Benedictine Spirit Viking Pride

Who We Are

St. Elizabeth School has been the beacon on the hill for over 100 years.

St. Elizabeth School exists to teach children about God's creation through strong academics and a vibrant liturgical life. We aspire for all our students to leave our school with a strong foundation for life - both intellectually and in their walk with Jesus and His Church.

Our Mission

Inspired by the teachings of St. Benedict and rooted in our Catholic faith, St. Elizabeth School is a pre-kindergarten through twelfth-grade community that fosters spiritual development, academic excellence, responsibility to self, and service to others in a diverse community of co-educational learners.

Diversity & Inclusion

We reflect the diversity of God's creation. At St. E's, our students learn to see Christ in each other by learning and growing with students and faculty who come from diverse backgrounds and conditions. Together, we learn how to better see God in His Fullness through each other.

Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve

Our Vision

St. Elizabeth School Values:

  • Our Catholic identity as shaped by the Benedictine tradition of hospitality, prayer, humble service, the dignity of work, and a strong sense of the stability of our community and its traditions.
  • The weaving of our Catholic values and beliefs in all academic and social areas, and embodiment of them through service to all of God’s people.
  • In partnership with parents and families, an experience of community which is nurturing, challenging, disciplined, and respectful of each unique individual’s different needs and abilities.
  • Self-worth nourished through spiritual, academic, and co-curricular activities focusing on God and our relationships with others.
A pair of black quotation marks on a white background.

The hallmarks of St. E have always been Tradition, Transition, and Transformation.

Benedictine Values

HOSPITALITY. SERVICE & HUMILITY. PRAYER & WORK. STABILITY

Hospitality

Each of us is called to embrace the dignity and divine presence of everyone they encounter. St. Benedict identified three groups in particular need of hospitality – our leaders, because they bear the burden of our community on their shoulders; our sick, because their suffering calls us to support them through prayers and presence; and our guests, because as a Christian community we welcome all as if they are Christ himself. We are called embody open arms and bounty of our community.

Service & Humility

We embrace, as a Christian community, the model of leadership embodied by Jesus Christ – service to all in need. We are all called to embrace authentic humility – placing the will of God and the needs of others ahead of our own rights and desires. Humility asserts truth as service to Christ and love for those who despise us. Humility and service starts with Christ’s command to love one another without measure or distinction. We enter St. Elizabeth to learn, and we leave to serve all those in need.

Prayer & Work

Our Benedictine charism is often summarized in our motto, “Ora et labora,” – prayer and work. This motto stresses the importance of unity in life; it does not present these two virtues as distinct realities. Rather, it holds prayer and work together – as a single sent of lungs. The honeybees in the hive work constantly for the good of the community, and their product is all the sweeter because of their devotion. Everything that we do, whether in the classroom, in athletic competition, in the hallways, or in the Church, is work for God’s greater glory. This virtue recognizes that God is always at work where we are at work.

Stability

This pillar upholds the Benedictine virtue of commitment to this community – to our people, our history, and our traditions. This commitment is embodied through dedicated participation in our common life, prayer, service, and activities. Stability is balanced by our openness to God’s call to change and grow. We, the members of this community become the bricks and mortar of St Elizabeth School. 

Then & Now (1908 - 2023)

The History of St. E

  • 1908: Founded
    A poster that says rooted in benedictine spirit since 1908

    Founded in 1908, Saint Elizabeth School began humbly in a Benedictine Convent on Broom Street, not far from its current location.


    As enrollment swelled, Fr. William Temple foresaw that the Benedictine Sisters mission to educate the students of Saint Elizabeth School would soon need a larger home.

  • 1929: Growing
    A black and white photo of a school in 1929

    Through the generosity of parishioners, donors, and the Delaware State Foundation of P.S. DuPont and John J. Raskob, $350,000 was gathered for the purpose of building a new school (a hefty sum in 1929).  By the Grace of God, a state of the art educational facility arose in 1929 atop the highest hill in Wilmington on the grounds of the historic Bancroft Estate.


    Within the eighteen classrooms of the original building, the Benedictine Sisters humbly taught nearly 600 students a year; guiding generations of young people toward successful adulthood. With the Rule of St. Benedict as a guide, the Sisters were responsible for the education of thousands of children over their many decades of service.

  • 1940: High School Founded
    The cover of the book the first graduating class 1944

    St. Elizabeth High School was founded in 1940 by the Right Reverend Monsignor James M. Grant, D.D. to provide a quality secondary school education for students in the Wilmington area. Under the direction of Reverend Francis Desmond, the first principal, and four Benedictine Sisters, St. Elizabeth graduated 20 students in June 1944.

     

    Since 1940, the Elementary and High School grades have been housed within the same building. Thanks to the vision of its Benedictine Founders, Saint Elizabeth remains one of the few schools in which a student can complete Elementary, Middle, and High School under the same roof.

  • 1960-2000: Periodic Expansions
    A poster that says 1990 the poppi wing on it

    Through the years, St. Elizabeth School has undergone periodic expansions and updates.  1956, 1967, 1970, 1980, 1990, and 2001 all saw major renovations and expansions. A walk through the halls of St. E is a walk through history.

  • Today
    A group of students are walking down a hallway.

    Today, St. Elizabeth School is recognized for providing a 21st Century learning environment, and for being an educational institution able to respond to modern demands while preparing students for an ever changing future.  St. E has been designated an Apple Distinguished School for innovation, leadership and educational excellence.

     

    The hallmarks of St. E have always been Tradition, Transition and Transformation. With the loyal support of legacy families and alumni, future generations will continue to enjoy the legendary Benedictine Spirit and Viking Pride of St. Elizabeth School. 

     

A pair of black quotation marks on a white background.

Our Benedictine charism is often summarized in our motto, “Ora et labora,” – prayer and work. 

Quick Facts

St. Elizabeth is Unique

We are one of the few Catholic schools in Delaware in which students can complete their Primary, Elementary, Middle, and High School education within one school.

Pre-K2 - 12th Grades

Coed, Catholic School with a college-preparatory focus

Family Legacy

Many students are children and/or grandchildren of alumni

9:1

Average HS student-teacher ratio, facilitates personalized learning

7,500+ Hours

of community service was achieved by the Class of 2023

60

Faculty & Staff

40%

Minority presence in our

student body

12

Average high school class size

65%

of Vikings receive financial assistance

93%

of graduates attend college

others enter work force, trades or armed services

80+

Courses offered to HS students


12

AP Course Offerings

>$7.5 mil+

of college scholarships awarded to the Class of 2023, accepted to 167 colleges & universities

3 Universities

Dual Enrollment through 3 universities (28 courses currently offered)

Affiliations:

  • Diocese of Wilmington
  • National Catholic Education Association
  • College Board
  • Accredited by the Middle States Association of Secondary Schools
  • Charter member of the Delaware Association of Independent Schools