St. Therese of Jesus Catholic School: The Hidden Gem on Farnsworth Avenue

Aurora, IL - St. Therese of Jesus Catholic School has been located on the same corner - Farnsworth and Liberty - for more than 90 years. The Parish was consecrated on the heels of St. Therese being named a saint of the Catholic Church and the then Pastor, Father Hurley, quickly started on a school for the children of the Parish families. Hundreds and hundreds of children have been educated in our classrooms since then, first by the nuns and in most recent years by the dedicated lay faculty that has taken their place. Over time, the neighborhood has changed, but the pride of the parents in their ability to provide their children the luxury of a private school education has remained the same.

While there have been times in her history when she was near closing, today St. Therese is once again the vibrant educational home to 136 students in Kindergarten through 8th Grade. And, in addition, Preschool is now part of the makeup of our student body. Children, as well as their parents, are encouraged to embrace their heritage with the assistance of staff that are native Spanish speakers and a Principal who has studied Spanish as well. In the coming school year, all of the faculty will begin studies of Spanish so that those who speak no English will feel even more welcomed within our walls.

Class sizes remains small at St. Therese although larger than when Michael Neis, the current Principal, came here. In those first years, grades shared classrooms as there where only 72 children in the entire school. "Today we are dangerously close to outgrowing the current building as enrollment approaches 150. Wouldn't that be a good problem to have?" said Neis.

Most of the curriculum has changed over time to introduce Reading and Mathematics skills to children at younger ages. Today, students begin with Jolly Phonics and Heggerty Reading skills. As the children develop proficiency with both Reading and Math, they begin to use Accelerated Reading and Math, which not only encourages student participation in these subjects but also provides regular, computer-based feedback so that teachers and students gain an understanding of their progress.

Even with all of these changes, one thing has remained the same: a dedication to the Catholic faith and the teaching of those ideals. Our faculty and staff are all Catholic and model their Catholic values every day. The students of St. Therese speak openly about their faith and how important it is to them that they are able to practice it in a safe environment.

About St. Therese School
St. Therese is a co-educational Catholic elementary school located in Aurora, Illinois. Founded in May 1925, St. Therese continues to offer an affordable Catholic education to students in preschool through 8th Grade. We serve a multi-cultural population through messages of faith, academic programs and service opportunities. The educational team challenges students to practice their faith in Christ while becoming knowledgeable and skilled citizens. For more information about our school or any of our programs, please contact our Principal, Michael Neis, at 630.898.0620. Don't wait too long: 109 spaces have already been committed for next school year. You want to secure space for your children for next year before they are all filled!