Welcome to St. Paul School!

St. Paul Catholic Schools began in 1909 when Father John Durham and three Sisters of St. Joseph from Tipton, Indiana opened a grade school in the basement of the old St. Paul Church on Branson Street. The following year, a brick building, accommodating grades one through six, was erected at the corner of Ninth and Branson Streets to accommodate grade one through six. The two story building consisted of four rooms and a library. It is estimated that 175 students and four faculty members showed up for the opening day of school during the first week of September 1910.

In 1924, an addition to the school building made room for the first two years of high school. The final two grades were added in 1932 and the first high school commencement exercises were held in 1933.  As available, new classrooms and equipment were added. This included a chemistry lab in 1938.

With the end of World War II, Marion's Catholic population tripled. The number of high school students from 1952 to 1954 necessitated the use of temporary buildings opposite the Coliseum, by the upperclassmen. St. Paul parishioners started a building fund to renovate the existing school. However, the plan was later revised and land was purchased on Kem Road for the  construction of a new high school complex. Bishop John Bennett dedicated the new high school bearing his name on September 5, 1955.This twenty-five acre site included a two-story school, McKeown Gymnasium (2,800 seats), and outdoor athletic facilities. The number of students allowed for increased participation in sports with the school fielding it first baseball team in 1954. In 1965, McCarthy Hall was erected to provide additional meeting room, student assembly and recreational space.

In order to upgrade elementary facilities and minimize operational expenses, a major consolidation relocated the entire grade school to the Kem Road site prior to the 1973-74 school year. Kindergarten was added at this time. A new St. Paul Church and rectory were built in 1977 on the Kem Road property.

The 1983-84 basketball season caused lots of excitement for the school as the boys basketball team ended the season ranked 17th in the state - the first time in Bennett history that a team ended the season ranked. This team had an 18-3 record on the season.

The school first charged tuition in 1989. In 1992, the last Sisters left the school. More than 80 sisters taught at the school. They included Sister Floretta for whom a statue is still displayed in the lobby of the school today.

On March 19, 1993, it was announced that due to declining enrollment, the middle and high school would close at the end of the school year. The last high school commencement exercises were held on June 7, 1993.

St. Paul Elementary continued to offer kindergarten through eighth grade  beginning in the fall of 1993. Since then, the grades offered have changed due to the number of students. Currently, St. Paul Catholic School is a preschool through eighth grade academic facility under the direction of Pastor, Rev. Michael Block, and Principal, Mrs. Veronica Weimer.