In 1904, to encourage young women to enter the business world, the sisters of Saint Joseph opened the Saint Joseph Academy for Young Ladies at 834 Pacific Street. However, within five years this building had became inadequate for the growing number of students interested in business education.
In the early nineteenth century, the Parmeniter family had emigrated from Belgium and had distinguished themselves in supporting church-related works in this country. Their youngest daughter Rosine, in 1909 donated her family mansion and property at 342 Bridge Street to the Sisters of Saint Joseph for their education work. This home became a two-year school Saint Joseph Commercial High School.
Additional buildings were added at 342 Bridge Street and in 1945 the office building at 80 Willoughby was purchased and renovated into modern classrooms, science laboratories and a library. The school began to offer both academic and commercial diplomas and had a four year program. In 1963 the new name Saint Joseph High School was affixed to the building.
Within changing times the academic offerings where updated. The technical advance of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s brought the computer into the school program. Courses in programming and word processing were integrated into the curriculum. As we move into the new millennium, we enter a new phase of development. The MetroTech project places Saint Joseph High School at the edge of the technological work place of the future. Downtown Brooklyn is becoming a new center for development and economic opportunity.
Saint Joseph High School is proud of its long history of Christian education in Downtown Brooklyn. The mission of the school endures the excellent preparation of young women for college, career and life.
