Providence St. Mel School

Last updated

Providence St. Mel
Providence-StMel-Logo.gif
Location
Providence St. Mel School
119 South Central Park Avenue

,
60624

United States
Coordinates 41°52′43.6″N87°42′55.2″W / 41.878778°N 87.715333°W / 41.878778; -87.715333
Information
Type Private, coeducational
FounderPaul J. Adams III
Grades Preschool12
Color(s) Purple and gold   
SloganWork Plan Build Dream
Team nameKnights
Website psmnow.com

Providence St. Mel School (PSM) is a private, coeducational Preschool-12th Grade school in East Garfield Park, Chicago, Illinois. [1]

Contents

History

The school was created in 1969 with the merger of two schools, Providence High School and St. Mel High School. In 1978 the Archdiocese of Chicago decided to close it. The principal, Paul J. Adams III, and administrators of the school chose instead to operate it as an independent school, after the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, owners of the school building, agreed to sell it to them for a low price. [2]

In 1982 and 1983, President Ronald Reagan visited the school. In 1993, Oprah Winfrey donated $1,000,000. [3]

The October 2006 issue of Chicago magazine ranked Providence St. Mel as one of the most outstanding elementary schools in the metropolitan area. The school earned a place on the magazine's "A+ Team", the list of select 115 public and 25 private elementary and middle schools.[ citation needed ]

As of 2025, the school was ranked 42 of 1,103 (Best Private K-12 Schools in Illinois) [4] and 104 of 289 (Best Private High Schools in Illinois), with a 100% graduation rate. [5]

Alumni

See also

References

  1. "Contact Archived 2012-11-01 at the Wayback Machine ." Providence St. Mel School. Retrieved on April 16, 2011. "Providence St. Mel 119 South Central Park Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60624"
  2. Hendryx, William M. "A School That Wouldn't Die" (PDF). Reader's Digest. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  3. History Archived 2006-10-01 at the Wayback Machine psm.k12.il.us
  4. "2019 Best Private K-12 Schools in Illinois - Niche". Archived from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  5. "2019 Best Private High Schools in Illinois - Niche". Archived from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  6. "Linton Johnson". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  7. "BERNIE LEAHY". profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  8. Edwards, Henry P. (January 21, 1940). "John Rigney Chose Baseball for Career After Jest by Grammar School Class Prophet". The Houston Post . p. 20. Retrieved June 13, 2025.