In the Beginning: Infant of Prague Catholic School was established in 1952 as a PreK through 8th grade Catholic school staffed by the Sisters of Mercy. For over seventy years, IOPCS has continued to offer an authentically Catholic school culture and academically competitive education.

 

A Good Problem: In the last decade, our school saw a 95% increase in enrollment and many grades were operating with waiting pools. Coupled with the growing demand in Catholic education for grades 9-12, it was clear that it was time to grow!

 

A Tale of Two Campuses: In 2022, the opportunity to expand finally came. A property located just a half mile from the main IOP campus came on the market. 501 Anne Street, located in downtown Jacksonville, originally listed at $2.2m, but IOP was able to purchase it outright for a fraction of the cost. The steepled chapel and three-story education building would allow IOPCS to more than double its enrollment!

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IOP Gets to Work: After careful planning, work began at the upper campus. This project entailed modernizing safety features and infrastructure, reframing classrooms and more. From parish staff to volunteers, ministry groups to construction crews, teachers to parishioners, preparing our school to open for the 2023-24 school year was a true community effort.

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Room to Grow: The upper campus became home to grades 5-12, leaving the lower campus with room to expand the PreK-4th grade program. Our enrollment in the 2025-26 schoolyear grew to over 400 students, and with four new classrooms added to the upper campus in that same year, we are poised to welcome more!

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Future Ready: In 2025, Infant of Prague Catholic School celebrated its first high school graduation! 

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Honor and Blessing: The message of the Infant of Prague is "The more you honor me, the more I will bless you." This endeavor was inspired by a belief in the value of Catholic education and a desire for the greater glory of God. The school chapel is the love letter of the community to the God who blesses our efforts. The school chapel is slated for completion in January of 2026.

 

Looking to the Future: This entire project has been fueled by the belief in the positive impact a PreK-12 Catholic school will have on our youth, their families, and our city for generations to come!​

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