The mission of Holy Cross Regional Catholic School is to cultivate, within the school community, a challenging learning environment grounded in Catholic values and traditions that will empower our students to engage in a lifetime of service, challenge them to become leaders, and encourage them to share the message of God.
HOLY CROSS REGIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL – Over 130 years of History!
Holy Cross Regional Catholic School, located in the city of Lynchburg, is a Roman Catholic, co-educational, PreK-12 school in the Diocese of Richmond. Its history is somewhat unique, in that the school predates the public schools in the city of Lynchburg. History claims 1879 as its founding date, but Holy Cross as a church-related or parish school has a pre-history.
The history of the Catholic Church in Lynchburg dates back to 1843. The construction of the Kanawha canal in 1834 contributed to its growth. Thousands of Irish Catholics were employed for the project, and many workers established their residence in or near Lynchburg after the completion of the canal. A building located at Ninth and Clay streets was acquired in 1843 for use as the first church, named St. Francis Xavier.
In 1871, Reverend James J. McGurk, Pastor, organized a parochial school. In 1874, the school was incorporated into the newly founded public school system. However, this arrangement was discontinued after one year and the school was once again an independent school. In 1879, the present Catholic Church was built at Seventh and Clay streets and the parish was renamed Holy Cross.
At this point, a request for Sisters was made to Emmitsburg, Maryland, to the community founded by Elizabeth Ann Seton. As a result, four Daughters of Charity arrived in December 1879.
When the Sisters arrived, the school was housed in the old church (St. Francis Xavier). Eighty pupils ranging from six to seventeen years of age were enrolled in the school. Initially, students were grouped into primary, intermediate, and senior sections instead of separate class levels.
In 1916, the old church building was razed and a new ten-room building was erected on the same site. For forty years, it served the academic needs of the Catholic population in the area.
In 1957, with the arrival of two large industries and the subsequent arrival of Catholic families from the northeast, expansion of school facilities became imperative. The pastor, the Very Reverend Monsignor F. Harold Nott, purchased a large double house at the corner of Eighth and Court streets and this house was converted into a high school in February, 1957. Soon, this facility was not adequate to provide for the increased enrollment.
Monsignor Nott took steps to purchase twenty-seven acres of land on Langhorne Road in the geographical center of the city of Lynchburg. Plans were then made for the immediate construction of a school with additional long-range planning for future expansion. In 1960, the new school with twelve classrooms was opened. In 1963, the spacious gymnasium was added and in 1967, three additional classrooms and a small chapel were built.
In 1978, a new parish, St. Thomas More, was established in the Lynchburg area. The church was completed in 1981. At that time, the Bishop of Richmond, Walter F. Sullivan, decided that Holy Cross School would be designated as a diocesan regional school rather than a parish school. The parishes that were to be a part of Holy Cross School were Holy Cross, St. Thomas More and Holy Name of Mary in Bedford.
In December 1982, the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of the Villa Maria Academy announced that their school would close in June 1983. The Villa was a private Catholic school in Lynchburg for day students as well as resident girls from Virginia, other states and foreign countries. In January, 1983, Holy Cross School was confronted with ways to find a solution for the potential increased enrollment. The natural response was to build, yet finances had to be carefully considered, not only for the construction but to maintain the staff as well. The girls from Villa moved to Holy Cross during the 1983-84 school year in grades 1-8. These students were accommodated by the addition of four new classrooms at the end of the elementary wing, realizing the completion of the 1960 expansion plan and making provisions for a kindergarten.
In the spring of 1986, the Daughters of Charity announced that at the close of the following school year, the remaining Sisters would be withdrawn due to the diminishing number of Sisters in their order. A search committee was formed to hire the first lay principal in the school’s history. A succession of lay leaders has guided Holy Cross since that time.
In 2009 the school celebrated its 130th year anniversary with a successful “Celebrate 130/Campaign 130” yearlong event. This very successful campaign has enabled the 130 year old school to continue on with state-of-the-art technology and progressive renovations. With students now ranging from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade, the school houses Elementary, Middle, and High Schools within their campus. The mission of academic excellence, tradition, service, and Christian values continues to engage college bound students from all faiths. Students hail from six regional Catholic Churches as well as numerous additional Christian denominations. Over 19 zip codes and several countries are represented in this very geographically diverse student body. The school is poised for another 130 years of supporting Central Virginia families.
Why Send Your Child to
Holy Cross Regional Catholic School?
A Traditional Education with Christian Values and Celebrating
132 Years of Academic Excellence and Spiritual Formation
Now entering our 132nd year, Holy Cross Regional Catholic School had its beginnings in downtown Lynchburg. Deeply embedded in the history of Lynchburg, Holy Cross has contributed to the formation of the local community since 1879. Founded by the Daughters of Charity, the order of religious sisters begun by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Holy Cross has provided an excellent education through the special link with dedicated teachers and Catholic doctrine. Increased enrollment resulting from the influx of industry into Lynchburg resulted in construction of our present building in 1960 located on Langhorne Road.
Holy Cross Regional Catholic School is a fully accredited college preparatory school for students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Holy Cross School has passed the rigorous accreditation requirements of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS/CASI).
On March 20, 2007 the schools of the Diocese of Richmond, which include Holy Cross Regional Catholic School, have been recognized as the first Catholic school system in the nation to receive District Accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS/CASI). Holy Cross School is proud to be a part of the Diocese of Richmond and a member school of this historic and prestigious recognition.
Holy Cross Regional Catholic School Highlight Information
• Holy Cross School is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and School
(SACS) and by the Virginia Catholic Education Association (VCEA).
• Every teacher at Holy Cross is college and professionally certified with almost 50% having
earned an advanced graduate degree.
• 100% of the graduating class is accepted into a college or university.
• Our standardized tests scores from CTBS Terra-Nova are very impressive. Holy Cross
students scored in the top percentile in all areas (reading, language, math, science and
social studies) at every grade tested (1, 3, 5, 7 and 9).
• Advanced Placement courses are offered in History, Government, Math, English,
Foreign Languages, and Biology.
• Holy Cross School is involved with many different service projects and assistance campaigns.
In the past four years, through the efforts of the students, faculty, parents and staff, the school has donated nearly $25,000 to charitable and deserving causes.
• Holy Cross School consistently places a large number of winners in the local and regional Young Authors competition. Historically, over 50% of the regional winners from the Lynchburg area are from Holy Cross School.
• A listing of college acceptances by our graduates over the past few years include: (in random order):
University of Virginia - Duke University -Emory & Henry College - Vanderbilt University - Longwood University - Marymount University - Randolph-Macon College - Bridgewater College - College of William & Mary - North Carolina State - Randolph College - Sweet Briar College - Boston College - Belmont Abbey College - College of Charleston - Wake Forest University - Hampden-Sydney College - James Madison Universit - Xavier University - University of Georgia - Lynchburg College - Providence College - Roanoke College - University of Richmond - Ohio State - Loyola University - Radford University - Old Dominion University - Hollins University - Duquesne University - Auburn University - Virginia Military Institute - Virginia Commonwealth - Lakeland College - Drexel University - Virginia Tech - Elon University - Penn State University - University of Notre Dame - UNC @ Chapel Hill - University of Mary Washington - Christopher Newport Univ.
What others are saying: “In the heart of Lynchburg, this school is a jewel that has yet to be fully uncovered. Truly, Holy Cross Regional School provides a safe and family-like environment where ‘No Child is Left Behind.’ ” - The visiting accreditation team from the Virginia Catholic Education Association