On Monday, 242 girls in grades 6‑12 walked through the historic front doors of Providence Catholic School on North St. Mary’s Street, beginning a new school year and commemorating the institution’s 75th anniversary. Founded in 1951 by the Sisters of Divine Providence, the school has been a fixture of Catholic education in downtown San Antonio for three generations.
Founding roots and early years
When Josephine Castillo Danko entered the school as a senior in the early 1950s, she and her classmates were greeted by youthful nuns in full habit, who taught business, college‑prep, science and home economics. Tuition was $5 a month and the inaugural class numbered 380 girls from across the city. The school was built on land purchased from the Drought family for $110,000 and stood next to an all‑boys school run by the Brothers of the Society of Mary.
Sister Rose Kruppa, Superior General of the Congregation of the Sisters of Divine Providence, described the venture as “financially risky but innovative,” emphasizing the Sisters’ commitment to collaboration and to creating new opportunities rooted in God’s providential care.
Growth, challenges and modern curriculum
Enrollment peaked at about 600 students, but like many Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Providence has faced declining numbers in recent decades. Despite this, the Sisters continue to operate and fund the school, supplementing tuition revenue with private contributions, grants and fundraising.
Today tuition is $12,000 for high school and $8,500 for middle school, covering roughly 80% of the school’s budget. About 60% of students receive financial assistance, including Hope for the Future scholarships from the archdiocese, and 40% qualify for Texas Education Freedom Accounts.
The curriculum now centers on college preparation, offering Advanced Placement courses, STEM and arts programs, professional internships and leadership development. Students also attend daily theology classes and mass, and many participate in joint activities with Central Catholic High School through JROTC and band programs.
Alumni impact and community ties
Providence graduates have gone on to serve San Antonio’s civic life, including former city council members Rebecca Viagran (Class of ’92) and Phyllis Viagran (Class of ’91) from District 3, and Mary Alice Cisneros (Class of ’67) from District 1. Alumna Carmen Hinojosa‑Laborde, a former research scientist at UT Health San Antonio, now leads a department at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research and credits her time at Providence for fostering a love of science.
In 2019, Hinojosa‑Laborde joined the school board and remains active in fundraising. She describes the school’s motto, “Provets,” as embodying a “Providence woman” and “female warrior,” reflecting both faith and personal strength.
Looking ahead
Principal Elise Denoux, who succeeded Alicia Garcia in 2025, says the school aims to provide opportunities such as earning an associate’s degree before graduation and developing business plans, all while grounding students in a reliance on faith to solve problems for themselves, their families and the community.
Last year the College Board awarded Providence “gold status” for having at least 65% of graduates take an AP exam and 35% score a 3 or higher. The top two graduates of the 2026 class have been accepted to the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Chicago‑Loyola.
As Providence Catholic School celebrates its 75th year, it remains a testament to the enduring role of faith‑based education in shaping confident, capable women who serve both church and city.
Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.
