History & Mission
Founded in 1952, Saint Rita Catholic School owes a debt of gratitude to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill, PA, who laid the educational foundation of what Saint Rita has become. In 2011, Saint Rita Catholic Preschool opened its doors to our littlest souls. Read more about our half-day enrichment program for 2-5 year olds here.
Our teachers prioritize character formation and emphasize the ability to read, write, and think well. In addition to skills and content knowledge, a Saint Rita education is designed to instill a particular sort of attitude or mindset – one of wonder and appreciation for God’s creation, a desire for goodness, truth, and beauty, and a sense of how to live a virtuous life.
As a single track school, with one class per grade, we are a close community where children are known, supported, and loved. We partner with our parents to develop the academic potential of our children and help them become the saints God made them to be. Our day consists of studying the Catholic Faith, history, literature, grammar, science, math, and Latin. Our weekly Specials courses support our curriculum by introducing all of our children to high art and music, great literature in Library class, and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for grades K-3. Most importantly, we attend weekly school Mass together and a Holy Hour with Adoration and Confession. Our children are not on devices; we learn through class discussion, textual study, and hands-on projects and experiments. We get outside to run around in active morning and afternoon recess each day, with a structured physical education class each week. Read more about our unique classical curriculum here. In addition to our core curriculum, we form the whole child by offering extra-curricular activities as well. These opportunities help develop talent, build confidence, and strengthen friendships over the years. Our students participate in:
- CYO Sports: track, cross country, and basketball
- An annual musical for grades K-8, performed at a local high school
- Weekly Band program for grades 2-8 where students can learn a wind, percussion, or strings instrument
- Weekly Chess Club for grades K-8
- Weekly Schola Choir for grades 4-8
- Battle of the Books competition for grades 5-6
- Student Council for grades 5-8
- National Junior Honor Society for grades 7-8
Our educational program is rigorous, and we maintain high expectations for our students. For students in need of additional academic support, we have a resource team available so we can make a Catholic education feasible for as many students as possible. But as a small school, we are limited in the level of behavioral or academic support we can offer so please reach out to our Admissions office with any questions about children with special needs or circumstances.
“We love St. Rita because it is rock solid in the faith, and absolutely committed to building the foundation for a rich intellectual life. After three overseas tours that have taken us away, we will always come back to St. Rita’s (but don’t plan on leaving again anytime soon!).”
Michelle