St. Elizabeth School
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"My son has begun to make great progress in reading and math for the first time in his educational history. After years of resistance, he now wants to go to school."

"In the last three years, my son's improvement has been fantastic . to know where he was come from and to see him now --  it's a miracle and a blessing."

"We are so thankful that our grandson..is a student at St. E's. Everyone is so loving and caring - and no task seems to be so strange or difficult for you if it meets a student's needs."

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
St. Elizabeth School - Fact Sheet
 
 


St. Elizabeth School, founded by the Franciscan Sisters of Baltimore, opened in the fall of 1961. The Franciscan Sisters had also founded and operated St. Francis School on Maryland Avenue for elementary aged children who had intellectual disabilities and who were not served by the public schools. As the children got older, there was no appropriate school for them to attend. Parents encouraged the Sisters to organize a school for the older children. St. Elizabeth School was started and classes were held the first few years on the ground floor of the Franciscan Sisters of Baltimore Motherhouse on Ellerslie Avenue.

Parents and many service organizations, primarily Catholic-related, raised money to support the school. The Ladies’ Guild was organized just for this purpose. Even so, parents had to pay some tuition. The Archdiocese of Baltimore raised funds for the first building for the school through the Cardinal’s Lenten Appeal. The school was built on the grounds of the Motherhouse, although facing Argonne Drive. Classes moved into the building in 1967, although the school continued to use space in the Motherhouse as well.

State and federal laws regarding education for children with special needs changed in the 1970s and 1980s. Today public schools are mandated to provide a “free and appropriate” education for all students with disabilities. Now local systems refer students to St. Elizabeth School to provide a unique environment and special services that they cannot provide to certain students.

St. Elizabeth School is a private, nonpublic school for students ages 11-21. The school is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education. The school receives tuition reimbursement from the local school systems for students referred. The Maryland State Department of Education through an annual budget process with the school sets the tuition rate. Tuition reimbursement does not cover all expenses, so funds must still be raised annually and for future endeavors.

Today, St. Elizabeth School graduates students who are successful at home, in the work force, and in the community. By maximizing each student’s unique abilities, we enhance the quality of life for middle and high school students with cognitive and other disabilities. Our program focuses on the realization of personal potential by integrating academic growth, social/emotional development, functional life skills, and vocational training. The school has an enrollment capacity of 125 students.

As the needs of the students changed over the years, the school made the necessary changes. St. Elizabeth School continues to be considered a premiere program for students with special needs. A successful $5.1 million Capital Campaign was conducted in the mid-1990s. Four additions were built and major renovations were made to the building. Every classroom now has three or more computers and is connected to the Internet. The school employs approximately 120 people, including teachers, teaching assistants, social workers, speech-language therapists, occupational and physical therapists, transition specialists, maintenance and housekeeping staff, administrators, and administrative support staff.

St. Elizabeth School is a ministry sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi. SES is governed by a two-tiered board: a Board of Members consisting of three members of the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, and a Board of Trustees consisting of 15-18 lay and religious representatives from the community. In June 2000, the school established the St. Elizabeth School Foundation, Inc. to support the financial future of the school.