Our History
The Sisters of Providence lay the cornerstone for a new Providence High School, an all-girls Catholic school.
Providence High School combines with St. Mel High School, an all-boys school operated by the Christian Brothers, becoming Providence St. Mel School.
Paul J. Adams III begins his tenure at Providence St. Mel as the Director of Guidance.
Mr. Adams is named principal and begins the mission and vision of Providence St. Mel, first by enacting strict rules that make gang association, drugs, gambling, graffiti, stealing, and fighting grounds for expulsion.
The Archdiocese decides to close Providence St. Mel, but Mr. Adams’ commitment and a national campaign allow for Providence St. Mel to remain open as an independent college preparatory school. Sister Loretta Schafer and the Sisters of Providence sell the school building to Mr. Adams.
Providence St. Mel expands by creating Grade 7 and Grade 8.
Providence St. Mel is featured in an inspiring story on the Today Show by NBC’s Mike Leonard.
President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan are so moved by the story of Providence St. Mel, they visit the school for the first time.
President Ronald Reagan returns to Providence St. Mel and proclaims it a “shining light” and a model for the nation to follow.
The varsity boys’ basketball team wins the IHSA State Championship (Class A), finishing their season with a 31-3 record.
Providence St. Mel expands further to include Grade 5 and Grade 6.
The Summer Opportunity of A Lifetime (SOAL) program begins, offering students enrichment experiences all over the world.
Oprah Winfrey narrated a PBS documentary entitled Paul Adams: A Man and a School, which aired nationally in 1994 and 1995.
Providence St. Mel expands to Grade 1 through Grade 4, offering a foundational college-prep education to a wide range of students. Providence St. Mel is now Grade 1-12.
Jeanette Butala (DiBella) begins her tenure at Providence St. Mel and increases test scores by 35% in less than three years.
The Academic Intervention Model (AIM) program is established to offer additional tutoring to students after school and on Saturdays.
Ms. Butala is named principal, and Mr. Adams is named president.
Providence St. Mel’s lower school expands further to include Kindergarten, setting high standards at an early age.
Providence St. Mel is transformed with a new fine arts center and science labs, central air conditioning, bathroom renovations, a new elevator, and new lighting.
Dr. Michael Pressley, internationally renowned educational psychologist at Michigan State University, publishes a study in the Journal of Educational Psychology and names Providence St. Mel as a “Model for Urban Education”.
The Loyola University Center for Urban Research and Learning (CURL) study finds that 72% of our alumni graduate from college in four years.
Providence St. Mel agreed to launch a charter school at the Ralph J. Bunche elementary school campus in Englewood and managed the school for five years.
Jay Pritzker Academy in Siem Reap, Cambodia is launched dedicated to preparing bright and motivated Cambodian children following the PSM instructional model. Ms. Butala is named the Chief Educational Officer.
Providence St. Mel’s commitment to setting high standards at an early age continues with the addition of pre-Kindergarten classes.
The Providence Effect, a documentary celebrating Providence St. Mel’s academic accomplishments, is released in theaters across the country.
Dr. Samuel C. Carter, a renowned education researcher, selects Providence St. Mel as one of the nation’s finest schools in his book, On Purpose.
Providence St. Mel became the first private institution to be invited to present at the Department of Education. Paul Adams and Jeanette DiBella represented PSM.
Ms. Butala is named President, and Mr. Adams is named Executive Chairman.
For the first time in school history, 100% of Providence St. Mel graduates are accepted to Tier One colleges and universities.
The Ohio State University Center for Higher Education Enterprise conducts a study focusing on alumni outcomes. “Find a way or make one” shines through in the study with graduates exceeding norms in all educational expectations.
Providence St. Mel is majorly renovated. Classrooms and hallways are refreshed, and the cafeteria – including a senior/parent lounge, front office, and admissions areas are transformed.
The 2019 Varsity Knights win the 2019 State Championship for the first time since 1985. Mr. Tim Ervin is also nominated Coach of the Year by the Illinois Basketball Coach Association.
A Providence St. Mel Senior wins the IHSA 1A Boys Track & Field State Championship in the 400m Dash with a time of 48.16 seconds.
100% of the Class of 2019 earn scholarships to the colleges and universities they will be attending. In total, they are awarded with nearly $5 million in scholarships.
During the pandemic, Providence St. Mel implemented a comprehensive remote learning strategy to support its students and maintain academic progress. As a result, Providence St. Mel successfully sustained its commitment to academic excellence and student development throughout the challenging period.
Timothy Ervin is PSM Class of 1991, is named as Principal of Providence St. Mel School
For the first time in school history, a PSM student scores a 36 on the ACT – the highest possible score.
PSM partners with the College of DuPage to expand our S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curriculum with classes in robotics and mechatronics, along with coding classes and industry certification classes from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA. Esports is offered to enrich the educational experience and prepare students for future success in a digital world.
PSM continues to operate at a high level under the direction of an experienced administrative team. Providence St. Mel earned accreditation from Cognia (formerly AdvanceEd) and recognition from the Illinois State Board of Education.