Our History
The Sisters of Providence lay the cornerstone for a new Providence High School, an all-girls Catholic school.
Providence High School combines with St. Mel High School, an all-boys school operated by the Christian Brothers, becoming Providence St. Mel School.
Paul J. Adams III begins his tenure at Providence St. Mel as the Director of Guidance.
Mr. Adams is named principal and begins the mission and vision of Providence St. Mel, first by enacting strict rules that make gang association, drugs, gambling, graffiti, stealing, and fighting grounds for expulsion.
The Archdiocese decides to close Providence St. Mel, but Mr. Adams’ commitment and a national campaign allow for Providence St. Mel to remain open as an independent college preparatory school. Sister Loretta Schafer and the Sisters of Providence sell the school building to Mr. Adams.
Providence St. Mel expands by creating Grade 7 and Grade 8.
Providence St. Mel is featured on an inspiring story by NBC’s Mike Leonard.
President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan are so moved by the story of Providence St. Mel, they visit the school for the first time.
President Ronald Reagan returns to Providence St. Mel and proclaims it a “shining light” and a model for the nation to follow.
The varsity boys’ basketball team wins the IHSA State Championship (Class A), finishing their season with a 31-3 record.
Providence St. Mel expands further to include Grade 5 and Grade 6.
The Summer Opportunity of A Lifetime (SOAL) program begins, offering students enrichment experiences all over the world.
Providence St. Mel expands to Grade 1 through Grade 4, offering a foundational college-prep education to a wide range of students. Providence St. Mel is now Grade 1-12.
Jeanette Butala (DiBella) begins her tenure at Providence St. Mel and increases test scores by 35% in less than three years.
The Academic Intervention Model (AIM) program is established to offer additional tutoring to students after school and on Saturdays.
Ms. Butala is named principal, and Mr. Adams is named president.
Providence St. Mel’s lower school expands further to include Kindergarten, setting high standards at an early age.
Providence St. Mel is transformed with a new fine arts center and science labs, central air conditioning, bathroom renovations, a new elevator, and new lighting.
The Michigan State University study is released in the Journal of Educational Psychology and names Providence St. Mel as a “Model for Urban Education”.
The CURL study finds that 72% of our alumni graduate from college in four years.
Providence St. Mel’s commitment to setting high standards at an early age continues with the addition of pre-Kindergarten classes.
The Providence Effect, a documentary celebrating Providence St. Mel’s academic accomplishments, is released in theaters across the country.
Dr. Samuel C. Carter, a renowned education researcher, selects Providence St. Mel as one of the nation’s finest schools in his book, On Purpose.
Ms. Butala becomes the Chief Educational Officer of the Jay Pritzker Academy in Cambodia, which follows the Providence St. Mel instructional model.
For the first time in school history, 100% of Providence St. Mel graduates are accepted to Tier One colleges and universities.
The Ohio State University alumni study is conducted. “Find a way or make one” is a life model with graduates exceeding norms in all educational expectations.
Providence St. Mel is majorly renovated. Classrooms and hallways are refreshed, and the cafeteria – including a senior/parent lounge, front office, and admissions areas are transformed.
The 2019 Varsity Knights win the 2019 State Championship for the first time since 1985. Mr. Tim Ervin is also nominated Coach of the Year by the Illinois Basketball Coach Association.
Sam H., Class of 2019, wins the IHSA 1A Boys Track & Field State Championship in the 400m Dash with a time of 48.16 seconds.
100% of the Class of 2019 earn scholarships to the colleges and universities they will be attending. In total, they are awarded with nearly $5 million in scholarships.
During the pandemic, Providence St. Mel implemented a comprehensive remote learning strategy to support its students and maintain academic progress. As a result, Providence St. Mel successfully sustained its commitment to academic excellence and student development throughout the challenging period.
For the first time in school history, PSM Junior Mario H. scored a 36 on the ACT – the highest possible score.
PSM partners with the College of DuPage to expand our S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curriculum with classes in robotics and mechatronics, along with coding classes and industry certification classes from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA. Esports is offered to enrich the educational experience and prepare students for future success in a digital world.