History
Formal Catholic education in the Phillipsburg area began in 1875 when Reverend Cornelius J. O'Reilly and the parishioners of Sts Philip and James Church decided to erect a school for the academic and moral education of the parish youth. In spite of financial concerns, the cornerstone was laid in 1875 for a three-story brick building at the corner of South Main and Stockton Streets. The Sisters of Charity staffed the school from 1876 to 1877. In 1886, the Sisters of Mercy purchased property at 518 South Main Street for the purpose of opening an academy for young ladies. It was formally dedicated as Saint Catherine's Academy on September 29, 1887. The Sisters staffed the new academy as well as the original grammar school. A high school wing of ten classrooms and an auditorium was added to the grammar school in 1920 and the students of St. Catherine's Academy were transferred to the new high school in 1923.
The new school was known as Sts Philip and James Parochial High School and shared the building on South Main Street with Sts Philip and James Elementary School. As enrollment increased, by 1958 the need for a new high school was evident. Twenty-one acres of land on Roseberry Street were purchased and after an ambitious campaign drive led by Reverend Joseph V. Kozak, the new high school was dedicated on August 20, 1961, as Phillipsburg Catholic High School.
In 1989 the parish turned over the operation of the school to the Diocese of Metuchen to be operated as a regional school named All Saints Regional School. The Sisters of Mercy left at the end of the 1989-90 school year, bringing to an end over 100 years of service given to the Phillipsburg community. The Diocese arranged for the services of another order, The Sister Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 1994 the high school was closed, citing low enrollment and fiscal expenses. The elementary school was moved to the high school building.
In 1999 the elementary school was converted back to a parish school associated with Sts Philip and James Church. It was renamed Sts Philip and James School.
Read more about this topic: Phillipsburg Catholic High School
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