Sacred Heart Catholic School (Hattiesburg, Mississippi)
Sacred Heart High School is a Roman Catholic parochial school in the historic district of downtown Hattiesburg, Mississippi where it is mostly surrounded by Victorian-era homes and other churches. It includes the only high school in the Northern Deanery of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Biloxi. Sacred Heart Catholic High School was officially detached from the elementary school on June 8, 2010 when the Hattiesburg City Council voted to accept a bid of $2.5 million for the city-owned property formerly known as First Baptist Church. The acquisition has ultimately added 40 classrooms to the school. Since the acquisition of the new building, the student population has expanded from just over 500 to over 700 students (K-12). Background Sacred Heart was founded in 1900 by the Sisters of Mercy. Sacred Heart Catholic School is one of the oldest existing schools in Hattiesburg. In October, 1900, Father Sylvester Greimel opened Sacred Heart Catholic School, the first Catholic school in the area, using the sacristy of the church and the rectory for classes. He was the first resident pastor at Sacred Heart Church. His sister, Miss Anne Greimel, was principal. Thirty-five students were enrolled. The Sisters of Mercy arrived in September 1902. A