Our Founding History

Founding Key Players:
(L-R)  Mr. Lynn Day, Ben and Mary Frances Doskocil, Bishop Joseph Patrick Delaney, Sister Marguerite Connors, SHSP and Sister Bernice Knapeck, SSMN


On Wednesday, August 16, 1995, the hopes and dreams of parents in South Arlington were realized when South Arlington Catholic School opened its doors using the campus of St. Matthew Catholic Church.  Located in Southeast Arlington with Monsignor Joseph Schumacher as pastor, the campus at St. Matthew’s housed one hundred thirty-one students.  The students, representing six parishes, were enrolled to attend pre-kindergarten through second grade classes.

With the blessing of the Holy Spirit, the present facility was opened in 1997 and the name was changed in 1998 to Holy Rosary Catholic School.  Families were asked to make suggestions for the new school mascot to be commissioned with the renaming of the school.  One family described a compelling history of the Knights as the protector of the Rosary, so the school community voted to adopt the Knights as the new mascot of the Holy Rosary Catholic School. 



Early in 2000, Phase II construction was completed providing six additional classrooms, a computer and science laboratory, library/media center, and a regulation-sized multipurpose gymnasium.  Originally, the plans called for a small multi-purpose room, but due to the generosity of Ben and Mary Frances Doskocil, the regulation-sized gym was built.  Mr. and Mrs. Doskocil were asked if they had any wishes for the name for the gym and they humbly requested the name, Marian Center, out of a deep love and devotion to our Blessed Virgin Mary.  In 2004, the school joyfully reached the size envisioned by the founding families of two classes in each grade level from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade. 

On March 24, 2011, Bishop Kevin Vann signed a decree that established Holy Rosary Catholic School as a parish school of St. Joseph Catholic Church, thus the name of the school changed to St. Joseph Catholic School on July 1, 2012. 

Many current and former St. Joseph Knights have earned academic and extracurricular honors such as recognition from the Duke University Talent Identification Program (TIP) and Private School Interscholastic Association (PSIA).  St. Joseph alumni have gone on to be Valedictorians and Salutatorians in their respective high schools.  Former Knights have become distinguished professionals in the community as doctors, attorneys, nurses, therapists, teachers and more. 
Above all, we at St. Joseph Catholic School strive daily to fulfill our mission statement, “Teaching the Mind…Nourishing the Soul,” in everything we do.  By modeling the Beatitudes through Christ-like behavior, we work to ensure we are living out our call to be Missionary Disciples. 

We help to minister to the children of seven local, foundinging parishes, but we welcome all Christian students and families of all different faiths.

St. Joseph is one of 20 Catholic schools in the educational system directed by the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth. We are fully accredited by the Texas Catholic Conference and have an academic track record of success.