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St. John's
School History
Located in East Allen County
and belonging to the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, St. John the
Baptist School is a State of Indiana accredited elementary school.
The school is a member of the National Catholic Education
Association, Indiana Non-Public School Association, Allen County
Non-Public School Association, and Indiana Middle School
Association. The school has active Student Council, Home and School
(HASA), and athletic organizations.
St. John the Baptist
Parish School began in a house on Powers Street in 1864 with one
male teacher. A brick school was built in 1872 and the Sisters of St. Agnes
began staffing St. John’s in 1873.
The old building was
replaced in 1949 with the main floor and the basement level of the
current structure. The
second story was added eight years later.
Lay faculty joined
the sisters in teaching in 1955.
Complete enrollment
records are not available, but exiting records indicate a peak
enrollment of 478 students in 1967.
The first
kindergarten class began in 1977, reading readiness began in 1982
and pre-kindergarten was introduced in 1984.
To accommodate
enrollments in the 400’s with expectations of increasing past 500,
the lower level gym/cafeteria area was converted to classrooms in
1984.
Tuition was first
introduced for the 1986-87 school year.
For the 1998-1999 school year, tuition was assessed at approximately
47% of the average educational expense per student, an increase of
2% for each of the previous 2 years. The current
uniform dress code was established in 1988.
The Community
Center, which houses the school’s gym and cafeteria, was completed
in November of 1988. Rufus Street was officially closed by he city of New Haven
that school year to provide safe crossing for the children to the
playground and church.
The School Board was
established in 1989.
Severe water damage
while replacing the roof (June, 1989) required remodeling the school
building (including asbestos removal).
That work was completed in November.
During that time, classes were held in the Community Center (PreK
– 4th) and Highland Terrace Public School (5-8).
Since then, St. John's has added a Science Lab in 1997,
a newly equipped computer lab in 1999, new windows in 2000, and a
new heat/cooling system in 2001.
St. John’s
currently has 374 students, pre-Kindergarten through Eighth grade
with reading readiness, with staff including 18 full time teachers
and four part time teaching staff.
The Sisters of St. Agnes discontinued staffing St. John’s
in the Spring of 1990.
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