Hawaii’s oldest Catholic school is stepping back into the future. Next year, Saint Louis School will celebrate its 170th anniversary by adding grades kindergarten through five. It currently enrolls boys from grade six through 12. Starting in 2016, the Kalaepohaku campus will offer grades K through 12, returning to an era more than 60 years ago when Saint Louis enrolled students from grade one.
Saint Louis School’s board of trustees chairman T. Michael Hogan made the announcement to the school’s faculty and staff on Oct. 1.
“After starting a fifth grade pilot program this year, it is clear that there is a great demand for students wanting to enter Saint Louis School at the elementary level,” Hogan said. “We are proud to offer this opportunity to boys who are inspired by the traditions and legacy of our historic school.”
Hogan also announced a new leadership structure at the school. Glenn Medeiros, who began as school president in July, will take the role of head of school.
Saint Louis School was founded in 1846. It operated as a grade one through 12 school into the 1950s when the grades below grade nine were phased out for the creation of Chaminade College on the campus property.
Saint Louis brought back grades seven and eight in 1980, and grade six in 1990 when it adopted the “middle school” concept, incorporating grades six-eight.
According to a Saint Louis School news release, openings in kindergarten through grade five for the 2016-2017 school year will be limited, so parents are encouraged to contact director of admissions Russell Valente at rvalente@saintlouishawaii.org.
This move by Saint Louis leaves Damien Memorial School, with grades six through 12, as the only Catholic high school in Hawaii not coupled with a grade school operation.
Hawaii’s other Catholic schools that extend from preschool or kindergarten through grade 12 are Saint Francis, Maryknoll and Sacred Hearts Academy on Oahu, St. Anthony on Maui and St. Joseph on the Big Island.
