History
History of the Piarists
St. Joseph Calasanz, the founder of the Piarist Fathers, was born in Peralta de la Sal, Spain in 1556, and was ordained a priest in 1583. Nine years later he moved to Rome and was deeply affected by the children there.
Therefore, with permission of Pope Clement VII, he opened a free school for them in 1597. This school was opened to every child, regardless of their particular religious affiliation, and is believed by many to be the world's first free elementary school. It stressed piety and learning, thus the Piarist motto, "pietas et litterae".
On March 25, 1617, with the permission of Pope Paul V, St. Joseph Calasanz and fourteen other men became the first members of a new religious congregation. In 1621, Pope Gregory XV raised this congregation into the rank of a religious order under solemn canonical vows, calling it the Order of the Pious Schools. The abbreviation "Sch. P." following the name of a Piarist comes from the Latin words "Scholarum Piarum" (of the Pious Schools). St. Joseph Calasanz died in Rome on August 25, 1648. Each year the church celebrates his feast on August 25.
In the late 1940's many Piarists from Eastern Europe emigrated to the United States. With the help of Bishop John O'Hara of Buffalo, they established their first American community in Derby, NY in 1951. Within the next decade, they established Piarist schools in Buffalo, NY and Devon, PA, a diocesan school in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and a provincial House of Studies in Washington, DC.
Piarists profess the three evangelical religious vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. In addition, they profess a fourth vow to dedicate their lives to the education of youth. Today, there are over 1,300 Piarists teaching 131,000 students in 26 countries around the world.
Our School
In August of 1990, the Piarists opened a college preparatory high school in Floyd County, KY, in the city of Martin. The school began with one freshman class, and added a class each year until the 1993-1994 school year, when the school had its first four year program. Then, on May 28, 1994 the school graduated its first class. In 2009, the Piarist School began a middle school program, initially adding a seventh and eighth grade, and a sixth grade the following year.
The school moved from its Martin location to the present location in Hagerhill, KY in Johnson County at the completion of the 2014-2015 school year. The Piarist School is accredited by the Kentucky Department of Non-Public Schools and is a member of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.
School Information:
Homerooms: 6
Grades: 6-12
Type of School: Private, College Preparatory
Mascot: Knights
School Colors: Blue and Gold
ASD#: 290598
Our Founder
Father Thomas Carroll, Sch.P. Fr. Tom passed from this earth on Friday, March 29 after an extended illness. Over thirty years ago, Fr. Tom, originally from Pittsburgh, came to Appalachia with one mission in mind – to educate. With that mission heavy on his heart, he worked to create the Piarist School. From the school’s first graduating class in 1994, to this year with our thirtieth graduating class, Fr. Tom never failed to pour his entire being into the school.
Fr. Tom loved to talk about his tuition-free school, something only made possible due to his tireless work traveling nearly every weekend from spring to fall telling about the hope and determination that was present in the youth of Appalachia. He was a proud Pittsburgher, but we know he was so very proud to be a Piarist Knight.
Students didn’t only know Fr. Tom as a Principal, but as a Latin teacher, religion teacher, and one of the most interesting tour guides a student could ask for. Many Piarist alumni have taken their first glimpse of Pittsburgh exiting the Fort Pitt Tunnel and hearing a joyous “Welcome to Pittsburgh!”
With Piarist being such a small school, all of us who have been part of the school have special memories with Fr. Tom. We know Audrey will miss sharing her morning coffee, the office will be quieter without his distinct voice greeting all who passed by, and the next time we have cake, we will save the piece with the biggest flower for him.
One of Fr. Tom’s final wishes was that we continue his mission here at the school. While we will all see his absence in every part of the school, we fully intend to carry on his legacy of educating our amazing children in Appalachia.