History & Tradition
The original St. Mary’s School, a grade school serving students through sixth grade, opened its doors in 1857. The Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Mary were the school’s first staff, serving until 1893. From the late 1800s until recent years, the Sisters of Notre Dame provided instruction for both elementary and high school students.
St. Mary Central Catholic High School was established in 1902 by Rev. Joseph S. Widman at its current location. That inaugural year saw an enrollment of 25 students. The school initially offered a two-year program that included commercial courses to prepare students for roles in the business community. By 1910, construction of the high school building was completed at a cost of $113,400.
Campus Development
The St. Mary campus has seen continuous growth and improvements over the years:
1949: A fundraising goal of $200,000 was set for a gymnasium expansion, completed in 1951. The basketball team inaugurated the new gym with a victory over Elyria, 40-38.
1956: A 12-room grade school building was constructed.
1957: Tuition was introduced for the first time, set at $25 for an entire year.
1972: A four-classroom science building was added, later housing the band room.
1981: A $1.7 million expansion was completed in just one year, adding 14 classrooms and a Multi-Purpose Room.
Academic Milestones
In 1920, freshmen and sophomore coursework in classical and scientific subjects was introduced. By the 1923–24 school year, St. Mary’s High School graduated its first four-year class. That same year, it received a charter from the Ohio Department of Education, becoming the second-oldest school in the Diocese of Toledo. Before the high school’s establishment in 1902, no Catholic post-elementary education existed in the Sandusky area.
Athletics and School Identity
Organized sports at St. Mary’s began in 1924 under Father John Lubuzinski, with the introduction of boys' football and basketball teams. For years, teams were unofficially named after their coaches or referred to as the “Saints.” In 1936, the senior class selected the Panther as the official mascot for all sports teams. The school colors, originally blue and gold, were adopted in 1928 by Rev. Thomas Reynolds and updated to navy blue and Vegas gold in 2003.
The Panthers joined the Sandusky Bay Conference in 1950 and competed for over 60 years, achieving numerous championships and honors.
Centralization and Expansion
In 1974, St. Mary’s High School was centralized, becoming St. Mary Central Catholic High School. The faculty expanded to include both religious and lay teachers, and the school began serving multiple area parishes, including Sts. Peter and Paul, Holy Angels, St. Peter’s Huron, and St. Mary’s. This shift created a collaborative effort to provide secondary education in a Christian environment while ensuring financial sustainability.
In 2002, Holy Angels, Sts. Peter and Paul, and St. Mary’s grade schools unified to form Sandusky Central Catholic School (SCCS). St. Mary Central Catholic High School retained its name under this new organizational structure, while Holy Angels became the SCCS Early Childhood Center, and Sts. Peter and Paul housed grades K–3.
By 2009, all K–8 students were consolidated at the St. Mary grade school campus. In 2013, pre-K students from Holy Angels joined the St. Mary facility, completing the transition to a unified one-campus system.
Today
Sandusky Central Catholic School now serves students from preschool through 12th grade, while the title St. Mary Central Catholic High School is reserved for grades 9–12.
St. Mary Central Catholic High School students excel both academically and athletically, consistently contributing to their neighborhoods, community, and parishes through volunteerism and service. All SCCS students embody the Gospel values central to the school’s mission, making them a living testament to the institution's legacy and commitment to faith-based education.