Saint Clare School is a

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

elementary school A primary school (in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and South Africa), junior school (in Australia), elementary school or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ed ...

operated by Saint Clare Parish in

Santa Clara, California Santa Clara (; Spanish for " Saint Clare") is a city in Santa Clara County, California. The city's population was 127,647 at the 2020 census, making it the eighth-most populous city in the Bay Area. Located in the southern Bay Area, the cit ...

, in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. Founded in 1856, it is the second oldest continuously operating elementary school in California and serves families of the Diocese of San Jose. Saint Clare School was founded in 1856 by the

Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (Congregationis Sororum a Domina Nostra Namurcensi) are a Catholic institute of religious sisters, founded to provide education to the poor. The institute was founded in Amiens, France, in 1804, but the opposi ...

and is located adjacent to

Santa Clara University Santa Clara University is a private Jesuit university in Santa Clara, California. Established in 1851, Santa Clara University is the oldest operating institution of higher learning in California. The university's campus surrounds the historic Mis ...

(formerly Santa Clara College).

History

In 1856 the

who came to create one of the earliest school systems in California founded St. Mary's School to educate elementary age students in the parish. It was located next to Mission Santa Clara and the recently built

Santa Clara College Santa Clara University is a private Jesuit university in Santa Clara, California. Established in 1851, Santa Clara University is the oldest operating institution of higher learning in California. The university's campus surrounds the historic Mis ...

(1851) founded by the

Jesuits The Society of Jesus ( la, Societas Iesu; abbreviation: SJ), also known as the Jesuits (; la, Iesuitæ), is a religious order (Catholic), religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rom ...

. St. Mary's was later renamed Notre Dame Academy. The school started in the Forbes house located on the city block bordered by Lexington St, Santa Clara St, Lafayette St. and Washington St. The sisters also founded the College of Notre Dame, which split to become the present-day Notre Dame High School and

Notre Dame de Namur University Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) is a private Catholic university in Belmont, California. It is the third oldest college in California and the first college in the state authorized to grant the baccalaureate degree to women. In 2021, the u ...

. Notre Dame High School is the sister school of the

Jesuit , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

-run boys' school Santa Clara Prep, now known as

Bellarmine College Preparatory Bellarmine College Preparatory is an all-male, Jesuit, private secondary school located in San Jose, California. Founded in 1851, it is the oldest secondary school in California and the second-oldest west of the Mississippi River. In 2020, Niche ...

. In 1924 Saint Clare moved across the street into a brand new school building that housed Kindergarten through eighth grade. A Marble Plaque on the front of the school proclaims "DEO OPTIMO MAXIMO IN HONREM SANCTAE CLARAE XXI OCTOBRIS A.D. MCMXXIV DEDICATA" which translates to "To the greatest and best God in honor of St. Clare. Dedicated October 21st, 1924." The following year Saint Clare Parish is built on the site of the original brick school next to Sodality Hall (later renamed St Clare Hall). Unfortunately, a fire in 1926 destroyed the original 96-year-old Mission Santa Clara. The school continued to grow and was in dire need of space. In 1952 school raised $138,000 to build a new convent for the teaching sisters located across from the school at 725 Washington Street in Santa Clara, freeing up more classroom space. This building is now the St. Clare Parish Offices. As the enrollment demand increased at Saint Clare, the

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco The Archdiocese of San Francisco (Latin: ''Archdiœcesis Sancti Francisci''; Spanish: ''Archidiócesis de San Francisco'') is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the northern California region of the Unite ...

authorized the opening of nearby St. Martin School in 1955 and St. Justin School in 1958. On August 7, 1958 a new building for the junior high school was built across Washington street from the school, next door to the St. Clare convent. After more than 150 years of ministry, the Sisters transferred control of the school to lay leadership staff in 1998.

References

External links

St. Clare School websiteSt. Clare Parish website
{{authority control Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose in California Education in Santa Clara County, California Catholic elementary schools in California Educational institutions established in 1856 1856 establishments in California