Our History ...

      The original Blessing of the Statue of Mary in front of campus

St. Mary's High School, 4701 South Grand Boulevard, opened its doors under the name of Southside Catholic High School in September 1931.  For the first two years, its teachers were Christian Brothers. The first classrooms were small wooden structures located on the property of St. Joseph's Orphanage.                             
                                          
In September 1933, members of the Society of Mary (Marianist) took over the school.  A faculty of ten Brothers of Mary taught 275 students.  The school moved from the "portable" classrooms to the old St. Joseph's Orphanage building in 1935, after the building had been remodeled for high school use.  The first graduating class numbered 62.  Affiliation with the University of Missouri and with the North Central Association was obtained in 1936.

Enrollment and faculty grew steadily from 1933, reaching a peak in 1946 with 1,100 students.  The name of the school was changed from Southside Catholic High School to St. Mary's High School in 1947.  The first gymnasium was constructed in 1937 and remodeled in 1965.

In September 1964, a new brick and concrete structure, located north of the old school building site, was completed and opened with an enrollment of 883 students.  The new structure, valued at $1,500,000.00, comprised 19 classrooms, three science labs, language lab, library, cafeteria, administrative offices, third-floor living quarters for 30 Marianists, a dining room for the Marianists and a suite for the domestics.

In February 1967, a new wing costing $374,420.00 was completed, including a new guidance complex, teacher preparation room, biology lab, chemistry lab, typing room, seven conventional classrooms  and four classrooms that could be converted into two large sized rooms accommodating 110 students each.

In 1988 ground was broken for a new athletic complex which, when completed, included a turf football field and a six-lane all weather track.  Lights were added in 1992.

On September 17, 1992 the gymnasium, which had been erected in 1938, was destroyed by fire.  In March 1993, construction began on the Archbishop John L. May Athletic Complex.  This complex included a state-of-the-art wooden floor, mezzanine with batting cage, along with an alumni meeting room and two weight rooms.

In 1993, other renovations were completed in the school, including the remodeling of the Media Resource Center and the installation of a computer network, which linked the computer room with the other academic areas of the school.  This computer updating has enabled the school to expand its computer capabilities.

In July of 1998 St. Mary's obtained from Catholic Charities the St. Joseph's Chapel.  Restoration began one year later.  Most improvements have been completed and the St. Mary's community now uses the chapel for both school and alumni liturgies.  In 2002 St. Mary's bought the property formerly known as St. Joseph's Orpanage including all buildings that reside on it.

During the summer of 2000 renovations began on the third floor of the school.  This floor previously served as a residence for the Brothers of Mary.  The goal was to create a fine arts wing for St. Mary's in this area.  A band room was created for the 2000-2001 school year.  Two art rooms were added as of the 2001-2002 school year.  This completed the third floor.

Technology has played a significant role in St. Mary's meeting the demands of 21st century teaching and learning.  In 2004, the entire campus incorporated wireless technology enabling faculty and students to use laptops throughout the school.  As a result of an extremely generous gift by the alumni association, 25 P4 desktop computers with flat screened monitors were added to the Media Resource Center.  Todate students and faculty have access to over 250 laptop and desktop computers throughout the school.

In 2005, Nathaniel's Journey, a ninth grade initiative to help young men transition to high school, was introduced.  This initiative seeks to address the spiritual, academic, and emotional needs of every ninth grade student in a unique way.  Central to Nathaniel's Journey is the involvement of strong male role models  -  fathers, big brothers, alumni mentors, religon teachers, and advisors.

St. Mary's has been responsive to the secondary educational needs of Catholic families it serves for over 75 years.  In 2005, St, Mary's signed a Marianist sponsored document formalizing the affiliation with the United States Province of the Society of Mary.  The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis and St. Mary's administration, faculty and staff, without reservation, remain committed to quality instruction, faith formation, and development of the total student.

St. Mary's remains on the leading edge of secondary education and has continued to accomplish this at a tuition cost that is significantly less than other all-male secondary schools in the St.Louis area.

St. Mary's High School has granted diplomas to over 11,000 students.