Saint Anselm School was built in response to the urgent need to establish a parochial school. Ground was broken on February 10, 1908 by Fr. Alexius, and the school was constructed in a record time of nine months, at a cost of about $100,000. The school opened in September 1908 with a initial enrollment of 560 children. The Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt were entrusted with the classes. The sisters were housed initially in a three story frame building, but in 1913 they moved to a convent across the street from the school. 

Here are some interesting facts in the history of St. Anselm’s School.

1. Free German classes were offered for several years after school hours.
2. A very successful two-year Commercial Course was opened in 1911 and continued until 1932.
3. For the first 33 years, St. Anselm’s was a “free school”. Students didn’t have to pay any fees, except a 10 cent rental for each book. In 1941, families who had children at St. Anselm’s were asked to pay $1.00 per month.
4. In 1913 eight classes were leased to the Board of Education as an Annex to P.S.52. This arrangement lasted until 1934.
5. A wing was built in 1956, adjoining the original school building to add 12 new classrooms to accommodate a growing neighborhood population at that time.

Educating the whole child has always been a goal at St. Anselm as is evidenced by the success throughout the years of its programs: sports, fife, drum and bugle corps, and very popular plays. Many a promising young actor, singer and dancer made their debut at St. Anselm’s Christmas, St. Patrick and May plays. The post Vatican II era saw turbulent times for the universal church as well as for St. Anselm’s.  Changes in administration, fewer religious teachers, declining enrollment, and escalating costs put the future of the school in doubt. Long parish meetings were frequent and raised hard questions with difficult answers.  The early seventies brought new and creative solutions through the dedication of parishioners and parents, together with the determination of Fr. Burton Bloms, Pastor, and Sr. Patricia Langton, Principal.  Bingo and the parking lot were begun as fund raisers.  Soon educational programs were expanded, enrollment increased and hope was rekindled for the future of St. Anselm School.

St. Anselm School was blessed by the presence of the Blauvelt Dominican Sisters who faithfully served the school and parish community from the time of the school’s founding, into the start of the second millennium.  The spirit and energy of the Sisters, including Sr. Peter Brigid Smith, Sr. Clothilde and Sr. Grace Augustine will long be remembered.  Today’s tradition of academic excellence and faith formation is rooted in their charism and we are the grateful stewards of this rich legacy.  Today, the school is staffed by 21 dedicated lay teachers and 13 staff members under the leadership of Ms. Teresa M. Lopes who has been principal since 1997 and Fr. Enrique Salvo, pastor since 2016.  

As with the immigrants of the past, today’s families realize that their hope for the future lies in the benefits of a value-centered education and they continue to make sacrifices so that their children may attend school here to be well prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the next century. At St. Anselm School, our objective is to provide a quality Catholic education for our students where not only high standards and expectations are the norm but where enthusiasm and a wholesome attitude towards learning are encouraged.  Furthermore, we endeavor to ensure that our students reach an awareness of self, developing the pride, discipline and confidence needed to be purposeful learners and good citizens, proudly reflecting their Catholic tradition.  To provide a quality education, we recognize that we must develop new programs, while maintaining and enhancing current programs, to meet the needs of present students and to attract new students.

The student body of 280 is now 85% Hispanic and 15% Black. In order to help working and single parents, St. Anselm not only serves breakfast and lunch but also provides an after school program where children can learn, share and play until 6:00 p.m. each evening. Smartboards, laptops, desktop computers and iPads now supplement textbooks, and Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten precede grades one to eight.

Concurrent with curriculum, school development and fundraising efforts are a necessary part of everyday planning.  One third of the student population receive scholarships.  All recent capital improvements and renovations - including new windows, ceilings, lighting, roofs replacement, air conditioning, schoolyard renovations, bathroom renovations, library renovations, reconfiguration of the main entrance - have been made possible through grants and monies raised from patrons, benefactors and alumni.

With God’s help we now move into St. Anselm’s Second Century.  We carry forward the legacy of those who came before us - the Benedictine Fathers, the Blauvelt Dominican Sisters, all dedicated faculty and staff - who were committed to the mission of Catholic education, as well as those students and graduates who are the beneficiaries of this tradition and support us so that it may continue   And so, the tradition of academic excellence and the spirit of a faith community lives on.