St. Paul Parish School has provided a quality Catholic education for many children in the greater Eugene area since 1956. We are the only parish school in the Eugene area and are fortunate to serve the members of our parish. We also welcome members of other parishes in the surrounding communities.
St. Paul Parish and School began as a mission of St. Mary’s Church in Eugene. Under the leadership of Monsignor Edmund Murnane, 26 acres of land were purchased in the North Eugene area in the early 1950s. In July of 1956, the congregation gathered in its first home which consisted of two new classrooms and an area for church services. Classes began at St. Paul that fall for grades one to four. The following year, two more classrooms were added, the parish boundaries were set, and Father Charles Scott became the first pastor. Beginning in 1957, one grade per year was added to the school so that, by September 1960, St. Paul Parish School was operating with a full complement of grades one to eight.
Since 1960, St. Paul Parish School has continued to grow. The first kindergarten class was started in 1987. By the fall of 2005, an Early Education Program was started adding two additional classes. Currently, this program serves kids 3 years of age in the Preschool class and kids 4 years of age in the Pre-Kindergarten class.
The school was originally staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wichita, Kansas. They were followed by the Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque, Iowa. In 1976, Sr. Kathleen Hecht, SNJM, became the school principal and served for fifteen years. Michael Donnelly became the first lay principal in 1991. Christine Penwell is the school’s current principal.