Joliet Catholic Academy
Joliet Catholic
Academy is a Roman Catholic college preparatory
co-educational high school, co sponsored by the Carmelites and
the Joliet Franciscan Sisters.
Joliet Catholic Academy is an institution proud of its heritage and
tradition. In 1869, the Joliet Franciscans opened St.
Francis Academy
to young women in the Joliet
area. Nearly 50 years later, DeLaSalle High
School for boys was founded by the Christian
Brothers. In 1933, the Carmelites assumed leadership of DeLaSalle
changing the name to Joliet
Catholic High
School. These three schools are the cornerstones
for Joliet Catholic Academy,
established as such on July 1, 1990.
In 1869 a Franciscan sister, Mother
Alfred Moes, well known for her efforts in laying the
foundation for the famous Mayo Brothers Clinic in Minnesota,
founded St. Francis
Academy, St. Francis Academy opened
with only a few girls who were schooled in a small stone convent near Joliet’s Illinois and Michigan Canal (on Broadway and Division
Streets). SFA resided there until 1882, when it moved to a newly erected
building on Plainfield Avenue.
A new wing at 603 Taylor Street
was completed in 1915. Prior to this date, most St. Francis Academy students were boarders. Joliet parents were
overjoyed with this addition to SFA because the increased space allowed for
their daughters to attend SFA along with the boarders. The curriculum offered
six courses of study: classical, scientific, domestic science, arts and crafts,
commercial, and a special two-year commercial course. English, mathematics,
Latin and religion courses were required, of course.
In 1923, the Wilcox and Taylor Building
(currently the University of St.
Francis’ Tower Hall) opened, with Sister Thomasine, OSF serving as the first
principal there. Memorable developments during the 1923-1943 era were the
organization of the first varsity basketball team, the opening of the tennis
court, the introduction of weekly assemblies, a dramatics club, a biology
course and a home economics department. It was during this time, too, that SFA
ceased to have boarders. More on the
History of Joliet Catholic Academy...
