St. Mary of Gostyn School History

In 1897 St. Mary's parishioners opened the first parochial school in Downers Grove in a small wooden building. A simple wood wall partitioned the room into two sections. At first, male lay teaches taught the students until the Franciscan sisters came in 1915 and the Felician sisters came in 1919.

Since the time of these humble beginnings, many changes have occurred. We now have a student body of over 600 children, pre-school to 8th grade, who come from over 350 families. Our staff numbers over 40 people. Our facility has 20 classrooms, a Learning/Resource Center, a computer lab, a wireless computer lab, a teachers' lounge, and an office area. Our students have the opportunity to participate in numerous after-school activities and our parents have many organizations and activities to involve them in their children's life at St. Mary's.