Our History

St. Stanislaus Kostka Academy, located in Chicago's Wicker Park / Bucktown, is a top private school in Chicago that serves a diverse student body from Preschool through Eighth grade. By incorporating our Catholic values with standards-based learning, world languages (Chinese and Spanish) and STEM, St. Stan's students are provided with the leadership and life skills they need to thrive in the 21st century.  Our motto is " Faith, Virtue, Valor – Expressway to Excellence ”. We educate the whole person:  body, mind, soul, spirit. 

St. Stanislaus Kostka School was founded February 2, 1874, as the parish school of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church. With 150 students, St. Stanislaus Kostka School opened its doors as the first school organized through The Congregation of the Resurrection under the direction of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. In 1906, a new convent, school, and auditorium were constructed.  

On December 22, 1906, a fire destroyed the building and the original St. Stanislaus Kostka Church. Until a new convent could be built, the Sisters resided in the old St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital.  Within the year the school was rebuilt and had a record enrollment of 4,000 children making it the largest grammar school in the United States, with a staff of 76 sisters.  

In 1914, educational opportunities expanded and St. Stanislaus Commercial High School opened under the direction of Sister M. Evarildis, SSND. In 1940, following 26 years of continued academic success St. Stanislaus Commercial High School converted from a two year to a four-year curriculum and was placed under the guidance of Sister M. Pacifica. 

In the 1950s, plans for the Northwest (now Kennedy) Expressway were made. As envisioned, the expressway would cut through the parish property. This would necessitate the demolition of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church as well as several of the parish buildings.   However, due to protests by the Polish community and the work of legislators like U.S. Representative Daniel Rostenkowski and Alderman Bernard Prusinski, the path of the expressway was altered and the church was saved.  We are “ the parish that moved an expressway.”

The route of the expressway was extended eastward, and the removal of the parish buildings was kept to a minimum: the heating plant was razed and 12 classrooms were demolished.

​By 1958 the need to expand school facilities became evident and a new high school and convent were constructed.  This facility is the present day St. Stanislaus Kostka Academy.

​After 103 years of providing Wicker Park / Bucktown with quality Catholic education, St. Stanislaus High School closed its doors in 1977.  This action allowed the parish to expand its grammar school program and we can see those results today.   The 2008-2009 school year saw another turning point in the history of St. Stanislaus Kostka School.  Sr. Susan Curtin, SSND, retired and, for the first time in our 134 year history, St. Stan’s was no longer blessed with the physical presence of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.  However, the SSND spirit of educating and inspiring our youth lives on today and is evident in the tireless efforts of our amazing staff of teachers and principal.
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In 2020, the school officially changed its name to St. Stanislaus Kostka Academy with the motto of “ Faith, Virtue, Valor – Expressway to Excellence.” This change of name brings with it the fact that we go beyond just reading and writing.  At St. Stanislaus Kostka Academy, we educate the whole person:  body, mind, soul, spirit.  Today, St. Stanislaus Kostka Academy is a top private school in Chicago that serves a diverse student body from Preschool through Eighth grade. We are an integral part of the Wicker Park / Bucktown community and the surrounding areas of Lincoln Park, Old Town, River North, Near North Side.  Many of St. Stan’s graduates now have children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren in attendance.