St. Joseph Catholic School, Greenville, Mississippi

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Accreditation St. Joseph Catholic School is fully accredited by the Mississippi Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Click below to open the 2012 accreditation reports: St. Joseph Catholic School SACS 2012 Summary (.pdf) St. Joseph Catholic School SACS 2012 Self-Assessment (.pdf) St. Joseph Catholic School SACS 2012 Final Report (.pdf)
Mission and Vision SJS Mission The mission of the St. Joseph Catholic School is to provide a Catholic faith-based education offered in a safe, academically challenging, and creative environment. SJS Vision St. Joseph Catholic School in Greenville, Mississippi, is founded on a tradition of educational excellence since 1888. It is our belief and conviction that every student entrusted to our care can succeed and deserves all our support: All students can learn when actively engaged in the learning process and provided with a meaningful context. Students learn best when they have appropriate opportunities for success and are challenged to increase their performance. Each student is a valued individual with unique needs and talents. As an educational institution, St. Joseph Catholic School is committed to cultural diversity and continuous improvement of curriculum and assessment methods: Cultural diversity is appreciated and celebrated; it increases a student’s understanding and learning experience in the community and in the world. Diversity in assessment methods provides the students with a variety of opportunities for achievement. Curriculum reflects a variety of learning activities for the students’ unique needs, interests, strengths and weaknesses at various developmental stages. As a community of faith deeply rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church’s tradition, St. Joseph Catholic School strongly believes that each child and adult should be provided with regular opportunities for prayer, sacraments and reading the scriptures: Religious education and Christian formation in the doctrines, values, traditions and teachings of the Catholic Church are an integral part of the school curriculum. Parents are primary educators of their children, and the school assists them in the process while instilling in students an appreciation of others and a commitment to principles of peace and justice. Teachers, parents and students all share in the responsibility to be witnesses to the Gospel. As such, religious truths and values infuse all the subjects of the curriculum. Finally, St. Joseph Catholic School believes in the dignity of every person and the respect of all. Student learning and growth is a major priority of our school which we achieve through a safe, comfortable environment. Our goal is to produce academic learners and future leaders who analyze complex problems, turn data into information, and information into solutions.
History It's amazing to think that the first organized parish school in Greenville opened in October of 1888. St. Rose of Lima Academy was opened under the leadership of Father P. J. Korstenbrock and was staffed by the Sisters of Mercy. The school that the sisters opened began a rich tradition of excellent education in the Delta area, one that is still strong after 116 years. Within three years, facilities were added to accommodate boarding students from nearby plantations. By the 1930's enrollment in the school had grown to almost 200 students. By 1947 enrollment had increased to 245 with 39% of the school's population being non-Catholic. In 1948, due to the increasing enrollment and deteriorating condition of the Academy building, work began on a new building. Originally designed to educate 400 students, St. Joseph School was dedicated in May of 1950 by by bishop Richard Gerow. Located on Golf Street, the school served students in grades 1-12, and by the mid 1950's included one of the cities first organized kindergarten programs. As Catholic education flourished in the early 1960's, enrollment continued to rise. As a result of this increase, St. Joseph Catholic Church initiated the construction of Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School, which opened on East Reed Road in 1964. After kindergarten through sixth grade moved to Lourdes, the building on Golf Street (now known as St. Joseph High School) provided students in grades 7-12 with a quality Catholic education. An increasing enrollment at St. Joseph in the late 1980's prompted the construction of four additional classrooms. Memories of the "old days" remain strong and dear. Alumni today, now parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends of our current students, fill the stands at athletic competitions and seats at the honors programs and graduations. Traditions are celebrated as before. Past graduates can be proud of the young people who have received the legacy of a Catholic education. They will pass this legacy on to others in the decades to come.

St. Joseph Catholic School, Greenville, MS 38701
Tel.: (662) 378-9711 | Fax: (662) 378-3496