History*
In the spring of 1960, an eight-room elementary school was built on the grounds of St. Mary's Parish. The Pastor, Fr. Martin Hiss, officially opened the school in the fall of 1960 with 42 first grade students and 30 second grade students. A parishioner, Mrs. Rae Henry, became Principal; Mrs. Margaret Wilhelm took charge of first grade and Mrs. Chamblin taught second grade. Registration for the 1961-1962 school year more than doubled with the addition of the third, fourth, and fifth grades. At the invitation of the Pastor, three Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters, Sr. Martin de Porres, Sr. Mary Edwardine, and Sr. Mary Noemi assumed the roles and responsibilities of the administration, first and second grade teachers. The first graduation from St. Mary's took place in 1965 with 33 students. The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary continued their dedicated service to the school until June of 1968 when their community withdrew from the parish.
In 1968, His Eminence James Cardinal McIntyre of Los Angeles extended an invitation to the Salesian Sisters to assume the administration, and partial staffing of the school. On September 10, 1968, 272 students began their first day of school. Palmdale had a population of 23,000. In the 1970s unstable employment in the area caused the general population, as well as the school population, to be extremely mobile.
The 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s saw a more stable school population as families commuted to work in the San Fernando Valley. Saint Mary's rapidly grew to a parish with the largest geographical area in the Archdiocese. The parish includes three missions, Acton, Littlerock, and Lake Los Angeles. The population of Palmdale has since grown to over 150,000. The school staff expanded from three parishioners to include 29 educators and support staff, and a Consultative School Board and provides a quality K-8 education, Extended Care Program, and Lunch Program. In June 2003, the Salesian Sisters concluded 35 years of service to St. Mary's School. A lay principal assumed the administration of the school.
From 2008 to the present, Saint Mary School has experienced the challenges of the recession and economy. Once again the student population is transient with many parishioners burdened with financial limitations. The addition of a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) during the 2016-2017 school year and an Early-TK program for the 2022-2023 school year helps strengthen the academic preparedness of students. The learning community has worked diligently, compassionately, and with researched best practices to grow the student population to over 275 with a goal of reaching capacity of 344.
