About Mission & History - St Anthony Kids School Programs

About Us

Our Mission

Saint Anthony School Programs forms an integral part of the educational ministry of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. Rooted in the Gospel, St. Anthony School Programs provides moral and spiritual formation, an academic course of studies and vocational training for students ages 5 to 21 with special needs. The program seeks to maximize the individual student’s potential for academic learning, to foster self-respect and confidence and to develop competence in employment and living skills. In pursuit of this mission, St. Anthony School Programs promotes the concept of inclusive education within the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Our History

1921

St. Anthony Village Orphanage in Oakmont founded

1953

Our mission changed from caring for dependent children to educating students with special needs. Name changed to St. Anthony's School for Exceptional Children

1986

First inclusive site opened at St. Thomas More School

1992

Name changed to St. Anthony School Programs; Oakmont Campus closed, and we opened multiple classrooms at various Catholic school sites

1995

Began formally offering an inclusive education program for children with special needs, ages 5-21, including Autism

2018

St. Anthony’s celebrated 65 years of educating children with Down syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder and special needs

2020

St. Anthony’s continues educating students in person, in an inclusive environment, through the Covid-19 pandemic.

2022

St. Anthony Schools Programs expanded our mission by creating the St. Anthony Extension, a grant opportunity to support additional students with learning differences within the Diocese of Pittsburgh.