Our Mission

St. Margaret School is a Catholic Elementary School serving the communities of Montgomery, Philadelphia and Delaware counties. St. Margaret School aims to develop the whole child, fostering children’s spiritual, academic, physical, and emotional growth. The dedicated faculty guides children toward academic and moral excellence enabling students to become Christian leaders who will strengthen the Body of Christ and make a positive impact on an ever-changing world.

Our Beliefs

  • We believe in Jesus Christ. We form children in the Catholic faith through preparation for and receipt of the sacraments, religious instruction, daily prayer and service.

  • We believe in supporting parents as the primary teachers of their children and we aim to extend the nurturing environment found in the home.
  • We believe in providing differentiated instruction to enable each student to attain their full potential.
  • We believe in the equal dignity and value of all persons, and therefore joyfully welcome children of all racial, ethnic, cultural and economic backgrounds to our school.
  • We believe that fostering a strong, active, and inclusive community of families supports and enriches our school experience.

Community

The community of St. Margaret is centered around shared values of faith, learning and service.  We are a close-knit community, with students, teachers, families and administrators supporting the development of each child.  At St. Margaret School we strive to create a welcoming Catholic and Christian community that supports our students and their families. Our modest size and inclusion of students aged 3 through eighth grade allows our students and families to forge strong, long-term relationships. Parents and guardians are very involved in the life of the school, attending events, volunteering and supporting the mission of the school.

Parishes Served

St. Margaret School serves students and families from numerous parishes in Montgomery, Delaware, and Philadelphia counties including:

School History

In 1900, Father Cowley founded the Parish of St. Margaret. He and a benefactor, Mr. Thouron, began constructing our chapel in 1902 and our present church in 1922. The next great undertaking was the construction of a school. In 1925, the cornerstone was laid for this new school on Forrest Avenue behind the church/rectory, which was dedicated in January 1926.

Since 1884, the children of our parish had been instructed by the Sisters of Mercy on the grounds of their motherhouse. Sister de Mercedes was the first to undertake this work. In 1922, a home was purchased at 209 Forrest Avenue to educate children in the neighborhood. Families were proud to send their children to the new school and commented that it was innovative and fully equipped. The school year began under the guidance of our second pastor, Father Hayes, and first principal, Sister Mary Leontia.

Not until 1949 was a convent established for the parish since the grounds of the Sisters of Mercy were in such close proximity to St. Margaret’s. Under Father Toner, a living residence was opened for the sisters who had given such dedicated service to our parish. In August 1966, Monsignor Gleason became the pastor of St. Margaret’s.  After his arrival, the structure and face of North Narberth Avenue began to change with the construction of a new convent and school. The original school was eventually closed, and all classes were held in the new building starting in 1968. It was not until 1995 that tuition was introduced for students attending the school.  The 2006 closing of area Catholic schools has been instrumental in maintaining the school’s enrollment by welcoming students from neighboring parishes to join the St. Margaret School community.

Since the school’s opening, the administration has continued under the guidance of the Sisters of Mercy until 2015.Sister Corinne Ritchie, was our last Sister of Mercy.  She contributed to our history and legacy while leading  the school as principal for 20 years.  Sister Corrine then mentored new principals while volunteering after her retirement.

The school year 2015/­2016 introduced the first layperson to serve as the school administrator. The first 63 years of Catholic education at St. Margaret School remained 1st through 8th grade. The kindergarten class was opened as a half-day program in 1985, the prekindergarten 4-year-old program was initiated in 2000, and the preschool 3-year-old program was opened in 2023.

The school, parish, and community continue to flourish and grow with a caring pastor, Monsignor Dougherty, a principal, Mrs. Dougherty, and a Board of Limited Jurisdiction, along with the dedicated faculty and staff working with the supportive families of St. Margaret’s. Their dedication to Catholic education has contributed to the continued success of St. Margaret School.