St. Catherine's School (Richmond, Virginia)


St. Catherine's School is an independent Episcopal diocesan school in Richmond, Virginia, USA, for girls age 3 through grade 12. It is the oldest private, all-girls school in Richmond and the only independent all-girls school in Virginia for age 3 - grade 12. St. Catherine's is the sister school to St. Christopher's. The two schools have a Coordinate Program which includes joint events for the lower and middle Schools and shared classes in the upper school. St. Catherine's competes in 15 different sports as a member of the Virginia League of Independent Schools. The school holds a fund raising event on campus each spring called "Daisy Days". The event is open to the Richmond community. The school was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register in 2008.

History

The school was founded in 1890 by Virginia Randolph Ellett, known as Miss Jennie, during the middle of Richmond's New South movement.
In 1917, the school was incorporated and moved to its present site in the Westhampton area of Richmond. It was sold to the Episcopal Church in 1920 and renamed for St. Catherine, the patron saint of young women, especially those undergoing education. Virginia Randolph Ellett, who had relinquished her headship some years before, continued to teach and live at the school until her death on 9 April 1939 in her home built on campus. She was buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.
Since 1957, members of the graduated classes of St. Catherine's are invited to make their debut at the Bal du Bois, held annually at the Country Club of Virginia.

Notable alumnae