Mission & History/ Misión y Historia

St. Anthony of Padua School, located in the Cramer Hill neighborhood of Camden, NJ, was opened in September of 1962. The school was initially staffed by the Sisters of St. Francis Third Order (known today as the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities), from Syracuse, NY. The sisters staffed the school until 1998.

In 1985, the Franciscan Friars from the Holy Name Province, NY began their ministry at St. Anthony of Padua School and St. Anthony of Padua Parish. The Franciscan Spirit was evident with the involvement of the Friars and the Sisters at the school and through the daily lives of the students.  In 2009, St. Anthony of Padua School became one of five schools to make up Catholic Partnership Schools. Catholic Partnership Schools is committed to strengthening and sustaining the educational excellence of the Catholic, Pre-K-8 schools that serve the children of Camden. This network of schools nurtures communities grounded in faith and values. The schools provide enriched, student-centered programs that prepare their graduates for successful transition into rigorous, college preparatory or technical high schools.

In 2020, St. Anthony of Padua Parish merged with St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral Parish and St. Anthony of Padua School transitioned into the Community Learning Campus at St. Anthony’s, expanding its mission to serve as a true hub for the CPS community. The campus became a welcoming space where parents could access valuable resources, students could participate in after-school programs, and teachers and families could find ongoing support. Our administrative team also made its home here, strengthening collaboration and connection across all Catholic Partnership Schools. As part of this growth, the site also became home to our Dual Language Pre-K program, offering children a strong academic foundation while nurturing bilingual learning and cultural awareness.

Now, in 2025, we are proud to announce the next step in this evolution. In partnership with Acelero Learning, CPS has expanded its early childhood offerings to include a Head Start program, providing families with two distinct Pre-K tracks designed to meet diverse needs. With this expansion comes a new name that reflects our broader mission — Pre-K at St. Anthony of Padua School.

This continued growth reflects our commitment to fostering early learning, family engagement, and community partnership — ensuring that every child and family has the support they need to thrive.