St. Joseph's Academy history

1890 Saint Joseph Academy is founded by the Sisters of the Congregation of St Joseph.

1898 Saint Joseph Academy moves to its current site on Rocky River Drive from its original site on Starkweather Avenue in Tremont.

Only when the city has grown around it did it become a day school again – for girls only – in 1905.

In addition, the order had decided to establish a college for women and in 1908 purchased sixteen-plus acres in Clayton, Missouri, that is still home to Fontbonne University.

1924 marked the initial accreditation of SJA by the Southern Association of Schools (SACSCASI), an accreditation that is ongoing to this present date.

Although the Academy relinquished its Carondelet location in 1925, the St Louis Province continues to sponsor the school.

In 1928, it was the first Catholic school to be approved by the Middle States Association accrediting agency.

In 1930, the first high school students were graduated.

SJA has been continuously accredited by SACS since 1931.

In 1941, SJA moved from downtown Baton Rouge to its present location on 15 beautiful, residential acres.

1943 The tradition of the “Walk of the Roses” begins with white-gowned Seniors each carrying a dozen red roses process down Rocky River Drive from Saint Joseph Academy to Our Lady of Angels Church for commencement.

The price of success, though, was that within twenty years, it was clear that the Wydown campus was not large enough to serve both the high school and college, and in 1946, thirty-seven acres were purchased in the quasi-rural location of Frontenac on Lindbergh Boulevard.

In 1955, the new St Joseph’s Academy opened with 400 students, and for the first time in its history, had a campus and an identity all to itself.

The new campus on its present location was opened in 1959, and served boys in grades 7 - 12.

In response to the growth of the school and evolving educational needs, the Mount moved in 1961 to its present site situated on 78 acres, just outside the community of Chestnut Hill, an urban village with a cultural life of its own and ready access to downtown Philadelphia.

In 1971, the school became coeducational, accepting its first female students in grades 7, 8 and 9.

The Academy also began a winning tradition in athletics when it captured its first State Championship in 1975.

The Protestant Christ’s Household of Faith bought has used the place as a school and living quarters since 1976.

In 1980 the management of the Academy was transferred from the Sisters of St Joseph to the Catholic Diocese of St Augustine.

To accommodate increased enrollment and expanded academic and co- curricular programs, these facilities were enlarged in 1985 with the addition of the three-story Carondelet Hall.

In 1993, St Joseph’s Academy was recognized by the United States Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.

1995 In the fall of 1995, the Academy Center is opened, the first significant building project for Saint Joseph Academy in more than 65 years.

A record 10 percent of seniors were recognized in the 1996 National Merit Scholarship Program.

2002 Paws for Pride commences, beginning one of the most cherished traditions for students.

In 2003, the Academy became one of the first schools in the St Louis area to integrate a one-to-one laptop program.

She became the first lay principal in SJA’s history when the school moved to the president-principal model of administration in 2004.

In August 2005, the Academy opened the new Middle Division Building, designed to meet the educational and developmental needs of its middle division students.

2006 The Academy names its first president, Mary Ann Corrigan-Davis ’71.

SJA moved to DyKnow software, the new Office 2007 Suite and the Toshiba Tablet personal computer to enhance the effectiveness of technology in the expanding curriculum.

2009 The school embarks on its largest campaign to date, The Expanding Minds ~ Building Futures ~ Raising Leaders capital campaign, raising nearly $7 million to upgrade the infrastructure of the building.

SJA received the 2010 Spotlight School Award from the Lausanne Laptop Institute.

2012 The Howley Scholars’ Porch, Dining Hall and Terrace expansions are dedicated at the Academy, efforts made possible by The Expanding Minds ~ Building Futures ~ Raising Leaders campaign.

Most recently, in 2013, the Sisters of St Joseph transferred the convent to the school for its use.Within the past three years, the Academy has made numerous campus additions including Cup of Joe, the Digital Innovation Space, Campus Ministry Center and the new College Advising and Resource Center.

SJA dedicated the Mother Thollot House, the newest addition to campus, in an afternoon ceremony on August 4, 2014.

2015 Saint Joseph Academy celebrates its 125th birthday.

As part of SJA’s initiative to establish an Innovation and Design Studio to open in August of 2016, the faculty was challenged to redesign an existing space to create a 21st-century classroom.

©2017 Mount Saint Joseph Academy

The SJA Cheerleaders won the 2018 National High School Cheerleading Championship in the Super Varsity Division.

The year culminated on April 27, 2019, with the 150th Anniversary Gala at Raising Cane's River Center.

In February 2020, the track and field team won the indoor state championship for the first time in school story.