Private school in Faribault, Minnesota, United States
Bethlehem Academy is a private, Roman Catholic High School established in 1865 in Faribault, Minnesota by the Sisters of St Dominic.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. It serves 244 students from grades 6-12.[2][4][5][3][8] It is the oldest Catholic high school in Minnesota.[10]
History
In 1865, the Murphy family left New York for California. En-route they stopped in Faribault, Minnesota. Due to the threat of conflict with Native Americans along the route, they stopped in Minnesota. After most of the family passed away, Catherine Murphy's dying request was to provide for a Catholic education for the children. In response, Bethlehem Academy was founded by nuns from St Clara's Academy in Wisconsin.[11]
The school opened inside the convent, then moved to a home in 1896. The bottom story consisted of four rooms, including the school room on the first floor with two dormitories and a chapel upstairs.[12]
In 1874 a new site was purchased, and a new three-story brick building was opened on June 1, 1876. In 1900 the North wing was added, and a three-story South wing was opened in 1908.[13][12]
In 2014 the school celebrated its 150th anniversary.[14]
Athletics
Bethlehem Academy has an athletic program.[15][9]
Bethlehem Academy has a total of 7 Minnesota Class A Volleyball State Championships (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014).[16]
In 2012 they were the Minnesota Class A State Runner up, losing 14-20 to Mahnomen High School in Prep Bowl XXXI.[17]
In 2018, coach Franz Boelter was fired for mistreating athletes emotionally. At the time he had coached the volleyball team to seven state championships and was the ninth-winningest coach in Minnesota high school history.[18]
