Due to elementary school expansion, inadequate teaching facilities, and those students that wished to attend a regular four-year high school, school closed after June 1946 graduation ceremonies.

School building still standing.

Our Lady of Mercy School
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Our Lady of Mercy Commercial High School

All-girls’ commercial school with two-year course open from 1918-1919

Sisters of Providence operated school, located in Albany Park neighborhood

Due to growth of grade school, high school was closed down in June 1919

Our Lady of Victory High School

Open 1916-1924 as two-year commercial high school on North Side

Operated by School Sisters of Notre Dame

Was co-ed 1916-1920, went all-girls’ 1920-1924

Closed when Alvernia opened as centrally-located high school, and absorbed those students

Providence of God Commercial High School

  Open 1927-1936 as a two-year course for co-ed students

Rev. Ignatius Albovicz & the Sisters of St. Casimir responsible for opening school

Average annual enrollment was about 25

Closed due to financial difficulties

Providence of God School (Built 1904)
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Queen of Angels High School

  Open from 1911-1915 for girls’ only

Was a commercial school and offered an academic course for 9th graders only

Parish school opened in Ravenswood neighborhood by pastor Rev. Frank Reynolds

Taught by Dominican Sisters of Adrian, MI

Seven students graduated from commercial department in 1912

Closed in June 1915 by new pastor for growing grade school

Sacred Heart of Jesus High School

Opened 1934 at request of George Cardinal Mundelein in vacant classrooms at Sacred Heart Grade School in South side neighborhood near the Union Stockyards

Felician Sisters opened the one-year commerical school for co-eds with 70 students (56 girls, 14 boys) enrolled

Became a two-year school with academic & commercial departments in 1936

Added third year 1937, fourth year added 1938

Closed 1941 to merge with St. Joseph’s High School after their new buidling was completed at that parish high school

St. Adelbert’s School
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St. Adelbert Commercial High School

Co-ed school with two-year course open from 1936-1945

Was added by Rev. Casimir I. Gronkowski as addition to grade school

Closed due to rapid growth of parish grade school

St. Agnes Academy

Girls’ school open from 1888-1891 for day students

Operated by the Sisters of St. Francis Mary Immaculate from Joliet at St. Procopius Parish with a convent next door

Students had to be at least 12 years of age and had received their First Communion for admission

Those that were members of St. Procopius Parish were invited to send their daughters to this school, much to the chagrin of the Benedictine Fathers that ran the church

School closed by the nuns in order to focus on the grade school that was there

St. Agnes High School

All-girls’ school open from 1909-1916 in Brighton Park neighborhood

Was a two-year school from 1909-11, four years from 1911-1916

Added one class at a time, under the direction of the Sisters of Providence

Many graduates became teachers

Closed due to lack of space and inadequate equipment

St. Albertus Academy (Waukegan)

All-girls’ school open from 1880-1892, affiliated with Immaculate Conception GS

Opened by the Dominican Sisters in building erected by Rev. Edward J. Gavin of Immaculate Conception Church as a convent and eight-room school

Some of the graduates went on to teach in Waukegan schools as well as those in nearby suburbs

St. Aloysius High School

  All-boys’ school open from 1892-1932 in Humboldt Park neighborhood

Started as a parish school which was operated by the Brothers of Mary

Offered commercial courses as a two-year school in 1892, increased to three years in 1897

School was closed in 1932 when the Brothers of Mary were withdrawn for economic reasons

St. Alphonsus Commercial High School

Started as a commercial high school in 1897 in Lakeview neighborhood

Offered a two-year course for co-eds from 1918-1923

Opened on North Side on 2nd and 3rd floors of parish hall

Was destroyed by fire November 23, 1939, rebuilt and opened September 1940

Operated by School Sisters of Notre Dame

Enrolled 116 students as of September 1952 with four sisters teaching

Closed in 1966

St. Alphonsus Commercial High School (Lemont)

Opened in 1918 as a two-year commercial parish school

Co-ed students taught by School Sisters of St. Francis

15 students were enrolled in school’s final year of operation (1922-23)

No reason was given for closing

St. Ambrose School
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St. Ambrose High School

Co-ed parish school with two-year academic courses from 1913-1916

Taught by School Sisters of Notre Dame, located on 47th Street

Closed so that parish grade school could expand into those classrooms due to growth

St. Andrew High School

All-girls’ parish school open from 1908-1924

Offered commercial and academic courses

Initially enrolled 11 girls

School closed in 1924 for unknown reasons, but reopened in 1928

Commercial courses only offered 1928-1930

School closed for good so that parish grade school could expand

St. Angela Academy

Open from 1856-1864 as an all-girls’ school on the city’s West Side

Affiliated with St. Patrick Commercial Free School

Also known as St. Angela Select School for Girls

Had 50 students enrolled on average

The Sisters of Mercy operated the school and walked daily from their convent…were given a choice to move to St. Patrick Parish, but declined and left the school in 1864. The Sisters of Loretto came and renamed the school Loretto Academy, but it closed in 1871 (see above).

