Executive Summary

Description

St. Louis Catholic School is a parish school located in East Memphis at the corner of Shady Grove Road and White Station. Founded in 1957, St. Louis has a longstanding tradition of excellence in Catholic education. Thanks to strong community support, St. Louis is thriving, with high demand in many grades, especially preschool and sixth, where spots fill quickly. 

St. Louis serves students from preschool through 8th grade, providing a well-rounded education grounded in Catholic values and strengthened by a strong STEM emphasis throughout the curriculum. The entire school community—faculty, students, parents, and leadership—actively supports and engages in STEM learning. As a result, St. Louis has proudly maintained STEM Certification since 2019 and added Lumen STEM Certification in 2025.

Since 2012, the campus has undergone a complete transformation. Renovations began with the church and included the construction of a two-story Junior High building, housing nine classrooms, a Junior High Learning Lab, a Gifted Program (SOARing) classroom, a science lab, a Distance Learning Center, and a music room. The older portion of the school was fully renovated to match the updated look and feel of the new Junior High wing. As part of the capital campaign, the Saint John Paul II Youth Ministry Center was constructed to provide offices, a large youth gathering space, and a smaller meeting room. Most recently, the former computer lab was converted into a MakerSpace, supporting the school's continued STEM integration. The campaign raised nearly $10 million, which also fully funded the Msgr. Paul Clunan Endowment Fund and a Campus Maintenance Fund.

In 2017, Bishop Martin David Holley appointed Fr. Jolly Sebastian as Pastor of St. Louis Catholic Church. Following Bishop Holley’s brief tenure, Archbishop Joseph Kurtz served as Apostolic Administrator until Pope Francis appointed Bishop David P. Talley as the sixth Bishop of Memphis in 2019. Fr. Jolly continued to serve as pastor until his recent reassignment, and the parish is now under the pastoral leadership of Fr. Keith. As a parish school, St. Louis remains guided by its pastor, with the parish business manager overseeing financial planning and facilities for both the church and the school. 

Demographics & Staff

The student body is approximately 90% Catholic, with most students coming from nearby zip codes—38117, 38119, 38138, and 38120—though some travel from as far as West Memphis, AR, and Arlington, TN.

Current enrollment is 558 students: 329 boys and 229 girls. The higher number of boys reflects our feeder relationship with Christian Brothers High School, an all-boys Catholic school.

St. Louis is staffed with a dedicated team of full-time and part-time teachers, administrators, instructional assistants, and support personnel, including professionals in admissions, marketing, technology, and office administration.

The school continues to welcome diversity and currently serves students of various backgrounds. We also strive to support students with learning differences. This year, 45 students with diagnosed learning needs have received accommodations through our Learning Lab and guidance programs. Our goal is to keep families together within our close-knit, family-oriented Catholic environment.

Technology Integration

St. Louis began its commitment to instructional technology in 2010 with the introduction of teacher laptops and SMART Boards in every classroom. Today, students in grades 1–8 each have their own Chromebook, while our youngest learners in PK, JK, and Kindergarten use classroom sets of iPads. The Distance Learning Center in the Junior High wing enables collaborative learning through video conferencing technology. We participate in a consortium for professional development, virtual learning, and student collaboration with museums and schools. Additionally, our MakerSpace room provides a hands-on environment for STEM exploration and robotics, giving students opportunities to design, build, and problem-solve through creative, technology-driven projects. 

STEM Development

In 2018, a team attended the STEM Summit in Murfreesboro, TN. Inspired by the experience, the faculty voted overwhelmingly to pursue STEM certification.

Initial efforts included weekly STEM labs in collaboration with Computer Explorers, a company specializing in STEM curriculum. Teachers participated in labs and worked to align STEM activities with academic standards.

Next, we invested in professional development and trained teachers to design quarterly, cross-curricular STEM units grounded in science and math standards. These units are implemented every nine weeks and supported by Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) within and across grade levels. Each year, all teachers receive STEM-focused professional development and incorporate technology-rich learning experiences in their lessons.

Since earning STEM Certification in 2019, our dedication has continued to grow. In 2025, we proudly achieved Lumen STEM Certification, highlighting our leadership in Catholic STEM education.

Mission

St. Louis Catholic School is committed to quality education in the spirit of Christ in accordance with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Partnering with families and our community, we prepare our students for the future through faith formation and academic excellence.

Belief Statements

• Our school’s primary focus is spiritual growth and a commitment to Catholic values.

• A challenging curriculum helps students reach their full academic potential.

• All students can learn when provided with appropriate opportunities.

• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are essential for future success.

• Cultural diversity fosters understanding and acceptance.

• Community service encourages altruism and civic responsibility.

• Mutual respect enhances students’ self-esteem and emotional maturity.

• A strong home-school connection supports whole-child development.

• A safe, comfortable environment promotes well-being and security.

• STEM integration empowers students to solve real-world problems with confidence and moral perspective.
  
  

Our faculty embodies these beliefs, bringing faith alive in daily lessons. Students receive daily religious instruction, pray together, and attend weekly Mass, twice monthly on First Fridays. Support from our Pastor, School Advisory Board, Home and School Association, and Men’s Club ensures that our campus remains bright, clean, safe, and welcoming. Strong professional relationships among staff, fostered by PLCs, ensure collaboration and a shared commitment to the growth of every child.

Recent Achievements

• Expanded Learning Lab and Gifted Programs

• Professional development in differentiated instruction

• Quarterly STEM units and weekly STEM labs (PK–4)

• Participation in the GE Additive Education Program with access to 3D printing

• Creation of Cardinal Crops, a student garden program

• Growth of a school-wide Robotics Program funded by parent-led fundraising

Ongoing Goals

• Continued support for students with diverse learning needs

• Ongoing professional development in STEM integration and technology

• Continued focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion within our school community