About

St. Mary's Catholic School in Mt. Carmel Illinois, was founded by St. Mary’s Parish in 1881 and has been serving the community for over 100 years. It's a school that is rich in history and traditions. St. Mary's is accredited by the State of Illinois and the Diocese of Belleville.

Currently, St. Mary's serves the Catholic parishes in Wabash County and the community of Mt. Carmel. We have approximately 140 students in grades Preschool–8th grade who come to us not only from our regional parishes but from the surrounding area as well.

St. Mary's Catholic School provides and supports a quality education in the tradition of the Catholic Church for all who seek it. The faith community is dedicated to the development of the whole person spiritually, academically, creatively, physically, emotionally, and socially – all through the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Our students live out their faith each day through daily prayer, special liturgies, and service projects. All students, Preschool through 8th grade, receive religious instruction on a daily basis. The students, teachers, and staff all follow the Code of ethics and moral values that reminds us of how we should live our lives every day. Each year, a religious theme is selected to help students and faculty focus on a particular topic.

We hope that you will take some time to explore our website which provides information about our strong spiritual and academic programs, social activities, volunteer opportunities, and our sports program. We believe the only way to truly experience the spirit of our students, the dedication of our teachers, and the enthusiasm of our parents, is to visit our school in person. Hopefully, you will have a chance to do so and learn more about what St. Mary’s has to offer.

We seek to challenge our children to strive for academic excellence and to develop both their physical and social talents to their highest potential. We are committed to religious education. This is taught as a class and is also incorporated into the total curriculum. Students are actively involved in weekly Mass and the sacraments. They are challenged to live Christ’s example and to love and respect one another, as well as all people.

We recognize that parents play the most crucial role in the formation of their children’s faith. We strive to empower the parents as the primary catechist in the lives of our students and continue the faith formation they have started at home. We encourage parental involvement in school activities and governance. Our goal is to join in partnership with the families, the church, and our diocese to build an academic and moral foundation for our children and ultimately our children’s children.