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St. Theresa Catholic School – History and Philosophy
The cornerstone of St. Theresa Elementary School was blessed by the bishop of the Galveston-Houston Catholic Diocese, Bishop Byrne, on August 10, 1947. 220 students in grades 1 through 8 began studies in the ten cl
 assrooms of the school after dedication on February 15, 1948. By the summer of 1959 the campus had grown to include seventeen classrooms, a library, gym and cafeteria.Throughout its rich history and tradition of the past 60 years, St. Theresa School had based its educational philosophy on the development and formation of the total person. In a unique family environment, a devoted staff of twenty-one personnel nurtures the current 200 students in grades three-year-old pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The focus of all education at St. Theresa encourages the physical, cultural, social, intellectual, moral and spiritual growth of each individual student.
The multicultural strength of St. Theresa School is evidenced by its student body, which consists of approximately 52% Hispanic, 35% Caucasian, 3 % Asian, 3% Black, and 7% multiracial children. Our staff exhibits an interesting diversity, as well: 10% European, 4% Asian, 24 % Hispanic, and 62% Caucasian. The economic situations of our 139 families range from those qualifying for the federal free lunch program, to those living in a household with six-figure incomes. In an ongoing effort to educate the total child, St. Theresa School, fully accredited by the state of Texas, offers a curriculum based upon state standards, but stretching beyond. All grade levels, including our youngest three-year-old learner, receive computer instruction weekly or biweekly. Spanish is taught on a weekly or biweekly basis starting at the youngest level and continuing throughout eighth grade. Education in the arts is offered to all students, with a growing elective program in the Jr. High including band, choir, speech, forensics, and Latin. Extra-curricular activities for fifth through eighth graders include athletic competitions, speech tournaments, and academic rallies. Just as St. Theresa School endeavors to challenge students to develop their potential to the fullest, the administration, staff, and support personnel of the school engages in ongoing education and professional development to stay updated and to continually improve our programming. With continued planning and ongoing development efforts, the continued future for St. Theresa School looks brighter than ever. |