The History of St. Therese Chinese Catholic School

Founded in 1941 as a mission school with two large classrooms, St. Therese Chinese Catholic School was the first Catholic school for Chinese children in the Midwest. Its purpose was to provide a Catholic education to the newly baptized members of the Chinatown community.

Now a parish school, St. Therese has evolved from a place to help Chinese children adapt to American life to a multicultural school reflecting Chicago’s broad demographics, welcoming children of recent immigrants and longtime residents from a diverse range of ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. From its humble beginnings, St. Therese has grown to become a nationally and internationally recognized model for excellent elementary education.