St. Teresa of Avila School
Saint Teresa of Avila School is located in the Silver Lake area of Los Angeles, just five miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, next to Echo Park and just east of Griffith Park. The area is part of the Our Lady of the Angels Region of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. This area is one of the oldest residential areas of Los Angeles, established by City Planners in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Since the school’s establishment in 1949, the community has undergone many changes both economically and ethnically. These changes continue today.
Saint Teresa of Avila School opened on September 19, 1949 under the direction of the Sisters of Providence, St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. The Sisters of Providence were founded by Saint Mother Theodore Guerin in 1840. Their mission has been to be God’s Providence in the world by committing to perform works of love, mercy, and justice in service among God’s people, wherever the need is greatest. Members of the Community serve in education, parish work, diocesan administration, social justice service, counseling, and health care. The Community began their service to Saint Teresa of Avila Parish School through a direct invitation of the Pastor who had built the school in 1949.
In 1983 the Sisters of Providence turned the administration of the school over to a lay principal who, as an alumna of Saint Teresa of Avila School, could preserve the spirit and mission of the Sisters of Providence, St.-Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. Although guided by a lay principal, the Sisters have kept a strong influence in the core of the school by visiting often and maintaining a prayer relationship with the community. Through the commitment, encouragement, motivation, and example of the administration, faculty and staff, past and present, Saint Teresa of Avila School continues to offer a nurturing environment for the children and the community. We are committed to Jesus Christ’s mission of reaching out, teaching, modeling and helping others.
The composition of the school community is reflective of the composition of the Parish. Our community includes Asians, African-Americans, African-Hispanics, and Caucasians with the majority being Hispanic and Filipinos. This is a reflection of the community in which we live, which is very ethnically integrated.
New students coming to our school come because of our reputation in the community and because of the strong recommendations of satisfied parents/guardians. Our parents have ranked “Academic Excellence” as the number one reason for sending their children to Saint Teresa Avila School. “Catholic Faith Formation” and “Catholic Values” were identified as the second most important reasons. The parents recognize that the children’s education is a partnership with the school and that working together creates a successful environment for the children. Parents appreciate that the faculty and staff are responsive to their ideas and concerns and everyone, faculty, parents and students, have a sense of “ownership”. Parent involvement is integral to our school community’s success.
Mrs. Christina Fernandez-Caso
2215 Fargo Street
Los Angeles
CA
90039-3199
(323) 662-3777