Photo by Benjamin DavisSt. Peter’s Catholic School is one of only two schools accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

St. Peter’s Catholic School, on the corner of Assembly and Hampton Streets in downtown Columbia, is the best kept secret in Columbia according to its principal, Mrs. Madeline McMillion.

This unique Catholic school was founded in 1852 and stands today as the oldest Catholic school in continuous operation in existence in the Diocese of Charleston. The current school building, built in 1992 to replace the former school building that was destroyed in an ice storm in 1979, stands on the grounds where the old Ursuline Covenant once stood.

The school hosts kindergarten through sixth grade with a capacity for 200 students. “All of our teachers are certified and most have master’s degrees,” commented McMillion.

The school also serves as a lab school for USC’s School of Music. Students receive an education rich in music as well as instruction in Spanish, physical education, guidance, reference skills, art, computer skills and religion. Students are expected to participate in prayer, religion classes, and daily church services. No distinction is made between Catholic and non–Catholic students. Extracurricular activities include soccer, strings, chess, guitar, and a crafts club.

St. Peter’s Catholic School is one of only two schools in SC accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). This is the highest accreditation a school can earn within the US. The school has been accredited for the past 30 years.

Every five years, a team of trained personnel come from SACS to review the school. They vigorously review every aspect of the school. “They are stringent but they reflect the quality of the best educational experience,” said the principal, “At the conclusion of the last on–site visit, the peer review team wrote: ‘The entrance to St. Peter’s Catholic School beckons everyone to enter a place where children come first. The school is blessed with compassionate educators who are dedicated to nurturing every student. A strong support system, composed of loyal parents and concerned leaders, exists to promote the schools goals. The leadership is a definite asset to the school’s total program.”

Madeline McMillion has been presiding over the school as principal for the last 12 years. “I like to be the principal of a school that I would have wanted my children to attend,” explained McMillion, “And after 16 years of education in a private Catholic girls’ school, I truly felt I had come home when I began my principalship at St. Peter’s.” She believes, just as St. Peter’s mission states, that St. Peter’s Catholic School aims to provide an education that is academically excellent, SACS accredited, diverse, and anchored in the Catholic faith and traditions.