For the past 148 years, we have been continuously educating the students in the Catholic faith.

In 1877, Father Joseph Boll opened the first Catholic school in the Gettysburg community. The school began very modestly with Father Boll acting as Principal. The building was a weatherboard structure that housed 103 students. The course of study included the usual elementary courses as well as Catechism, Bible History, and Algebra. Later, Bookkeeping, Modern History, and Latin were added. From the beginning, the school was financed by tuition fees. In moving from that modest school built by Father Bool, to the Xavier Hall in downtown, to the Xavier Center on Table Rock Road in 2011, our goal has remained the same. Our motto is taken from the words of St Francis Xavier: “Educate them in the Christian Way of Life.” To this day, we strive to follow this worthy maxim.

Our Mission

The mission of St. Francis Xavier Catholic School is to pass on the Gospel values and rich heritage of the Catholic faith, to assist parents in the spiritual, moral, and academic education of their children, and to prepare our students to be faith-filled members of the Church, community, and nation.

WE BELIEVE....

…that the Creator has made parents the primary educators of their children, and that our school works in partnership with them.
…that St. Francis Xavier Catholic School shares the Church’s mission to pass on the Gospel values by example and instruction.
…that all children can learn and should experience success.
…that education helps students discover their talents and equips them to achieve their highest potential.
…that parents, teachers, and students recognize that higher expectations yield higher achievements.
…that the appreciation for learning is taught by example.
…that Catholic education promotes the formation of positive personal values. …that children have the right to learn in a safe environment.
…that self-esteem is important for success in life.

Our Philosophy

St. Francis Xavier Catholic School, staffed by dedicated Christian lay people, is concerned with the dignity and uniqueness of each child. Since Catholic education is a ministry that was entrusted to each of us by Jesus, we endeavor to prepare our students to proclaim the Good News in word and deed. In the spirit of Mother Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy who served our school for 90 years, and in accordance with the Mercy charism of outreach to the poor, St. Francis Xavier Catholic School is committed to making its program available to Catholic and Non-Catholic families regardless of their ability to pay full tuition. We strive to create a warm, supporting atmosphere in which all children are respected and encouraged to develop their potential through a quality curriculum grounded in Christian values. We endeavor to develop in our students those skills, virtues, and habits of heart and mind necessary to serve others, both now and in the future, so that they may grow into adulthood capable of addressing society's problems with Christian insight.

Our Pillars of Excellence

God and Country
Hearts Alongside Minds
Truth and Conviction
Courage and Action
Dignity and Worth
Intellect and Rationality