St. Scholastica Monestary

St. Scholastica Academy, 7416 N. Ridge Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60645

One of the oldest Catholic academies for young women in Chicago, St. Scholastica Academy opened its doors in 1865. The Academy is the sponsored ministry of the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago.

In 1861, three Benedictine sisters from Erie, Pennsylvania (originally from Eichstatt, Germany) answered a call to come to Chicago to educate children of German immigrants in Chicago’s St. Joseph's Parish School. These three sisters were eventually joined by Benedictine sisters from St. Mary’s, Pennsylvania. In 1865, they opened the Academy (named St. Joseph’s Academy) that served as a convent and a school with space for residential students.

The Chicago Fire destroyed a great part of the city in 1871 including the Academy. This did not deter the Benedictine Sisters in their mission to educate young women in Chicago. On July 1, 1872, the newly established Benedictine Sisters of Chicago bought land at Hill and Orleans Streets and re-opened the Academy under the name of Saints Benedict and Scholastica Academy. As the Academy and their community grew, the Benedictine Sisters needed more space. They purchased land in Rogers Park and moved the Academy and their monastery there in 1906 where St. Scholastica Academy sits today.

The Academy has continued to grow through the last century. Today the Academy consists of the original 1906 building, a 1926 building, and a 1958 fine arts building. The Academy has newly renovated science laboratories, fully equipped information technology classrooms, wireless technology throughout the buildings, two visual art studios, music studios, a choral room, and a 1,000-seat professional auditorium that benefited from a $1M renovation completed in 2007. The Academy sits on 14-acres of landscaped property that includes a softball field, a playing field for field hockey and soccer, a running track, and a long jump pit. All of these facilities help St. Scholastica Academy enact the mission of Benedictine education for girls.

St. Scholastica was featured in the 1995 Annual Fall House Tour booklet.

St. Scholastica was one of the featured locations for openhousechicago 2011 and 2012.

Photos

RPWRHS photo L009-0243 shows St. Scholastica, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, Jubilee celebration on July 18, 1982.

RPWRHS photo L009-0446 shows St. Scholastica, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, alumni reunion on October 7, 1989.

RPWRHS photo L009-0482 shows St. Scholastica, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, St. Scholastica fund raiser for Chicago Cubs on May 2, 1987. This is actually 17 separate photos:

RPWRHS photo L009-0482 Image 1: shows an unidentified woman and an unidentified Chicago Cubs player in Wrigley Field.

RPWRHS photo L009-0482 Image 2: shows the George Buchanan Armstrong School of International Studies, 2110 W. Greenleaf Avenue, class photo, graduation, June 1936.

RPWRHS photo L009-0482 Image 3: shows an unidentified house. No date given.

RPWRHS photo L009-0482 Image 4: shows street repairs at an unidentified location. No date given.

RPWRHS photo L009-0482 Image 5: shows an unidentified house. No date given.

RPWRHS photo L009-0482 Image 6: shows the rear staircase of an unidentified apartment building. No date given.

RPWRHS photo L009-0482 Image 7: shows two men standing in front of an 1800s building. Awning claims it is a tobaconist shop. Two signs hang from balcony. One is illegible. The other has to do with W.R. Wright something or other.

RPWRHS photo L009-0482 Image 8: shows the George Buchanan Armstrong School of International Studies, 2110 W. Greenleaf Avenue, class photo, 7B room 101, No date given.

RPWRHS photo L009-0482 Image 9: shows the George Buchanan Armstrong School of International Studies, 2110 W. Greenleaf Avenue, class photo, 7 room 204, 1974-75.

RPWRHS photo L009-0482 Image 10: shows the George Buchanan Armstrong School of International Studies, 2110 W. Greenleaf Avenue, class photo, room 307, 1975-76.

RPWRHS photo L009-0482 Image 11: shows an unidentified bust on a pedestal with one unidentified girl on either side. They're dressed in late 1800s, early 1900s, gym clothes. No location given. No date given.

RPWRHS photo L009-0482 Image 12: shows The Stars Inn restaurant. Location not identified. Date not given.

RPWRHS photo L009-0482 Image 13: shows the George Buchanan Armstrong School of International Studies, 2110 W. Greenleaf Avenue, class photo, 8B room 102, November 1949.

RPWRHS photo L009-0482 Image 14: shows an unidentified 2-flat apartment building. No date given.

RPWRHS photo L009-0482 'Image 15: shows an unidentified street scene. No date given.

RPWRHS photo L009-0482 Image 16: shows an unidentified man holding a bushel of vegetables standing under a trellis. No date given. No location given.

RPWRHS photo L009-0482 Image 17: shows an unidentified woman holding an African carving while standing in front of an African-based mural. No date given. No location given.

RPWRHS photo S013-0360 shows St. Scholastica, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, rear parking lot, May 1975.

RPWRHS photo S013-0361 shows St. Scholastica, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, front sign, May 1975.

RPWRHS photo S013-0607 shows St. Scholastica, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, building, September 1977.

RPWRHS photo S013-0608 shows St. Scholastica, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, front sign, September 1977.

RPWRHS photo S013-0609 shows St. Scholastica, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, building, September 1977.

RPWRHS photo S013-0610 shows St. Scholastica, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, building not identified, September 1977.

RPWRHS photo S013-0611 shows St. Scholastica, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, building, September 1977.

RPWRHS photo S013-0612 shows St. Scholastica, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, building not identified, September 1977.

RPWRHS photo S064-001 shows St. Scholastica, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, "Dance in the Woods," 1921.

RPWRHS photo S064-002 shows St. Scholastica, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, May Festival in Gazebo, circa 1920.

RPWRHS photo S064-003 shows St. Scholastica, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, May Festival with Garlands, circa 1920.

RPWRHS photo S064-005 shows St. Scholastica Academy, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, Dance Festival with Hats. Location given is Saint Scholastica Academy Woods. Circa 1920.

RPWRHS photo S064-006 shows St. Scholastica, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, May Crowning, circa 1930.

RPWRHS photo S064-007 shows St. Scholastica Academy, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, Picture day. Location given is Saint Scholastica Academy. Circa 1944.

RPWRHS photo S064-008 shows St. Scholastica Academy, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, Science Fair. Location given is Saint Scholastica Academy. Circa 1956.

RPWRHS photo S064-0102 shows the chapel at St. Scholastica, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, in 1956.

RPWRHS photo S064-PC0102 shows St. Scholastica Academy, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, building. 1925.

RPWRHS Photo S013-2247, 1995 House Walk Banner at St. Scholastica Academy, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, Friday, October 1, 1995.