-
Serving Our Community for over 130 years
In September 1868, two Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence arrived in Castroville to form a permanent convent. The Sisters immediately opened a school. On the first Monday in October 1868, 36 students were enrolled. A few years later, a two-story building was constructed near the first St. Louis Church. It still stands at the corner of the Moye Center property. In 1925, the presently used two story red-brick school was built. The school served up to 12th grade under Father Jacob Lenzen and was staffed by the Sisters of Divine Providence.
In 1968, rising operational costs forced the closure of St. Louis, ending a history of over 100 years of Catholic education in Castroville.
In December of 1985, a group of interested parishioners, under the leadership of their pastor, Father Pat Ragsdale, met and formulated a survey to determine parish support for the re-establishment of a Catholic school for pre-school, Kindergarten and primary levels. Because the initial response to this proposal was positive, more research was conducted. In April of 1986, after an 18 year closure, the St. Louis Pastoral Council voted to re-open the Catholic School.
The newly named St. Louis Child Development Center, opened its doors in 1986 to a pre-Kindergarten class of 18. An extended care program complemented the school day. Mrs. Ernestine Burell has been a cargiver to our children since then! Response to the school was very positive and a Kindergarten class was added in 1988. Each year, growing interest and enrollment enabled the opening of additional classes and grade levels. With the addition of a 1st Grade in 1989, the school was finally recognized by the Archdiocese of San Antonio and the Texas Catholic Conference Accreditation Department as “St. Louis Catholic School”. Classes are now offered to children in grades 3K-5th grade.