History

Bismarck was the first western pioneer city created due to the railroad connecting Fargo to Bismarck. Two years later, in 1875, St. Mary’s Church was created.

In 1878, Fr. Chrysostom Foffa, OSB, built a school at Bismarck, Dakota Territory, and staffed it with Benedictine sisters from St. Joseph, Minnesota. The school was named the St. Mary’s Academy and Boarding School. The Sisters’ reputation for discipline and educational thoroughness tempered with religion was a welcome contrast to the rawness of frontier life on the Dakota prairie, and so pupils, many non-Catholic, flocked to the “Sister School,” the first Catholic school in Bismarck.

From this Benedictine foundation, out of which St. Alexius Medical Center and the University of Mary have also been realized, Catholic education in the Bismarck Community has continuously provided families with quality educational options since 1878. The parishes of Bismarck have sought to provide schools that meet the needs of their students and families and have educated generations of community, state, and national leaders.
Beginning in 2012, the five Catholic parishes of Bismarck came together to form The Light of Christ Catholic Schools, an unprecedented venture reaffirming the strengths and successes of Catholic education in Bismarck. Today, Light of Christ Catholic Schools offers a modern educational program in which students learn language arts, mathematics, science, morality, fine arts, faith, and languages in small classes taught by caring teachers. The children at Light of Christ Catholic Schools have opportunities to discover themselves as scholars, leaders, stewards, thinkers, athletes, and artists.

Our mission statement makes it clear: we have a single focus – the young people in our care. We strive to challenge them in every aspect of the human person (intellectual, emotional, physical, social and spiritual) to reach their true potential.
 
St. Mary’s Central High School
SMCHS evolved from the St. Mary’s Academy and Boarding School. In 1916, the first high school classes were offered, and the spring of 1922 brought the first graduation at St. Mary’s High School. The 1025 N 2nd Street campus was built in 1951, and the Music Department addition was built in 1989. The “new gym,” aka Kelsch Gym, Library, Bishop Ryan Chapel, Art Room, Kilzer Conference Room and Elevator wing was built in 1997. It was referred to as “The 75th Anniversary Campaign” when funds were being sought to defray the cost of the addition. The new SMCHS opened in August of 2019, at the current site located in north Bismarck, 5802 Ridgeland Drive. The state-of-the-art campus features four centers: St. Thomas Aquinas Academic Center, Athletic Center, Our Lady of Victory Chapel and the Myron Atkinson and T. Clem Casey Fine Arts Center. 
 
St. Mary's Academy
Established in 2013, the St. Mary's Academy opened as a new middle school to meet the growth of students in our Catholic elementary schools. Our middle school is located at the 1025 N. 2nd Street campus, formerly St. Mary's Central High School. In 2017, the  Academy expanded to educate grades 6-8.

The Academy is committed to Catholic values, educational excellence, and community service. Welcoming families of all faiths, the Academy seeks to create a safe and nurturing environment in which our students are challenged and encouraged to follow the example of Jesus Christ, achieve academic success, and reach their God-given potential. Together we create an environment filled with academic success, respect, integrity, and joy.
 
St. Mary’s Elementary School - Pre-Kindergarten to 5th Grade
St. Mary’s Elementary School provides education for families with children from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade. Its highly qualified teaching staff maintains advanced modern classrooms serving the spiritual, physical, and educational needs of all students who attend. St. Mary’s employs an exceptional staff of a school nurse, office assistants, custodians, cooks, and instructional aides who are integral in creating a positive and receptive school culture. We also boast top-notch facilities that include a library, a language lab, a fine arts center and mobile computer lab. Financial assistance, summer childcare and after-school care are also available.

Cathedral Elementary School – Pre-Kindergarten to 5th Grade
Cathedral Elementary School provides education for families with children from Pre-kindergarten through 5th grade. Its highly qualified teaching staff maintains advanced modern classrooms serving the spiritual, physical, and educational needs of all students who attend. Cathedral employs an exceptional staff of office assistants, custodians, cooks, and instructional aides who are integral in creating a positive and receptive school culture. We also boast top-notch facilities that include a library, a computer lab, a band room, a mobile computer lab, and a science lab.

Saint Anne Elementary School – Pre-Kindergarten to 5th Grade
Saint Anne Elementary School provides education for families with children from Pre-kindergarten through 5th grade. Its highly qualified teaching staff maintains advanced modern classrooms serving the spiritual, physical, and educational needs of all students who attend. Saint Anne's employs an exceptional staff of office assistants, custodians, cooks, and instructional aides who are integral in creating a positive and receptive school culture. We also boast top-notch facilities that include a library, a mobile computer lab and a music room.