Our History

St. Michael’s School in Mahnomen, MN was founded in 1930 by the Benedictine Sisters of Mount Saint Benedict in Crookston, MN.  The mission of the Sisters was to bring a high quality Catholic education to the children of the White Earth Indian Reservation. 

 

The school was housed in Mahnomen’s original Catholic church and served 73 students in grades 1-8, 60 of whom were Native American.  On March 3, 1937, the school burned to the ground and the 140 enrolled students completed the school year at the Mahnomen Public School or at area rural schools. 

 

St. Michael’s School was rebuilt and reopened its doors the following September, 1937.  In 1969, the decision was made to discontinue 7-8 grades.  Kindergarten was started in 1988 as a 3 day a week program which has developed into a 5 day a week program.  In 2000 a Pre-Kindergarten program began as a 2 day program.  Since 2017, Pre-Kindergarten has been offered from 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Monday –Friday. 

 

Since its start in 1930, St. Michael’s School has produced many future community leaders who have become, lawyers, doctors, accountants, nurses, dentists, teachers, business owners, cooperate executives, agricultural leaders, and engineers.