About St. Francis de Sales School

Brief History

St. Francis de Sales School was established in 1918 when three Dominican Sisters from Texas came to Riverside at the request of the pastor, Rev. John Hegarty, to teach thirty-five students in grades one through six.

Classes were held in the first floor rooms of the house in which the Sisters lived. Within a few months, they were transferred to the rear of the old brick church.

By October 1919, the new church and four classrooms were dedicated. Grades were added each year through the twelfth grade and, in 1925, the first senior class - consisting of girls - graduated.

In 1934, Msgr. Peter Lynch became the pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish.

He had been always steadfast and generous in his support of Catholic education and, under his direction, most of the present parish facilities were constructed. Until the opening of Notre Dame High School for Young Men in 1956, St. Francis de Sales High School was the only Catholic secondary school in the Riverside area.

The last year for coeducation at St. Francis High School was 1959. It continued as a girls' high school until June 1972.

At that time, the two Catholic high schools merged on the Notre Dame campus, thus making available to this school many of the high school facilities and materials.

St. Francis de Sales School currently maintains preschool through eighth grade class levels.