St. Anthony of Padua Commercial High School

Parish two-year school run by School Sisters of Notre Dame on West 28th Place

Opened in 1915 by Rev. John Dettmer in conjunction with parish grade school

Small all-girls’ enrollment as of the fall of 1952, had 62 students and two nuns

School closed sometime in the 1960’s (date unknown)

St. Boniface High School

Co-ed parish school open from 1918-1925 with two-year commercial course

18 initially enrolled in this two-year school, staffed by Sisters of St. Francis of Mary in near Northwest side

Closed when parish grade school needed space to expand. Torn down in 2002.

St. Bridget Commercial High School

Opened in 1902 in the Bridgeport neighborhood by Rev. Michael O’Sullivan, who had opened St. James Academy in Lemont

Staffed by the Sisters of Charity of BVM from Dubuque, IA

Thirty-one students were enrolled in the first year, 30 of which graduated in 1903

School became a plus to the neighborhood, due to the industrial nature of businesses located nearby, including the former Union Stockyards.

Closed in 1957. Torn down in the 1990s.

St. Clement Commercial High School

Started out as two-year co-ed parish school in 1916

Opened by Msgr. Francis Rempe with Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate in charge

Remained two-year school until 1942 when it became a four-year school

Admitted girls only beginning in fall of 1948 due to decrease of male students

Closed in 1962

St. Columbanus School
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St. Columbanus High School

Open from 1910-1915 as co-ed parish school

Taught by Sisters of St. Dominic of Adrian, MI

Offered commercial classes 1910-1914, ninth grade academic classes 1914-1915

Closed in 1915 as students were absorbed by Aquinas High School

St. Dionysius High School (Cicero)

Co-ed school open from 1896-1900

Extension of a parish grade school

Operated by the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate

First class graduated in 1899, closed in 1900 for no apparent reason

St. Felicitas High School

Co-ed school offered two-year academic courses from 1942-1949

Located in the same building with the parish grade school

Students taught by the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Had to close due to grade school expansion, classes were phased out (9th grade closed June 1948, 10th grade closed June 1949)

St. Finbarr High School

Co-ed school open from 1907-1908, taught by Sisters of Mercy

Opened by Rev. Thomas Judge, pastor of St. Finbarr and editor of the New World

Admitted students for academic and commerical courses

Fifty-two students were enrolled (40 academic, 12 commerical) in first year

School was planning to add a grade at a time until a four-year school was in place, but due to the death of Rev. Judge in December 1907, the school closed after the school year was over.

St. Florian School
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St. Florian Commercial High School

Two-year parish school that offered commercial & academic courses offered to co-eds, beginning in 1936

Operated by the Franciscan Sisters of Blessed Kundegunda

Closed in 1943 to provide classrooms to growing parish grade school

St. Francis of Assisi High School

  Dates back to 1867 when the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate were beckoned at the request of Rev. Ferdinand Kavelage on Chicago’s West Side

Boys were educated by Catholic laymen until 1882 when the Brothers of Mary replaced them

Girls classes were taught by the nuns

New building opened in 1884 with 16 classrooms (eight for each gender) and large auditorium

Co-institutional high school opened from 1885-1906

School closed in 1907 due to gradual change in population and the Brothers of Mary withdrew from school

St. Francis Xavier Commercial High School

Two-year commercial courses offered to co-eds from 1912-1920

Small parish school influenced by Rev. Edward Goldsmith

Initially enrolled 18 students and remained small

Taught by Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate

St. George Commercial High School (32nd & Lituanica)

Two-year commercial course offered to boys and girls from 1939-1941

Opened by Sisters of St. Casimir as a parish high school

A total of 28 students were initially enrolled in the first year

School closed due to low numbers

St. Gerald High School (Oak Lawn)

Co-ed parish school with two-year academic course from 1932-1933

Twenty-five students were enrolled in freshmen and sophomore classes

Operated by the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception]

Reason unknown for closure

St. Gertrude High School (Franklin Park)

All-girls’ parish school with commercial courses from 1932-1933

Faculty consisted of one nun from the School Sisters of St. Francis

School’s plans were to be a four-year academic school

Closed to due unknown reasons

St. Henry Commerical High School

Co-ed school with two-year commercial course from 1905-1915

Extension of parish grade school opened by Rev. Joseph Ruetershaff

Operated by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ

Initially enrolled 14 students

Closed when other schools opened and made it feasible to attend

St. Ita High School

   All-girls’ high school opened in Edgewater neighborhood in 1908 by Rev. John Crowe & staffed by Sisters of Mercy

