1899: Saint Monica Preparatory School traces its origin to the turn of the century when the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, at the request of Bishop Montgomery, first opened a small elementary school.

1901: To meet the need for more facilities and a potential high school, the sisters erected the “Academy of the Holy Names”, which stood at the corner of Third and Arizona Streets. The Academy housed both the elementary school and the high school.

1930: When the elementary school became the “Saint Monica Parish Elementary School” it separated from the original building and transferred to its present site on Seventh Street.

1935: After five years it became apparent that even more facilities were needed for the Academy’s high school. This time, pastor Monsignor Nicholas Conneally asked the Sisters to sell the Academy building and by the fall the sale was complete. 

1946 to 1948: St. Monica Catholic Elementary grew rapidly at the new location and again additional facilities and faculty were needed. The Brothers of Mary came in to teach the boys from 1946 to 1948, at which time the Brothers of St. Patrick took over, arriving from Ireland and establishing their first house in the United States. The sisters retained instruction of the girls.

1956: Ground was broken on Lincoln Boulevard for the new high school in May under the direction of Msgr. Raymond O’Flagherty but it housed only the Boys’ Department. The Girls would remain in today’s West Wing. 

1968: For the first time since 1946, Saint Monica High School’s administrations merged under the leadership of Sister Michaeline Mary, SNJM. In 1970 the two faculties, student bodies and classroom instruction became "co-ed".

1975: When the sisters withdrew from the elementary school due to dwindling availability, an all-lay faculty took over the elementary school to continue the good work of Catholic Education. Accommodating both boys and girls, the school’s faculty consisted of five sisters and two priests and the first graduating class numbered twenty: 17 girls and three boys.

1977: The lay ministry stepped in as the Brothers of St. Patrick departed.

Today, more than 100 years after the Sisters of the Holy Names’ arrival, their educational ministry continues as the two schools merge to form Saint Monica Preparatory.