History
The seeds for our school were sown in 1973, when a few visionary parishioners from St. Paul's Episcopal Church decided to create a new preschool on the chapel grounds. Their vision was for a school dedicated to giving children a stimulating educational start, in a nurturing environment, within the framework of the Episcopal tradition. The school was called Little Epistles' Pre-School (LEPS).
In 1995, St. Paul's Episcopal Church built a new, modern parish hall. That new facility included a new educational wing of the basement for Little Epistles' and three classrooms to form a new K-2 school, paid for by generous benefactors to the school. Building on the success of Little Epistles, St. Paul's Primary School was born!
Under the leadership of Susan Hess, the thriving school soon expanded its mission to a full elementary (K-5) program. It outgrew its space into other areas of the church building. By 2001, the school needed more space than the church could comfortably provide. At that time, the school embarked on its first capital campaign, and purchased and renovated a 17,000 sq. ft. building located eight blocks away on Northwest Avenue. The new facility, called the North Campus, allowed the school to expand its program up to Grade 5, and later up to Grade 8. Having grown beyond its primary school mission, the school incorporated separately and was renamed St. Paul's Episcopal School.
In 2004, a generous benefactor of the school acquired the abandoned nursing home on Victor Street near the North Campus. The school tore down the outbuildings and established a playfield for use by the Upper School. The property was acquired to give the school the space it would need to expand to a full K-12 program over time.
In 2006, planning toward the full K-12 program began in earnest. The Upper School program was launched in Fall 2007 with the addition of a 9th grade class -- the Class of 2011! The school began an Upper School capital campaign and, in June 2008, with the financial commitment of a core group of founding supporters, St. Paul's embarked on the construction of a new 50,000 sq. ft. upper school building. In 2008, the school was renamed St. Paul's Academy, a title that honors its history, but better reflects the school's independence and academic focus. The school is no longer affiliated, governed nor funded by any religious organization or denomination.
Opening on September 8, 2011, this fine new facility houses Grades 5 – 12, and features a full gymnasium and performance space, a commons area, science labs, a chapel, and a library.