St. Malachy Catholic School Opens New Location
On Monday, October 17th, Independence Mission Schools (IMS), a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that provides transformative Catholic education to low-income students of all faiths, celebrated the official grand opening of the new St. Malachy Catholic School. During the event, Anne McGoldrick, president of IMS, was joined by Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and IMS Board President Mr. Brian McElwee to participate in a ceremonial ribbon cutting, blessing and tour of the new school.
Located just one block from its previous location, St. Malachy Catholic School continues upon its vibrant 156-year history in Philadelphia by welcoming hundreds of students, from pre-K to eighth grade, to learn and grow at their new state-of-the-art facility. Featuring an innovative, blended learning curriculum, the new school uses data-driven instruction to ensure student growth. Upon completion of additional renovations, St. Malachy Catholic School will also serve as a community hub providing neighborhood access to a technology center, a 378-seat performing arts auditorium, playing fields and outdoor space. Notably, the new location also features a mural that commemorates Pope Francis’ historic visit to Philadelphia. The renovations were made possible by a large community of supporters and several large contributions including a grant from the Philadelphia School Partnership, the Connelly Foundation, and a generous gift from Mrs. Eleanor Rowan.
“The grand opening of St. Malachy Catholic School demonstrates the tremendous need and desire for high-quality education in the inner-city, and we are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from individuals, businesses and our partners,” said McGoldrick. “This innovative new facility will enable us to double enrollment at St. Malachy and expand our pre-K offerings so we can help even more students on their path to success.”
IMS has engineered a dramatic turnaround for its network of schools, many of which were slated for closure in 2012. In just three short years, the schools have seen a 24 percent enrollment increase, created and sustained nearly 500 education-related jobs and invested in a brighter future for children and families across Philadelphia.