St. John the Baptist Catholic School of South Bend

St. John the Baptist Catholic School of South Bend, Indiana - Preparing Students to love the True, the Good and the Beautiful!

In May, 1956, the Diocese of Ft. Wayne announced the establishment of a new parish on the Westside of South Bend. St. John the Baptist was a new parish, located on seven acres, with Fr. Joseph A. Jacobs appointed as pastor. The first Masses were said at Ardmore School with approximately 400 in attendance on September 2, 1956.

In the fall of 1956, bids were taken for an eight-room school (this is what we know as the front hall) and church – auditorium. The school opened its doors to students September 4, 1957, with Sr. Clarice and Sr. Mariella, members of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration and three lay faculty members. The school population continued to grow and it became necessary to add four more classrooms in 1960. The highest enrollment of 455 came with the baby boomers in the 1960's. More Sisters were added as were more lay faculty and staff.

With the advent of the seventies, eighties and nineties, the church and school maintained very well with only lay faculty and staff. In the new millennium, the enrollment of the school has declined, but we are still a very vibrant church and school on South Bend’s westside looking to serve the memebers of its community. We are an instution open to all children and families, as a school of choice. Religious training as well as excellent academics has always been our first and foremost goal as a church and school. St. John’s is committed to providing a qualtiy faith based education, and with the implementation of the Classical Educational Model, St. John Catholic School will strive to ensure that students see the good, the true, and the beautiful in all things as it returns back to a more wholistic form of education.

As we now leap into the future with our newly appointed principal, Mr. Brian Carver, we are excited and eager to see what that future holds. Mr. Carver was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana. He attended Holy Cross Catholic School and later graduated from Holy Cross College with his degree in Elementary Education and certification in English as a Second Language. He has taught and coached boys football as well as golf, for over 9 years. This is his first year as principal at St. John’s, but he is excited and eager to become involved within the community. He is dedicated to the implementation of the classical model, and passionate about growing the athletics programs at St. John’s as well.