Welcome to Mission Dolores School!
Prior to June of 1986, two elementary schools existed in Mission Dolores Parish: Mission Dolores School on 16th Street and Notre Dame Elementary School across from the Mission on Dolores Street. With the close of the 1985-86 school year the long histories of these two school became one as Notre Dame consolidated with the parish school and moved its program into the Mission Dolores facility. Notre Dame Elementary School ended and Mission Dolores became a grade K through 8 school.
Our Rich History...
The schools history begins in 1852. Originally called St. Francis Real School, it served boys and girls in grades one through six. The brick St. Francis Real Church was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and was rebuilt in 1913 as Mission Dolores Basilica. In 1931 the present Mission Dolores School was built and replaced the St. Francis Real School building. The gymnasium was added in 1955.
In 1911 the school was taken over by the Christian Brothers who taught the upper grades and the Sisters of Notre Dame continued to teach the lower grades. The Brothers left in 1924 and the Sisters remained to teach in a now all-boys school , grades one to eight. Mission Dolores School would remain an all boys school until 1976.
Notre Dame Elementary's history begins with the arrival of the first Sisters of Notre Dame to San Francisco in 1866. An academy for "infant", primary, elementary and secondary students was opened in July of that year.
After the San Francisco earthquake in April of 1906, the school and convent buildings on Dolores Street were rebuilt, and in 1923 construction on the elementary school was begun.
From 1924 until 1976 the school was maintained as an eight grade elementary school for girls, owned and administered as a private school by the Sisters of Notre Dame. In 1976, Notre Dame for girls and Mission Dolores for boys were reorganized: students in grades one through 4, boys and girls attended Notre Dame and the school remained a private school; students in grades five through eight, boys and girls, attended Mission Dolores, the parish school.
In 1983, extended care was added to the service of Notre Dame, and in 1985 a Kindergarten program was begun.
In November of 1985 the parish administration and the Sisters of Notre Dame jointly decided to consolidate the two schools in the Mission Dolores Facility. In the fall of 1986 Mission Dolores opened with grades K through 8 and with an extended care program.
Today Mission Dolores School continues as a K-8 coeducational Catholic school. While the building has maintained the beautiful tiled interiors that reflect the Spanish Mission era, the classroom reflect the modern school. Students have access to the world-wide web in every classroom as well as in the dedicated Extended Care rooms. Interactive white boards are available to the junior high students. The rich history and tradition of quality education based on Gospel values continues into the 21st century.
