our
school

Welcome and thank you for your interest in Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, home of the Rams! As you navigate the process of finding the best place for your child, we invite you to explore our website to learn more about us. We hope you will reach out to us and visit us on campus to meet the very special people that make up our school community. 

OLPH is a nurturing school environment that serves students beginning in PreK3 through the 8th grade. It is through Christ's model as our first teacher, that our faculty and staff find value and potential in each of our students. 

Our core values to Know, Love, and Serve the members of our school community are deeply ingrained in our thoughts, words and actions here at OLPH. Since our earliest days in 1937, it has been these ingredients that we believe help our students become confident, curious, and lifelong learners. 

We hope you will join us for a visit or call us to learn more about how we can walk with you in the educational journey of your child. 

Peace be with you,

Dr. Caroline D. Carlin, M.Ed, Ed.D 

The History of

Our Lady

of Perpetual Help

On August 26, 1937, four Sisters of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary arrived in Chattanooga, TN. They had one calling, to start a school, and they had six days to make it happen. Despite the unknowns of the day and living far from their home in Dubuque, Iowa, faith and determination enabled these four sisters to begin the legacy that is Our Lady of Perpetual Help School. 

On the first day of registration, September 2, 1937, there were 60 pupils enrolled. This averaged fifteen children to each teacher so that "each child received splendid individual attention and made remarkable progress." Their love for their students and passion for education led to an increase in enrollment, which led to the building of the first brick school building and the convent in 1948. 

A football field and stadium escalated the sports program, which began when Stagmaier Gym was built in 1953. In 1956, the covered walkway from the church to the school was added. The school also added four classrooms and the cafeteria size was doubled. In 1987, a third school building was built. Always changing and adapting to the times, this building now consists of four classrooms, a Smart Lab/Media Center, and an Art Room.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help School is approved by the Tennessee Department of Education, certified by Diocese of Knoxville, and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Student enrollment increased from 60 students in 1937 to over 275 in 2019. The Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary began the tradition of educational excellence in 1937, which is continued by lay faculty and staff today.

Shaping the Future

The mission of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School and faith community is to provide a Catholic education that fosters a relationship with God and enables students to become confident, lifelong learners.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School is the school of choice in the Chattanooga area for Pre-K through 8th grade, developing each student’s God-given talents by: 

• Supporting parents with their goal of a religious and academic upbringing of their children;

• Promoting student growth in Christian faith and morality inspired by Catholic tradition;

• Delivering a 21st century curriculum that prepares students’ mind, body, and spirit for continued success in future academic institutions; 

• Fostering service to all of God’s people in our school, parishes, local community and world, especially for those in need.

KNOW · LOVE · SERVE

KNOW: Bringing the good news of Jesus through the teachings of scriptures, catholic traditions, innovative education, athletics and academic excellence.

LOVE: Demonstrating our living faith by respecting the dignity of all human beings.

SERVE: Be stewards of God’s creation through service to the school, the parishes we represent, our communities and the world.

As a member of the Diocese of Knoxville, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School adheres to a set of curriculum goals that are illuminated by the light of faith and grounded in the spiritual truths of sacred scripture and Catholic tradition. Through the integration of Catholic identity, spiritual formation, and moral/ethical behavior, our Catholic schools implement a rigorous curriculum focused on skills essential for students to become socially responsible global citizens. There is great emphasis on classical disciplines, development of creativity, problem-solving, decision-making and appreciation of truth and beauty in all aesthetic and cultural forms. The framework for our curriculum is defined by the Diocese of Knoxville Grade Level Expectations, the State of Tennessee Curriculum Standards, National Content Standards, and the Benchmarks for Academic Excellence propagated by the National Catholic Education Association. The Diocese follows a schedule for Curriculum Grade Level Standards and Expectations review and revision.