Religious affiliation(s) Catholic President Stephen Williamson Grades 7–12 Phone +1 812-945-2538 Founded 1951 | Established 1951 Principal Melinda Ernstberger Enrollment 587 (2013-2014) Number of students 587 (2013–2014) Colors White, Navy blue | |
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Address 707 Providence Way, Clarksville, IN 47129, USA Accreditation North Central Association of Colleges and Schools School types Private school, Mixed-sex education Similar New Albany High Sch, Jefferson High School, Floyd Central High Sch, Clarksville Senior High Sch, Christian Academy of Indiana Profiles | ||
Our Lady of Providence Junior-Senior High School is a coed Catholic high school in Clarksville, Indiana, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis. The school first opened on September 12, 1951.
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Providence was recognized as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the United States Department of Education in 2000. It also receives accreditation from the Indiana Department of Education and the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
History
Our Lady of Providence is an inter-parochial, co-educational school located in Clarksville, Indiana, and serves the Southern Indiana/Louisville, Kentucky metropolitan area. The New Albany Deanery, under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis, operates Providence.
At the request of Paul C. Schulte, Archbishop of Indianapolis, Marie Helene Franey of the Sisters of Providence, located at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana since 1840, agreed that the sisters would own and operate the school. Following ground breaking on March 21, 1951, and cornerstone laying on June 12 of that year, the first freshman class entered on September 12. These 137 students came from 11 parishes in Clark, Floyd and Harrison counties. In 1973, eighteen parishes of the New Albany Deanery purchased the school.
In 1989 Our Lady of Providence began accepting junior high students (grades 7 and 8) on a limited basis. The Deanery Board created the junior high program in order to accommodate those parishes without elementary schools and/or without grades 7 and 8.
In 1996 the Our Lady of Providence Junior-Senior High Board assumed the governance responsibilities previously held by the Deanery Board.
Physical expansion of the school occurred in 1959. The Larkin Center gymnasium opened in 1989. A three-floor educational wing connected the convent building and the school during the 1995-1996 school year, including a Library Media Center.
In 2000, a new façade and renovated front entrance and lobby totally changed the look of Providence. During the summer of 2003, the 4,500-square-foot (420 m2) Visual Arts wing was complete on the third floor of the Larkin Center
In August 2004, Providence hired Joan M. Hurley to guide the school as President.
The Vision of Faith capital campaign, conducted through 2003 and 2004 raised $4.3 million.
Construction of the Sam & Paula Robinson Performing Arts Center began in August 2005. The theatre opened with the musical production of CATS on April 21, 2006.
The James W. & Phyllis Robinson Sports Wing was completed in time for the 2006-2007 football season.
In June 2006, Clarksville Town Council granted the school's request to change the name of the roadway in front of the school. Formerly called Old Highway 62 and West Highway 131, the school's new address is now 707 Providence Way.
The summer of 2007 brought numerous changes. The entire original 1951 portion of the school building was renovated. New wiring, lighting, ceilings, and compartmentalization of academic departments was completed in time for the 2007-08 school year to begin. The chapel was relocated in the old library space on second floor. The Ray Day Little Theatre and supporting academic classroom and theatre office space construction begun. Although incomplete until additional funding is available, the space is open to students as of January 2008.
In 2011, the Pioneers girls' soccer team defeated Mishawaka Marian to win the school's first sanctioned state title.
In 2013, the Volleyball team defeated Hammond Bishop Noll High School to win the IHSAA Volleyball Class AA Championship.