Was always a small school, about 65 enrolled in 1920

Had about 140 alumni

Was closed in June 1924 along with St. Gabriel, St. James, St. Patrick, and part of St. Elizabeth to form Mercy High School

Opening of Immaculata & Alvernia High Schools (both on the North Side) also contributed to closing St. Ita

St. James Commercial High School (Maywood)

Co-ed school with commercial courses from 1910-1916

Was an extension of parish grade school

Taught a number of non-Catholic students as well as Catholics

School was staffed by the Sisters of St. Dominic of Adrian, MI

St. John Cantius Commercial High School

Open from 1912-1917 as a co-ed commercial school on the North Side

Run by the School Sisters of Notre Dame

St. Josaphat Commercial High School

All-girls’ parish high school opened in 1932 on North Side

Taught by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth

Twenty-eight students intially enrolled under two nuns in first year

Closed in 1961 for unknown reasons

St. Joseph & St. Anne Commercial High School

Two-year commercial course for girls’ in 1922 in Brighton Park neighborhood

Opened as parish school and taught by Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, MO

Steady growth of grade school and lack of space forced closure in 1947

St. Joseph Commercial High School (Waukegan)

Co-ed commercial parish school open from 1926-1934

Was built by Rev. Arthur H. Mescher, operated by School Sisters of St. Francis

A total of 19 students were enrolled in first year

No reason was given for school’s closure

St. Joseph Technical High School (Techny)

  All-boys’ school open from 1901-1914, formed by the American branch of the Society of the Divine Word near Shermerville (also known today as Northbrook)

Purpose of the school was to be an American seminary for foreign missionaries

Was an independent school with grade and commercial high school courses

Opened 4/28/1901 as a technical school, which gave the community its name of Techny, and had 10 students enrolled

195 students (day and boarders total) were at St. Joseph in 1906 when it reached its peak in enrollment

Closed due to increased enrollment to those wanting to enter the priesthood or brotherhood at St. Mary’s Mission Seminary (which was open from 1901-1969) nearby

St. Kilian Junior High School

Co-ed school from 1927-1930 in Brainerd neighborhood

Sister of St. Dominic were in charge of school

Closed due to growth of lower grades

St. Leo High School

All-girls’ school held in a section of parish grade school beginning in 1914

Operated by the Sisters of Providence

Enrollment swelled to the point that a new school was built and opened September 19, 1915 at 7746 South Emerald Avenue

Had four-year academic and commercial course of two or three-year durations

Was affiliated with Catholic University of America

Closed in 1924 due to centralization of high schools in Archdiocese of Chicago

Students were directed to Academy of Our LadyVisitation, and Mercy

Berwyn St. Leonard School
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St. Josephat School
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St. Leonard Commercial High School (Berwyn)

Co-ed school with two-year commercial course from 1938-1949

Run by the Sisters of St. Joseph of LaGrange

School was closed when the grade school needed the classroom space to expand

St. Martin Commercial High School

Opened as two-year parish school by Rev. Francis Schilkowski in 1910 with 12 students enrolled

Was staffed by School Sisters of St. Francis

Was co-ed from 1910-1920, became all-girls’ after that because of other all-boys’ schools that opened in the area

Students needed to complete one year of academic high school courses to be admitted

Closed in 1961 for reasons unknown

St. Paul Commercial School
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Libertyville St. Mary’s Academy
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Mundelein St. Mary’s
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Lake Forest St. Mary’s
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St. Mary Academy (Libertyville)

  All-girls’ school open from 1898-1910 on 20 acres deeded by Charles Copeland to the Sisters of Mercy

A two-story building housed the school and doubled as a health resort for vacationists. Thirty-six students were enrolled when the school opened.

School closed due to inconveniences to location and transportation.

St. Mary Commercial High School (Fremont Center, a/k/a Mundelein)

Two-year commercial course for co-eds from 1927-1933

Operated by Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart

Was an extension of existing grade school

Algebra, Latin, and religion courses taught along with commercial subjects

Closed due to small enrollments

St. Mary High School (Lake Forest)

Co-ed school with two-year commercial course from 1917-1922

Opened in new building erected by Rev. Francis Barry & staffed by the Sisters of Mercy

Trained 100 co-ed students for entry into the workforce before closing

St. Mary High School (Highland Park)

Open from 1913-1920

St. Mary of the Lake High School/St. Mary’s Academy

Possibly the same school with all-boys’ enrollment

Part of St. Mary’s College

Closed from 1861-1865

St. Mary’s Academy open from 1867-1871

Had financial problems from the time it was open because the parish that built the school could not pay for it in its entirity

