​St. Joseph Catholic School

St. Joseph Catholic School has a rich tradition of faith-based education that dates back to 1861. The school was established when parishioners converted an abandoned public school building into a parish school dedicated to serving the children of the community. That original building remained in use until 1877, when the former church building was renovated to serve as the school.

In its early years, the school was staffed by lay teachers. In 1889, the Sisters of St. Francis of Tiffin began serving the school community, followed by the Sisters of the Precious Blood from Marywood from 1896 through 1899. Beginning in the early 20th century and continuing through 2004, the Sisters of Notre Dame from Cleveland, and later the Toledo Province, faithfully served the parish and school for generations.

A new school building was constructed in 1910 to accommodate the growing needs of the parish. In 1961, the current school building was completed and dedicated. For many years, students in grades 1–8 attended classes in the new building, while the former school building was repurposed as the parish cafeteria and social center.

As St. Joseph School continued to grow, additional educational opportunities were introduced. The Kindergarten program was initially housed on the upper floor of the former school building and later expanded to include preschool and daycare services.

In 2004, the preschool, kindergarten, and daycare programs were relocated to the current school building. At the same time, a middle school program was established in the upper level of the former building for students in grades 6–8. This arrangement created a more traditional middle school environment, allowing students to change classes, utilize lockers, and develop greater independence while minimizing disruption to younger students. It also enhanced safety and comfort for the school’s youngest learners by reducing the need to use stairs throughout the day.

In the late 2010s, all grade levels were consolidated into the current school building. Today, the parish social hall continues to serve the school community as a space for special events, student lunches, and physical education classes.

For more than 160 years, St. Joseph Catholic School has remained committed to academic excellence, spiritual formation, and the traditions of Catholic education, continuing to serve generations of families with faith, dedication, and community spirit.

History