History of Saint Thomas Academy

Saint Thomas Academy, founded by Archbishop John Ireland, can trace its beginnings to September 8, 1885, when 66 students gathered in a renovated building on the old Finn Farm located on the shores of Lake Mennith (present intersection of Cleveland and Summit Avenues) in the western area of Saint Paul near the Mississippi River.

Originally called Saint Thomas Aquinas Seminary, there were two departments: The theological department prepared young men for the Roman Catholic priesthood, and the collegiate department prepared young men for university study and living a devout life. By 1890, a military program was formed under the name of the Saint Thomas Seminary Military Battalion. This early institution was the progenitor of four institutions: St. Thomas College, the St. Paul Seminary, Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary, and Saint Thomas Military Academy.

With the establishment of the St. Paul Seminary in 1894, St. Thomas College was incorporated, a part of which was the preparatory or Academic Department encompassing the first four years of a six-year institution; thus, the Academy was the parent organization. The fifth and sixth years were the Collegiate Department. Saint Thomas became a military school in 1905 and the program was under the direct supervision of the U.S. Army. In the school year 1908-1909, Saint Thomas was selected as an Honor School by the U.S. Army for the first time, an award which the Academy has garnered almost every year since. The ROTC program began in 1916.

The Academic Department of earlier years became Saint Thomas Military Academy in 1922 when a definitive distinction was made between the Academy and the College.

In September of 1965, 560 cadets moved to a new campus in Mendota Heights. With the move, the name of the school was changed to Saint Thomas Academy. At this time a new corporation and Board of Trustees was formed, completely separating the Academy from the University of St. Thomas. A four-year, Catholic, college preparatory, JROTC, all-male high school, with day students and boarders was the basic format at the Academy until the early 1970s.

In 1971 a Middle School was created, composed of seventh and eighth grade level boys, centered on the concept of small class sizes and individualized instruction.

The boarding program was discontinued in 1974 because of a decrease in the number of young men choosing a boarding school. One residence building is presently being rented to Marriage Encounter; the second houses our Development/Alumni Department, as well as the Saint Thomas Academy Auction Offices; the third building, the Roach House, is used by local and visiting clergy.

The Academy currently occupies a 72-acre tract of land from Rogers Lake to south of Mendota Heights Road with four adjoining buildings (Academic, Cafeteria, Athletics, and Middle School).

Athletic facilities include the Bill Culbertson Track, the Gerry Brown Stadium for football and soccer, a hockey arena, a baseball diamond, an air-supported dome, two practice fields, a gymnasium, and an indoor swimming pool. Athletics have always played an important part of the co-curricular activities of the institution. From its early days, the Academy has participated in intramural and interscholastic competition. Many conference, regional, district and state championships have been won over the years.

Today, Saint Thomas Academy continues in the tradition of being a Catholic, all- male, college preparatory, military school offering leadership development through the JROTC program. College and personal counseling is an integral part of the education of its young men. Many activities, including 13 sports teams and more than 30 non-athletic co-curriculars, are part of a cadet's education. In addition to the athletic teams, students also participate activities such as drama, chess team, Citation staff, speech team, Crack Drill Squad, Kaydet staff, photo staff, Cadence staff, rifle team, quiz bowl, band, orienteering, orchestra, debate team, math team, and mock trial.

Since its inception, the heart of the educational program has been the Catholic faith. Young men are given courses in the various aspects of the Catholic religion. The priest and lay faculty offer the students Christian principles through their teaching and by example. The Academy numbers among its alumni priests, bishops, and brothers.

A distinguishing feature of Saint Thomas Academy is its ability to meet the individual educational and spiritual needs of its students. The average class size is 18 students. They are taught by highly-motivated teachers who work together to meet individual needs. Academics, co-curricular activities, spiritual awareness, and leadership training all play an important role in each student's development.