St. Patrick School

Generations of families descended from the original inhabitants have sent their children to St. Patrick’s and continue to do so. The parish community has always been committed to a Catholic school for its children, and gives time and talent by volunteering in the school. The entire community, even those without school-age children, sponsors the annual Irish Picnic barbecue on the last Friday and Saturday of July each year, which raises approximately $140,000 each year to support the school. Several years ago, this event made it into the Guinness Book of World Records (21,000 pounds of meat was barbecued for the picnic in 1999).  The 150^th Annual Picnic was celebrated in 2004.

St. Patrick’s School is the only Catholic school in Humphreys County, and draws Catholic students from the three surrounding counties.  On Oct. 22, 2002, groundbreaking took place for a new school building that would replace the old two-story brick building that was built in 1946. On February 14, 2004, the new school building was dedicated.  While St. Patrick's is a growing school, the average class size is still approximately 10 students.  In the fall of 2004, a Pre-K program was added.  St. Patrick’s School holds the distinction of being a true “country school” in a small rural community.  The academic standards are on par with other diocesan and public schools, and St. Patrick’s sends its students well-prepared to private, as well as public, high schools.  Most importantly, the Catholic Faith is not merely a part of the curriculum, but permeates the atmosphere of the school.