St. Peter School was founded in 1945 by the parishioners of St. Peter Lithuanian Church, who deemed it important to provide a quality Catholic elementary education for children in the neighborhood. For over 60 years, St. Peter's was a popular family-oriented neighborhood school, beloved for its exceptional education and welcoming atmosphere. The school had an excellent reputation for exam school preparation, enrollment was high and the school was financially sound. On May 25th, 2004 , the school community received shocking and upsetting news: as part of the Archdiocese plan for consolidation, St. Peter School would close within a few weeks. That very evening, the parents, students, faculty, board of directors, elected officials and many supporters from the community held a meeting at which it was decided unanimously that the school should stay open as a private and independent school. It was true that the building would close and the St. Peter School name would be taken away, but that wouldn't matter. St. Peter School was never about the building or the name; it was about the parents who were actively involved in school matters, the devoted and dedicated faculty who treated each child as an individual, and the students who were thriving in the academically challenging and nurturing environment. It was about the sense of community that could not be matched anywhere else. It was about the genuine concern that each child reach his or her ultimate potential academically, emotionally and spiritually. These were the key elements that made up the heart of the school.
The summer of 2004 was a whirlwind of activity as the journey to independence began. It was a summer of sacrifice, hard work, determination and faith that the goal could be reached. At the beginning of August, a location still had not been procured, but the school's loyal teachers were ready to hold classes in a barn if necessary. Three weeks before classes were to begin, an anonymous donor provided the school with a temporary location. Around-the-clock renovations began as hundreds of people came out to help ready the building for its new use. The scene was like one from Extreme Makeover. The transformation of an abandoned office building to a vibrant school building in such a short time was truly astounding. The newly named St. Peter Academy opened its doors on September 11th, 2004. Classes were held there until the permanent location at 371 W. Fourth Street was secured and purchased a year and a half later. Once again, people volunteered their time, expertise, and resources to help with the renovations and preparations of the final home for the school. St Peter Academy triumphantly opened the doors of its current and permanent location at 371 West Fourth Street in March of 2006. It is now housed in a charming and spacious brick building with lots of character, a large fenced-in schoolyard with a brand new playground and a whole floor of extra rooms for future growth. The Grand Opening ceremony was held in November, 2006. Thanks to the tireless efforts, amazing energy, perseverance and sacrifice of the dedicated parents, faculty and friends in the community, St. Peter Academy is a dream come true.