Our Tradition

Visitation Catholic School was established in 1925 and has served the educational and spiritual needs of the children from the parish and surrounding community for over 80 years.

The Pastor of Visitation Church, Rev. Demetrius Jeuneman, OSB, invited Benedictine Sisters from St. Joseph, Minnesota, to come to Tacoma to become the first teachers at the school. There large number of volunteers was pared down and six were chosen to go.

Our doors opened September 8, 1925.

One hundred seventy students filled the halls and classrooms that first year. Classes were combined with one sister teaching two grades. There was no eighth grade during the first year.

Our first graduating class was in the spring of 1927. Tuition was $1.50 per month per child for non-parish supporters and $1.00 per month per child for parish contributors.

Over 2,500 graduates have come and gone since then. We are now seeing the fifth generation of families enrolling in the school. The times have certainly changed from the early days. Tuition has gone up. Class sizes have been reduced. And technology in the classroom means something entirely different today than it did in 1925.

Some things haven't changed though. We are a Catholic school and maintain that heritage and tradition in establishing our tone and direction.

We still believe that the integration of Gospel values with academic excellence is the best way to prepare our young people for the adult world.