History and Culture of Epiphany School

Epiphany began as a parish school educating students from the local community. The Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, Wisconsin were the school’s first teachers. The Sisters continued at the school for more than 70 years creating one of the finest educational facilities serving the lower west side of Chicago. The Latino parishioners gradually replaced the first parishioners from the Slavic countries throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

Today, the parish and school continue to stand strong. The student body is 97% Latino with 75% of the students bilingual. English is the second language for over 80% of the students and families. Many of the original Latino families that graduated from Epiphany School have moved to nearby suburban towns. They continue to enroll their children at Epiphany because of the quality education available at Epiphany. The school’s population is approximately 60% parishioners and 40% non-parishioners.

Although the school population is predominately Latino, all instruction is delivered in English. Students who arrive with little or no knowledge or proficiency in English speaking and/or writing are immersed into the mainstream of classes and rapidly gain proficiency in English. Translators are provided to both students and parents when needed. 

The Latino religious customs are rich in theology and devotion. Epiphany Catholic School celebrates these with great enthusiasm. The students participate in the context of their families. Due to the importance of the customs to the wider parish community, the teachers and their classrooms strive to enthusiastically participate.


 

 
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