History, Mission, and Philosophy

Our History

For many years, the Catholic communities of Our Lady of Joy, St. Gabriel the Archangel, and St. Rose Duchesne longed for a Catholic school north of Loop 101. In the spring of 2009, Bishop Thomas Olmsted and the Diocese of Phoenix approved a Diocesan school to serve these three parishes, located on the St. Gabriel campus and Annunciation Catholic School was conceived. In its tenth year, Annunciation now serves students from fourteen parishes.

The school doors opened on August 12, 2009. In its inaugural year, Annunciation Catholic School offered 1st and 2nd grades. Adding a grade per year we reached our full K-8 status in 2015. We have now graduated seven 8th grade classes and are proud to say that 100% of students who applied to a Catholic High School were accepted. Our school enrollment has grown from 23 in 2009 to a projected 246 in 2024.

Construction of our new school building was completed in December of 2020 and we moved in over that Christmas break. The school administration offices have moved to the former parish offices in the parish hall building. 

We are so very grateful to all who made our school possible and we must remember that all that we do is for the greater glory of God. We pray for the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and St. Gabriel the Archangel as we continue our mission.

Our Mission

Within our strong Catholic community, we develop children to their fullest God-given potential – spiritually, intellectually, morally, socially, and physically.

Our Philosophy

We, the faith community of Annunciation Catholic School, are dedicated to the pursuit of academic excellence, life-long learning, and commitment to Christ and the Church. We believe it essential to teach each student to live in accordance with the spiritual, moral and ethical principles exemplified in the scriptures, teachings, and traditions of the Catholic Church. 

We acknowledge parents as the primary educators of their children. Based on this acknowledgement, we strive to enhance and strengthen the faith and other family values students acquired and continue to acquire in their homes.

We firmly believe children are uniquely created and therefore enter Annunciation with unique needs as well as unique talents. We shall strive to optimize these talents and meet these individual needs in a caring and nurturing environment.

We are called to provide our students with the necessary virtues, skills and behaviors that will enable them to lead responsible, successful lives and become positive contributors to their family, the Catholic Church and the community.