St. Peter Claver Catholic School (Tampa)

St. Peter Claver Catholic School is a Catholic school in Tampa, Florida. It was established in 1894 to educate African Americans and is the oldest-surviving historically Black primary school in the state.[1][2][3]

St Peter Claver Catholic School
Address
1401 N Governor St

Tampa
,
Florida
33602

United States
Coordinates27°57′23.5″N 82°27′13″W
Information
TypePrivate
Religious affiliation(s)Catholic
Established1894 (1894)
Local authorityDiocese of St. Petersburg
PrincipalDr. LaTonya White
GradesPreK–8
GenderCoeducational
Enrollment210
MascotLions
NicknameSPC
AffiliationNational Catholic Educational Association
NCES School ID00258796
Websitewww.stpeterclavercatholicschool.org

History

St Peter Claver School was founded in February 1894 by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) as a school for African Americans, associated with nearby Sacred Heart Church. The first teachers were from the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.[4]

The original school building was burned down in an act of racist arson just 10 days after classes began. A notice in the local news the next day read:

“This inscription is posted in this place to say that the late fire on these grounds was not caused by any ill feeling to the Catholic Church, but because the citizens do not propose to submit to a negro school in the midst of the white and retired resident portion of the city; and warn that in case another institution of the same character is operated in this vicinity it too will meet the same or worse fate; and to persist in the same line will certainly cause destruction of the convent and your other Churches.”[4]

The Jesuits reopened the school, at the request of Bishop John Moore, in the Black neighborhood nearby and classes resumed in October 1894. A new building came in 1929, and an annex was added in the early 1950s.[4]

Present day

The school now serves PreK through 8th grade, and hired Dr. LaTonya White as principal in June 2021.[1]

References
  1. "New principal named at historic St. Peter Claver Catholic School". www.baynews9.com. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  2. "St. Peter Claver School in Tampa, FL". Visit Florida.
  3. Company, Tampa Publishing. "St. Peter Claver celebrates 125th anniversary with inclusive congregation". Tampa Bay Times.
  4. "About SPC - St. Peter Claver Catholic School". www.stpeterclavercatholicschool.org. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
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