Operated by the Christian Brothers, who took on the debt as part of the agreement to purchase the property and establish a school

Stayed open until the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 when the school was destroyed–property was deeded back to the Diocese of Chicago

St. Mary’s High School (Des Plaines)

Two-year academic courses for co-eds from 1936-1938

Initially enrolled 10 students, who were taught by a nun from the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate

Second-year enrollment grew to 25 (18 boys, seven girls)

Closed for unknown reasons lost to time

St. Mary’s Seminary

All-girls’ school from 1887-1897, opened by the Servite order at the corner of Van Buren Street and Albany Avenue on the city’s west side as a five-story building and chapel that cost $40,000 to construct

Was an industrial home from girls ages 9-18, and taught work to students according to their aptitude

Also took homeless and destitute girls

Accepted day and boarding students beginning in 1887

Servite order left school in 1897 after being evicted by civil authorities. The facility was taken over by Our Lady of Providence Academy in 1898.

St. Matthew (or Matthias) Commercial High School

Co-ed school with two-year commercial course from 1911-1918

Located in Bowmanville neighborhood

Was a parish school set up by Rev. Dennis Thille

Operated by School Sisters of St. Francis

Closed due to parish grade school’s rapid growth after the June 1918 graduation

St. Michael Archangel Commercial High School

Two-year parish commercial course for co-eds from 1934-1940

Started with 32 students (25 girls, seven boys) increased to 60 the next year

Taught by Benedictine Sisters of Lisle, IL (two teachers)

Closed when St. Joseph & Sacred Heart of Jesus (see above) High Schools were already opened to serve students

St. Paul Commercial High School

Started as one-year commercial school at parish grade school in 1898

Was co-ed, taught by the School Sisters of Notre Dame

One-year academic course added at a later date, but ended in 1909

Commercial course expanded to two years in 1939

As of the fall of 1952, was still open with 146 students

Closing date unknown

St. Paul Select High School

All-girls’ school from 1856-1871

Was located next to St. Xavier Academy and operated by the Sisters of Mercy

Had 45 students enrolled in first year of operation

Presumed destroyed

St. Peter Commercial High School (Skokie)

  One-year commercial course for co-eds from 1919-1921

Taught by School Sisters of St. Francis

Closed when transportation became accessible to those who wished to enroll in Chicago schools

Students were transferred to St. Benedict Commercial High School after June 1921

St. Philip Evening School

Open from 1946-1949

Picked up where Marquette Institute left off with helping those students who were over 18 years old and wanted to complete their high school education before going to college

Run by the Servite Fathers at St. Philip High School

Closed due to location (away from downtown district) and lack of space

St. Philomena Commercial High School

Opened as a co-ed parish school in 1911 at corner of Karlow Avenue and Cortland Street by Rev. John Schiffer

School Sisters of Notre Dame taught an initial enrollment of 11 in a two-year course of study

Needed to expand to three classrooms in 1923 due to growth in enrollment

Girls only admitted beginning in the fall of 1941 after number of boys decreased

School closed in 1960

St. Stanislaus Commercial High School

Opened by co-ed parish school by Rev. John Kosinski in 1912

Staffed by School Sisters of Notre Dame

Closed due to rapidly growing grade school of 2,000 that needed space in 1917

St. Sylvester Commercial High School

Two-year commercial course for girls’ from 1908-1936

Extension of parish grade school taught by the Sisters of Providence

Opened by Rev. Michael O’Brien, parish pastor

Closed by Msgr. Thomas Quinn in June 1936 because students wanted to attend four-year schools

St. Viator Commercial High School

Opened as parish school in 1912 at corner of Addison & Kedvale on North Side

Two-year commercial course introduced in 1916 by Rev. James F. Ryan

Instructors were from Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, MO order

Co-ed school, added junior class in 1918 & senior class in 1919 until it became a four-year school

Closed in 1924 at Archbishop George Mundelein’s request due to opening Alvernia as a centrally-located high school

St. Victor School
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St. Philomenia School
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St. Victor High School (Calumet City)

All-girls’ school with four-year academic course from 1928-1935

Taught by Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur

Had an average enrollment of 96 students & four teachers

Affiliated with Catholic University of America

Closed due to grade school space limitations

Four graduates went onto enter the novitiate of the teaching order in Cincinnati, OH

Villa Nazareth High School (Des Plaines)

All-girls’ school that accepted day and boarding students from 1936-1943

Operated by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth

Had both academic and commercial courses

Discontinued school and sent remaining students to Holy Family Academy in Chicago

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Illinois High School Glory Days

6439 North Neva Av.

Chicago, IL  60631

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